Blur - Live in Irvine, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, 14/6/1997

After initially beating Oasis in the Battle of Britpop almost two years prior, Blur became overshadowed and completely swept away by the raging cyclone known as (What's The Story) Morning Glory? and were firmly planted as the second best Britpop band.

So from the ashes, rose a new band, and a completely new sound. Favoring influences of indie bands from the US, Blur produced a record completely foreign, because it wasn't Britpop.

The lead single, "Beetlebum" set the tone for the record. Despite completely abandoning Britpop, it worked, and they finally managed to do the one thing that all U.K. bands strive for: They made it in America.

Whole only charting as high as 61 on the Billboard 200 (Oasis opened at number 2), the single, "Song 2" helped massively. Top 10 in Alternative Radio, Top 25 in Mainstream Rock and top 60 in Radio.

It's ironic that despite their being much better songs than "Song 2", it's Blur's best known song.

In June of 1997, Blur are actually in the middle of a tour in the USA, which includes the KROQ Weenie Roast (they finally got that ad on KROQ). This show is quite an interesting moment for music. Blur and Oasis are performing on the same stage (I wonder if Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn slow-danced backstage and made up), Radiohead are about to change the musical landscape forever with OK Computer, Dave Grohl is about the step out of the impossible shadow of Kurt Cobain with The Colour And The Shape, and Oasis are about release the most anticipated album of the 90's since In-Utero... All of these storylines are happening right here, right now, in Irvine, California.

Setlist:
Intro: 0:00
Beetlebum: 0:28
M.O.R.: 6:31
Country Sad Ballad Man: 10:08
Girls & Boys: 15:28
Chinese Bombs: 19:38
Song 2: 21:08
Outro PA: 23:11

#blur #damonalbarn #grahamcoxon