Let’s Take A Little Trip

So… 

Me, my friends Archie and Dylan took a little trip to Amsterdam. This week to see one of Britains best bands. Blur! 

Amsterdam is an amazing city and I urge people to give it a visit there is something for everyone! From amazing architecture, to great food, to brilliant nightlife. There’s always something to do.

We spent three days there, and had the best time. From the gig to visiting the Heineken experience but honestly the best thing to do in the great city is to explore. There’s something around every corner, down every little side street. It’s a vibrant city with amazing people!

As for Blur, they blew us away. A 24 song setlist that covered all aspects of there illustrious career. With hit after hit after hit. Of course with this being Blur they weren’t afraid to delve deep into there back catalogue and play some hidden gems.

From lesser known tracks to, b-sides that haven’t been played for a very very long time. It was a set that highlighted just how prolific Blur were. But also just how prolific they still are. The two new songs went down a storm! ‘The Ballad of Darren’ will be very well received, and the songs will become live staples of the set

It was a set that seemed cover all bases, and flowed brilliantly. The set was frantic, fast paced and high energy and when the band did slow things down, with songs like ‘Tender’ ‘This is a Low’ and ‘All Your Life’ it made for a welcome change of pace.

Blur never really faded away. They didn’t have the bad breakup that their peers had. Their vocalist never lost his voice, it also helps that musically they are comfortably the best Britpop band. When you watch them live you can see that, it’s evident! 

Damon’s voice is still as distinct as ever, he can still hit the high notes in ‘Girls & Boys’ and ‘Villa Rosie’ and he was always a master at getting a crowd hyped. None of that has gone away, he was on fine form.

Graham Coxton, is one of Britains best guitarists (yes I said it) and he seemed to make it look effortless in Amsterdam rifling through riffs and solos like they were going out of fashion. His singing voice is impeccable too, he absolutely nailed ‘Coffee & TV’.

Alex held everything together, his bass playing is a very under appreciated part of Blur’s sound and hearing it live you realise just how important it is.

Dave deserves some huge props he put on a drumming master class, whilst on crutches!  We didn’t know he was injured until they walked back on for an encore! What a hero.

I’ll leave you with one final note, watching a Blur reunion was special, they are one of Britains most well loved, and important bands. Away from that though, it’s four mates. You get the feeling some bands do a reunion to prove a point or line their pockets. Damon, Graham, Alex and Dave do it because they want to go on the road with their mates. I take a bit of solace in that

The band played. 

‘St Charles Square’

‘There’s No Other Way’

‘Popscene’

‘Trouble in the Message Centre’

‘Tracy Jacks’

‘Chemical World’

‘Beetlebum’

‘Trimm Trabb’

‘Villa Rosie’

‘Colin Zeal’

‘All Your Life’

‘Coffee & TV’

‘End of a Century’

‘Stereotypes’

‘Parklife’

‘To the End’

‘Sing’

‘Advert’

‘Song 2’

‘This is a Low’

‘Girls & Boys’

‘Tender’

‘The Narcissist’ 

‘The Universal’

Thank you for reading x 

And for 16 year old Jack. It really really did happen!