Well it was great to get to the Olympics and London 2012 at last. A fun morning spent at the men’s marathon was followed by a trip to
The event was a mix of the remaining Olympic action on the big screens and live music, kicking off which was a very accomplished Bombay Bicycle Club followed by the latest version of New Order.
From midway back, New Order seemed a bit lost in such a vast arena. The sound as has been reported was not particularly loud and the delay speakers are all to the left (looking at the stage) side of the park which did not help if you were standing on the right.
The Specials were thoroughly entertaining as the hits poured fourth but really, I think both these bands are now better suited to indoor venues, where they would blow the roof off.
Then it was dark and the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics Games hit the big screens. At 9.10 these images were replaced by a large Blur sign as the band came onto the stage and launched into a four song segment from Parklife, which turned out to be the album of choice of the night, even though every Blur album was represented.
This was an appropriate set to tie in the recent re-release of the entire back catalogue and the Blur connoisseurs would have been pleased. Khyam Allam added some lovely strings to ‘Out of Time’ on his oud lute and Phil Daniels and Harry Enfield (as a tea lady) starred on ‘Parklife’
Song 2, No Distance Left to Run, Tender and This Is a Low all hit the mark at the end of the main set.The encore brought new song Under the West way (The Hammersmith Flyover was the backdrop on main stage all night) which Damon said had been recorded last February just for this gig. It is a superb song so hopefully they recorded some more at the same time!
Here’s to next time then (?) but, not
Pete
Girls & Boys
Jubilee
Beetlebum
Coffee & TV
Out of Time (with Khyam Allami)
Young & Lovely
Trimm Trabb
Caramel
Sunday Sunday
Country House
Parklife
Popscene
Advert
Song 2
No Distance Left to Run
Tender
This Is a Low
Encore:
Sing
Under The Westway
Intermission
End of a Century
For Tomorrow
The Universal