Blur announce 2014 dates

Blur have announced Australian, New Zealand, and Japan dates for 2014. The Greatest Hits tour shows no signs of slowing down! 

Very happy for all of you in these places who will get to see them! 

New Album from Hong Kong?

The big news from this week is that onstage in Hong Kong, Damon told the crowd that since their Japanese and Tapei gigs got cancelled, they may spend the free week recording a new album. See the video in this article for the actual quote:

http://www.nme.com/news/blur--2/70142

Or if you just want to see the video:

What do you think? Are you getting your hopes up, or being a bit cynical and skeptical (like me) that this is just Damon saying another thing that ends up not happening? What do you think? Either way, it's made for some interesting debate!

It Starts Today!

The first Blur concert of the year kicks off today in Mexico at El Plaza Condesa, followed by the first festival of the year tomorrow (also in Mexico).

Keep checking here for up-to-the-date info: set lists, photos, etc, and feel free to share your own info!

SHOW: Avalon, Boston, Massachusetts July 18, 2003

In honor of my seeing Blur live 9 years ago today (yes, this is a semi-vanity posting), here's the recording of the very show. You can hear me holler out a "yeah!" right before Beetlebum starts.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/xdunzu

Enjoy!

More Blur News...Olympic Warm-Up Gigs

While the official Blur channels have promised an announcement tonight at midnight, it leaked late last week that Blur will playing 4 UK warm-up gigs in advance of their two European festival dates and massive Olympics Closing Concert in Hyde Park, London, in August. The new dates are:

1 Aug - Winter Gardens, Margate
5 Aug - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
6 Aug - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
7 Aug - Pavilions, Plymouth

 While this is certainly excellent news, I can't help but be a bit bummed, personally, that the US Tour Damon seemed so adamant about earlier in the year is still, for all intents and purposes, looking dead. But I can't be too choosey...it's better just to have them back together being (somewhat) active again.


In related news, Damon mentioned, in an interview on Andrew Marr's show the other night, that Blur will be doing "further recording" and also may play more than one new song at this summer's shows. Enticing news, indeed, although with all of the different proclamations of "this is the end/this isn't the end, no more new music/new music," etc, I don't know what to believe any more!  I'm hopeful for the latter in both cases, but for now I'll remain cautiously optimistic so as to not be let down.


Still, Blur activity this summer, including the forthcoming box set, is always a good thing! It's like a (much) scaled-back version of those years in the 1990s when I hinged on every scrap of news I could find, only easier with the internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc!

New Gig Dates Trickling In...

As of this morning, more gig dates are trickling in. The latest are two festivals in August so far, one in Sweden and one in Denmark.

Keep checking here and my Facebook and Twitter pages for up-to-the-minute info!

COMPLETE set from tonight's gig:

Here's the complete set from tonight:

New Blur Material (UPDATE)

Tonight, Damon and Graham appeared at the War Child UK show tonight and played a short, 3-song set, that included He Thought of Cars, Under the Westway (a brand new song!), and Strange News From Another Star.  There is massive anticipation that Blur will play the new song when they collect their BRIT award on Tuesday and play a short set themselves.  See the video below of the new song, and let me know what you think.  I like it, but am looking forward to hearing it in a full band setting (and hopefully, on a new album!). 

What Might 2012 Bring?

As we get closer to 2012, all is still quiet (non-existent?) on the Blur front.  No news of anything potentially happening, other than Damon casually mentioning in an interview last month that they'd like to do another tour of America (Yes, PLEASE!).

So I ask you, my fellow Blur fanatics...what do you hope for and expect in 2012 from Blur?

I hope for a new album and world tour. Realistically, however, I'm expecting, at most, a one-off single or EP and a gig or two, probably at large festivals or for some benefit, in London (the Olympics?).  And even that might be hoping for too much.

What say you?