Happy Birthday to Damon Albarn!

Another day, another year! The Blur frontman turns 51 today on March 23 2019. To celebrate, we've compiled a series of photos featuring Albarn throughout the years. Enjoy!

Watch the Best Live Damon Albarn Performance of 2018

It's that time of the year again where we re-live all that Damon Albarn has done. Whether it be Gorillaz or Blur, he has sure achieved a lot. Now, we recently stumbled across some live footage of Gorillaz's acoustic performance at KROQ, and we were extremely impressed with Damon Albarn's upbeat mood and amazing singing. He was, to put it simply, outstanding in his vocals, pitch, tone and energy.

Take a look below and let us know what you think!

Blur- the 20-year challenge

Here's the 20-year challenge for Blur- the band that will forever live on in fans' hearts as the 90s, youthful Britpop wonder that changed British music for a whole generation. Note- we couldn't do the 10-year challenge as Blur was not active in 2019 and we could not find any group photos!

Did they change at all?

3 times Gorillaz foreshadowed Brexit, and all it's consequences

Let's face it- Gorillaz is a political band. They've always sung about society- from guns, drugs to presidential elections. Damon Albarn's a man who loves social commentary, and he feels strongly for the recent turn of events in the world, including the US elections and of course, the infamous Brexit incident that everyone in the UK is anxious to talk about.

Here's a roundup of the 3 best Gorillaz songs that talk about all things Brexit, even if it isn't immediately obvious.

1) Humility

Given the references to loneliness and isolation in the lyrics ("Calling the world from isolation 'Cause right now, that's the ball where we be chained And if you're coming back to find me You'd better have good aim Shoot it true I need you in the picture") it's not surprising that many fans have inferred that Gorillaz has spoken to us about Brexit. The UK leaving the EU invokes fears of isolation, nationalism and extremist attitudes, not to mention that the UK will well and truly be lonely- in every sense of the word.



2) Clint Eastwood

Gorillaz's biggest hit may uncover more than you think- the lyrics are apt, chilling and telling ("My future is coming on It's coming on It's coming on It's coming on It's coming on") and invokes feelings of uncertainty, confusion and...chaos amidst the tripping, happy tune. It may not be obvious, but this Gorillaz tune may be darker than you think.



3) Hallelujah Money

This is the most politically-drive, statement-making song from The Now Now, Gorillaz's latest spine-chilling album. This song features singer Benjamin Clementine and explores the themes of power, big business and humanity. Legend has it that it was inspired by Donald Trump and most definitely Brexit- it's a true foreshadowing of the future, and all of it's negative effects on humanity.

Damon Albarn does the 20-year challenge - has he changed?

We all know that Blur frontmen don't age- or do they? Here's Damon Albarn doing the 20-year challenge (if he had Facebook, he'd be proud) as we see him in 2019 and 1999. 

What do you think of the change?

Damon Albarn- the 10 Year Challenge

Since everyone's into the 10-year challenge (if you're living under a rock- check out these funny memes that everyone's been posting), we thought it'd be fun to do one on behalf of Damon Albarn himself. Here is his 10-year challenge!

Has he aged at all?

Damon Albarn working with EDM master Flume on new material

Breaking news- Flume, an EDM producer and DJ has been reported to be working with Damon Albarn for the last 18 months on new material. According to NME, Flume – AKA EDM DJ and producer Harley Streten – is currently working on the follow-up to his second album ‘Skin’, which was released in 2016. He told his audience on a social media post late last year that in 2019 “I’ll be back in your life, I promise,” ending a long hiatus.

According to an old Damon Albarn interview, Albarn has been in the studio with Flume before. Albarn mentioned in passing that he and Flume had worked on something in the studio together. He did give any information on what the tracks were called, when they would be released or specify whether their project would constitute a Gorillaz collaboration or a side project. Speculations have emerged about what exactly the frontman was working on with Flume back then, but new Gorillaz or one-off tracks cannot be struck out.

Anyhow, it's all good news for Damon Albarn fans as it means that something, just maybe, could be coming up.

Stay tuned for more!

Gorillaz performs a rendition of Song 2

On 20 October 2018 at the Demon Dayz Fest LA, Damon Albarn's other well-known band Gorillaz played the familiar Song 2 theme but in characteristic Gorillaz style with dub/funk elements. While recognition was still dawning on the audience, Graham Coxon joined Gorillaz onstage and launched into his original riff before he and Gorillaz went on to perform the classic arrangement to an enthusiastic reception.

Watch below for some fun nostalgia!

The Good, The Bad and The Queen Tour Dates 2018

Head's up, Damon Albarn's supergroup will be touring again and the tickets are selling out fast. The supergroup recently decided to release a new album and they're out and about the UK playing again. For Blur fans out there this is a great chance to see some of Damon Albarn's finest work.

A little about the band- made from the finest of musical royalty, The Good the Bad and the Queen are a project from King of Britpop himself, Damon Albarn. After making his name with Blur and then stepping up his game with the critically acclaimed Gorillaz, Albarn has made a name for himself as one of the most accomplished and innovative musicians around. With Simon Tong (The Verve), Paul Simonon (The Clash), and Tony Allen, legendary drummer of Africa 70.

Earlier this year, Visconti gave an update on the progress of the long-awaited new album:“In the middle of 2017, I started working with Damon Albarn,” he told The Irish Times. “We’re about two thirds of the way through and taking a break, as Damon is off on a Gorillaz tour, but we will resume in April and it will be probably be out before next Christmas,” he revealed.

