“Yeah, man. The truth of Coachella, isn't it? Second week. Music fans! People who appreciate music! Sounds good to me.”
Blur performing a cheeky, almost shambolic version of Song 2 at Coachella, during the second weekend of performances, 20 April 2024. Damon commented on how the crowd seemed a little better this weekend, compared to the previous week where he'd complained about the dead crowd, saying 'you're never going to fucking see us again, you may as well sing along.'
This week, he noted the oft-repeated myth about how the first weekend of Coachella gets the influencer crowd, the second week tends to get the music fans.
He seemed kind of bashful throughout the performances of both Girls and Boys and Song 2, before slightly settling into a more serious performance on The Narcissist and set closer Tender.
A friend of mine to whom I showed the Girls And Boys performance said they looked unrehearsed, it sounded a mix between that and arsing around, but when they (and in particular Damon) did pull it together, they sounded fantastic. That almost-growl on Song 2 was not something I expected Damon to be able to pull off, but it sounded gorgeous, powerful, rock n roll.
They can't end it like this. One of two: we need the Wembley show mixed, mastered and pro-shot (I have heard whispers that this is in fact in the works), and/or we need a last tour to stops that actually care about Blur the musicians. Not the influencers, but fans. Fuck, I don't even think North American fans are going to get this one. Throw us under the bus. I'd even be happy if they did one last triumphant run back in England (I'm seeing Pulp this fall, so I win anyway).