Blur have done it all over their ten years together. From their early days as kings of Britpop with songs like 'There's No Other Way' and 'Tomorrow'. They then became one of the few bands to survive the demise of Britpop and remain as successful. And like a good wine, they have matured and become better with age.

Tonight Blur Plan to play all there singles in chronological order. Its billed as singles night, but is more than that. Tonight is a celebration of one of Britains greatest bands of the 90's.

Tonight's concert is like a trip through time. They open with the singles from their first album, 'Leisure'. These are 'She's so High', 'There's No other Way' and begrudgingly 'Bang'. Damon describes 'Bang' as one of the worst songs ever, the audience boo their disapproval. These songs have always been full of energy and Blur still manage to capture this energy irrespective of how they have moved away from this pop style of music.

This is followed by 'Pop Scene,' during which Damon takes one of his many ventures down into the crowd. 'Pop Scene' is easily their most bizarre single to date. A song which seems to have no formula or pattern to it, but live it sounds like the greatest thing you have ever heard.

They march on through the singles from 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' and then 'Girls and Boys' and 'To The End'. And just when your thinking 'I can't take much more of this,' here comes Phil Daniels (the man who made the word 'Oy' famous) to sing Parklife.

Then all of a sudden they come to the singles off the 'Great Escape.' And its like hitting a brick wall at 200 miles an hour. Because this album was Blur's darkest hour. All the songs - with the exception of 'The Universal' - sound tired and old. There is no doubt that the 'Great Escape' put a large nail in the coffin of Britpop. 'Country House' sounded alright the first time you heard it but now you just wish it had never been written, and by the looks of things, so do Blur.

The death of Britpop could well have meant the death of Blur but they came back stronger than ever and shocked the music world when they released weird but wonderfully dark  'Beetlebum.' At the time you thought this isn't Blur, but it was this was a new, grown up Blur. But the audience just want 'Beetlebum' to end, they know what's coming next. As soon as its finished you can hear the 'wooohooo's' coming from all around the arena. Its time for 'Song 2' of course. Who would have thought that a song like this could become an anthem of the 90's. "I want to hear everyone singing along with this", Damon shouts to audience. You just try and stop them. As Damon launches into the first 'wooohooo' the audience just hit the air as one, and its an incredible sight.

And there was still life after 'Song 2' with their sixth album '13'. Despite its mixed reception from the music press it still contains 'Tender', arguably the best single of the year, a song that will sounds as good as ever, despite the amount of time you've heard it already. This is followed by 'Coffee and TV' which with Graham Coxon on lead vocals gives him is moment under the spotlight. And he deserves it because his guitar playing is the rock that Blur's music has been built upon ever since 'Beetlebum.' They finish with beautiful, moving 'No Distance Left To Run.' A song about Damon's split with ex-girlfriend, Justine Frisheman from Elastica. But you can't help but feel that this is a bad way to finish a celebration of Blur's ten years together. It’s a song about the end of something great. And surely this isn't the end for Blur. They still have so much to give. They have been such great ambassadors for British music and hopefully this will continue for another ten years.

Sam Cook

Live Reviews
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