The producer also said that the album was inspired by the North of England. “It’s an ode to the North of England, bizarrely…it’s sort of set in Blackpool, between Starr Gate and [historic pub] Uncle Tom’s Cabin, if you want to be geographically precise.”
Get your tickets here!

Laser Hair Removal by Pulse Light Clinic

Are you tired of having hair over your body? Sick of shaving all day, every day? I want to introduce to you a lovely clinic called Pulse Light Clinic in London, which offers a special kind of Laser Hair Removal Treatment that is proven to work.  

Laser hair removal works because a concentrated beam of light is aimed at hair. The light is absorbed by the pigment, which damages the follicle enough to retard future growth. Lasers can remove hair for anywhere from several months to years, as the results differ widely from person to person. Different skin tones are suitable for this treatment, but we normally find that the darker the hair and skin the more effective these treatments will be.

I know a lot of women struggle with hair problems, so you definitely should try this out before you decide what it's like. The treatments will be effective soon after the treatment, and it is guaranteed to work.

Laser can actually help with irritating ingrown hairs. Aside from clearer, smoother skin and permanent hair reduction, laser hair removal also boasts benefits including helping to reduce ingrowing hairs and less irritation of the skin. This is because the treatment encourages hair to grow straight. Incredible isn't it? 

Advantages of laser hair removal include:

• Reduction of ingrown hairs
• Smoother skin
• Not having to shave or wax
• Less irritation to the skin
• Permanent hair reduction
• Reduces excessive hair growth ( PCOS)
• Smaller pores & easy stress free body

The best thing about the clinic is that it offers FREE consultations for people. All you have to do is to book yourself for a free consultation and patch test via telephone, online booking or walk in. Pulse Light Clinic is open Monday to Friday 10 am till 8pm across all clinics Bank, Fenchurch Street and Oxford Street). On the weekends the Bank Clinic is open from 10am till 5 pm. Our Oxford Street Clinic is open only on Saturday from 10 am till 5 pm.

At the consultation, a specialist will do a quick assessment of your skin and hair to see if you are suitable for laser hair removal followed by a patch test. After 48 hours you can start your first treatment! Isn't it exciting?

Watch the video to find out more about Pulse Light Clinic's service and please book an appointment if you're interested!

Graham Coxon creates new soundtrack for Netflix Hit Show

Once and future Blur guitarist Graham Coxon has cultivated a solo career since 1998 that has simmered in North America among the Britpop frontrunners’ ardent cult. He’s overdue for a visit, however. Coxon’s upcoming Chicago date is his first since 2005, and part of his first one-man North American tour. “It’ll mainly be acoustic guitar, but I’ll have an electric on hand to make some noise for people who like that sort of thing,” he says.

Coxon is beloved for the barely controlled chaos heard on Blur favorites like “Song 2.” As an ardent student of folk masters Bert Jansch and Davy Graham, Coxon is also adept at fingerstyle acoustic fretwork. His riotous side is deployed on delirious solo cuts like “Advice,” while his melodic acoustic sensibility manifests during songs like “In the Morning.”

“Both approaches have pluses and minuses,” says Coxon. “‘Advice’ is just kind of smacking the hell out of a guitar, whereas ‘In the Morning’ is quite long with a ton of fingerstyle playing.

“They’re exhausting in different ways,” he adds with a laugh.

The soundtrack for Netflix series “The End of the F—ing World” is Coxon’s ninth solo effort. The reception for the black comedy’s quirky score helped coax him onto the road. “It did get quite popular in America, so I thought I could go play that stuff,” he says.

The summery folk of “Walking All Day” taps Coxon’s intuition and spontaneity. “That came out of nowhere,” says Coxon. “The character is slashing with a stick through the forest in his jeans and no top, looking like something out of ‘Deliverance.’ I thought, ‘A country blues kind of thing might fit here.’ It was done in 40 minutes.”

“The Snare” nods to Link Wray’s “Rumble.” “I’m a longtime fan of Link Wray,” says Coxon. “I love that 6/8 rhythm and twangy guitar. I was going for an approximation of underground ’50s and ’60s B-movie music.”

Coxon looks forward to touring on a smaller scale. “I like that romantic idea of having a dead simple setup that I could probably carry in a rucksack,” says Coxon. “I’m traveling in a van with minimal crew, and we’re just going to enjoy a bit of life on the road. Some of my fondest memories during my mid-20s with Blur were looking out the window at changing American countryside, and meeting people at truck stops and restaurants.”

In December, Coxon released “Falling” to support the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a charity directed at reducing suicide among men. “I’ll probably have a go at playing that on the tour,” says Coxon. “It was written by a family friend who took his own life. CALM encourages men to actually talk about stuff if they’re feeling rubbish — don’t keep it inside. It’s also important to care about friends openly and be available. I think men lead by example. If somebody confides in you, you’re more likely to confide in them.”

Coxon’s recent activity includes guesting on stage and in studio with Blur partner Damon Albarn’s band Gorillaz. Blur’s future is unclear, but Coxon isn’t pessimistic. “It’s a never-say-never thing, absolutely,” he says. “I think it’ll happen when we’re all really missing it and we’ve all got time to spare. It’s a lovely job. You get to play big places, you’re fed well and stay in a decent hotel. You play a nice guitar through an amplifier that’s turned up loud, and you see a lot of smiling faces.”

* Graham Coxon, 8 p.m. Sept. 21, Park West, 322 W. Armitage, $29.50 (18+over);ticketfly.com.

Source: https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/graham-coxon-blur-music-chicago-things-to-do/