On April 24, I was sent the lineup of artists set to appear to perform on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. When I saw that Blur were listed as the musical performers for Thursday, I realized that Blur were probably going to play a surprise show in New York City surrounding that performance (some proof via twitter). After going to shows regularly in this city for long enough, you look to find any hints of these surprise shows, and it all made sense. They were releasing their new album The Magic Whip that week, they were in New York for Fallon. Why not play a show? Even with all the signs pointing towards a surprise appearance, I kept myself grounded, knowing that it was also a complete shot in the dark.
Four days later my vision came true; Blur announced that they would indeed be playing a live show in New York. Not only that, but it was a free show, sponsored by Converse Rubber Tracks, at the way too tiny Music Hall of Williamsburg. Now that, I never could have predicted. It was too good to be true. Alas, so was getting these free tickets. But sometimes, you just get a little lucky.
After an opening performance from Honduras (the opening gig of a lifetime), a group of chorus singers as well as an additional keyboardist walked out on stage. They were followed by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, who walked out to about as rapturous of a round of applause as you’ll ever hear from a crowd. The show was Blur’s first live performance in New York since 2003, and first here with Graham Coxon since 2000. This wasn’t lost on either party, as the crowd went nuts, the four-piece stopped to smile and soak in all in, as if it was their first time all over again.
Heading into the show, I didn’t really think about how up close and personal we’d be getting with Blur, but that changed right from the opening performance of The Magic Whip’s lead-off track “Lonesome Street,” which Albarn kicked off by grabbing a bunch of water bottles and dousing fans with them. He continued this practice throughout the show, sporting an eager grin throughout as he sang face to face with fans, and engaged is as many high fives and handshakes as you could imagine. Albarn and Graham Coxon were constatly joking with one another on stage, with Coxon jokingly making faces behind Albarn, and Albarn trying to get Coxon to laugh as he was playing.
The special show served as their unofficial album release show of sorts, as they ran through The Magic Whip in order, minus “Ice Cream Man.” When a fan asked screamed out for them to play the missing track, Albarn joked that they didn’t work out quite how to play it yet, but added “but if you want us back we’ll play it next time” (As if we wouldn’t want them back). Blur left the sttage after playing album-closer “Mirrorball” leaving the eager fans stuck chanting “we want Blur!” in hopes of an encore. They indeed return, and Albarn prefaced the encore by giving the fans what they wanted: “I suppose we owe it to you to play a few old songs,” before Coxon began the familiar riff of “Beetlebum” and the energy in the room shifted as fans started shoving their way towards the front.
Parklife’s “Trouble in the Message Centre” was next, but it was the next song of the night that sent the place on fire. The truly gave the crowd what they wanted, playing a sped up, and larger than life version of “Song 2.” It sent the crowd into a frenzied adrenaline rush of shoving, jumping, and glorious “woo-hoos.” I never thought I would get to see Blur live, and I never expected to hear them play “Song 2.” To get both in such an intimate venue, was the stuff of legend.
Find a gallery of photos below, along with the setlist.
Blur Setlist:
1. Lonesome Street
2. New World Towers
3. Go Out
4. Thought I Was a Spaceman
5. I Broadcast
6. My Terracotta Heart
7. There Are Too Many of Us
8. Ghost Ship
9. Pyongyang
10. Ong Ong
11. Mirrorball
Encore:
12. Beetlebum
13. Trouble in the Message Centre
14. Song 2
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