Review: Blur – El Plaza Condesa Mexico Gig
Written by Guillermo Torres
Every Blur fan knows that before the first big gig at every tour, a warm-up show is going to be played… and that is the case for this specific show.
The Plaza Condesa is small venue
located in the most “cultural-artistic-hipster” neighborhood in Mexico City: La
Condesa. The place used to be a movie theater back in the 1960’s, so it has a
1,900 people capacity. Almost two years
ago, it was refurbished for concert purposes, and by the end of last year
hosted bands such as M83, Morrissey, Underworld, Dead Can Dance and Marillion.
However, never had there been a show where tickets were sold out in less than
five minutes, like it happened with the Blur warm-up show on the evening of
March 15th 2013.
The expectations were really high-
you may imagine how it felt to wait 10 years to have your favorite band back in
town playing a live concert. There were people who queued more than nine hours
before the doors opened, and scalpers were everywhere, asking for up to £400
per ticket (when the original cost was £42).
So the show started with the
non-album single “Popscene”. Can you
imagine how crazy the crowd got? Everyone were screaming and jumping, and the
sounds were close to perfect! Then Blur played “There’s No Other Way”, “Girls & Boys” and ”Tracy Jacks”…My first thought were:
these guys sound just like they did the last time I saw them- you got it, ten
years ago! But a few minutes later, I realized I was wrong; their sound that
night was the best I had ever heard.
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| Thank You - Graham Coxon 2013 |
“Jubilee”, “Beetlebum” and “Out Of Time” were up next. These songs were emotional, raw, and I was crying by then. I do believe that Blur and the rest of the band were also surprised and amazed at the level of response from the people. “Trimm Trabb”, “Caramel” and the other hits were played next. And then came one of the most chorused songs of the night: “Coffee and TV”…
“Tender” was a
really emotional moment in the show, but the three songs “Country House”, “Parklife” (with
no Phil Daniels) and “Song 2” were
enough to put everyone’s spirits to the top. “Advert”, “End Of The Century” and “This Is A Low" were the last ones from the main gig set list.
The moment of the night, without a
doubt, was when Blur performed “Under
The Westway”. By this time, we all knew that we were close to the end. “For Tomorrow” and “The Universal” were the songs that closed the show.
Great Band + Great Venue = One the
greatest gigs I’ve ever attend!
I can’t wait to the see them at Coachella
again!
Guillermo Torres
(@ElPincheTorres on Twitter)
Pictures by Geraldine
(@arreborriquito on Twitter)
March 15th 2013
Blur Tour 2013 - Full dates and rundown HERE