Blur played a surprise free gig in London tonight (June 15) at the Rough Trade East shop.
The instore show, to mark the release of the band’s new collection ‘Midlife: A Beginners Guide To Blur’ which came out today, was Blur’s second gig since they announced their reformation, and followed a ‘friends and family show’ at the East Anglian Railway Museum at the weekend (June 13).
Tonight’s gig was only announced this morning by guitarist Graham Coxon on Twitter, and just 170 fans were able to claim the free wristbands from the box office at the O2 Academy Brixton.
Playing for around an hour, Blur performed a hit heavy set including the likes of ‘For Tomorrow’, ‘Tender’ and ‘Out Of Time’, though there was room for ‘Advert’ from ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’ and ‘Parklife’ album track ‘This Is A Low’, which closed the set.
With the packed crowd enthusiastically filling the record shop, the band were clearly in high spirits after their weekend comeback. Chatting with each other throughout the gig, frontman Damon Albarn joked that Dave Rowntree was “a bit eager” when the drummer came in too early at the start of ‘Girls And Boys’, shortly before singer muddled-up the words himself.
Blur played:
‘She’s So High’
‘Girls And Boys’
‘Advert’
‘For Tomorrow’
‘End Of A Century’
‘Beetlebum’
‘Coffee And TV’
‘Tender’
‘Out Of Time’
‘Popscene’
‘Song 2’
‘Parklife’
‘This Is A Low’
For exclusive pictures of Blur‘s live return get this week’s issue of NME, which hits UK newsstands on Wednesday (June 17).
Watch recent video footage of Blur talking to NME.COM about their reunion by clicking below.
Plus, watch exclusive footage of Blur rehearsing ‘Bank Holiday’ at their North London studio: