Woo-hoo!

If you're planning your weekend around Glastonbury on the telly, I recommend you check out Sunday* night's headliners - the reformed, back to full strength and lovin' it Blur.

I was lucky enough to be in the audience for their pre-Glasto warm-up gig last night at the Manchester Arena and my ears are still ringing. Whatever you may think of Damon Albarn or Alex James or the drummer**, the return of wayward son Graham Coxon has confirmed Blur's position as one of our greatest living pop bands. (Is there some irony to the fact that the Blur member least likely to get called 'a bit of a cock' is the one called Coxon?) Last night proved they're enjoying the hell out of being back together, and unlike a lot of artists with 20 years under their belts, they're shamelessly embracing every part of their back catalogue.

Starting the gig with debut single She's So High, the revitalised foursome tore through one of those amazing greatest hits packages that has you constantly thinking, "Wow, I forgot they had so many fantastic songs". Highlights included a makes-you-feel-twelve-years-younger Girls & Boys; a neverending choir & brass section boosted Tender; yer actual, genuine Phil Daniels guest appearance for Parklife; the classic Madchester-influenced There's No Other Way*** (complete with Damon's surprising confession that when the band were starting out, "Manchester was the only place on the planet" as far as they were concerned); and a closing hat trick of three of my favourites: End Of A Century, the heartbreaking To The End, and a surprising - but hugely welcome - This Is A Low.

But obviously they weren't done yet. Two encores followed, first the thrill-filled trio of Popscene, Advert, and the inevitable, show-stopping, bring-the-house-down-as-the-crowd-goes-mental Song 2.

Yeah, they saved their best two songs till last. Because once the crowd had finally calmed down from getting their heads checked by a jumbo jet, Blur returned with choir, brass and kitchen sink for their most uplifting anthem, The Universal. Yes, it really, really, really could 'appen...

Last night, it did.




*Obviously I'd also recommend you check out tonight's headliner too, if I thought I could persuade anybody who wasn't already a Bruce fan to give him a shot.

**Yes, I know the drummer's name, but he's the drummer. Apologies to any drummers out there, but noteworthy personality isn't often a strong point in that profession.

***If you only watch one video on this page, you have to check out Damon's haircut in this one.