Parklive: Blur at Hyde Park

Blur marked their return on Sunday (12 August 2012) with a performance at Hyde Park. The same venue they played three years ago, before taking a little Blur holiday.

As widely reported, the band’s sound was a little on the lowside. The result somewhat resembled a scene from Sound Destruction Device’s formative years where SDD would be regularly ‘asked’ to turn ‘that noise down!’

Teenage angst aside, the sound issues didn’t appear to affect Blur at all, who were as passionate, electric - and excellent - as ever.

Under the Westway (image taken from: http://blur.co.uk/hydepark2012).

Performing under a stage set inspired by their latest single, ‘Under the Westway’, the band kicked off proceedings with ‘Girls and Boys’. Alex James’ opening bass line greeted with an emphatic cheer from the crowd.

Throughout the show, Graham Coxon, who was wearing the ‘The Abyss’ t-shirt he used to wear during Blur's heyday, laid into his guitar as if it was an untamed beast.  Somehow managing to keep it in-check - a bit like some kind of horse whisper… but for guitars.

The delightful ‘Young and Lovely’, a B-side from their ‘Modern Life is Rubbish’ era, has been given a new lease of life over the last couple of weeks, and raised its head once again. Here's a clip of a recent airing at Maida Vale:

An emotional Damon Albarn, fuelled by the adulation of the audience, threw himself around the stage before jumping into the crowd to hold aloft a Union Jack. He was chatty throughout the concert, stopping to praise Mo Farah's recent gold winning exploits and the BBC's ad-free coverage of the Games.

The visible emotion from Albarn and co served to strengthen rumours that this would be Blur’s last ever performance. Earlier, James had tweeted: “Cried during utw (‘Under the Westway’) in soundcheck #emotional #blur #westway#.”

Absolute Radio, who transmitted the show live, even went as far to say this was Blur’s final show. Did they know something we didn’t?

You couldn’t help wondering. And as the set continued, each song felt increasingly poignant, especially ‘This is a Low’ and ‘Sing’ and set closer‘The Universal’.

Albarn, tears in his eyes, saluted the crowd before departing the stage. As the audience drifted away, they could be heard singing‘Tender’ and ‘Country House’ at the top of their voices.

If this is the end then Blur bow out on a high and leave Hyde Park triumphant.

We got our hands on a Blur milk carton - as seen in the ‘Coffee and TV’ video. Note the 12 August best before date.

For everyone that couldn't be there or were there, but couldn't hear it, a DVD and CD recording will be released later this year. November we think.

Alternatively you can download an audio recording from iTunes now.