The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, October 3, 1997 Page: 13 of 20
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imon Albarn flies around
the room in the video for "Song 2,"
he's not using special effects, Albarn
has more than enough energy to fill
his role as British band Blur's lead
singer,
Playing at Numbers last Mon-
day, the four-member band took the
stage at half past ten. following
Sinashmouth, who gave a
suprisingly energeVic and entertain-
ing opening performance. Although
their only large hit thus far is "Walk-
ing on the Sun." their set revealed
quite obviously that the odds of them
being a one-hit wonder are less than
you would think.
The show, however, belonged to
Blur. ......
One of the three defining bands
of modern Brit-pop, the founding
members, singer Albarn and guitar-
ist Graham Coxon have worked to-
gether since 1980, when Albarn met
Cyxon in the school choir. Since
then, the two lads from Essex added
Alex James on bass and Dave
Kowniree on drums and eventually
named themselves Blur in 1989.
After an hour and a
half's worth of whoo-
* hoo's from various
members of the
sweaty audience, the
Anglocentric band
appeased the
masses and ended
with theiriatest hit.
Their name is ironically indica-
tive of their musical progression over
their eight years together. Always a
frantic mixture of strong sounds and
intensity, the group" finally pin-
pointed a style with their second
album. Modern Life is Rubbish.
With this album, Albarn deliv-
ered insightful thoughts captured in
punchy lyrics while the band found
.
a harder edge by incorporating the
philosophy that rough sounds are
not always indicative of amateurism.
Their sound continued to
progress through various phases
into what now contains a plethora of
otherness, meaning sounds that go
beyond the standard four-person
deal of singer, guitar, bass and
drums.
This is apparent on their newest
alburn, which is self-titled. Back-
ground for the tracks now include
horns, experimental sounds and
more keyboarding
Blur began the night with
"Beetlebum," from their current al-
bum. The song is Blur's o\yn version
of a "love song with which Albarn
warmed his voice, exercising a lan-
guidness that hardly ever gets to
show itself. And true to form, the
slower moments of the show were
few and far between.
The chemistry among the mem-
bers of the band was a balance of
subdued coolness and intense hy-
peractivity. While Albarn jumped
around the stage in various typical
rock-band positions and Rowntree
churned out a constant infectious
beat, Coxon and James looked as if
their heart rates were barely mak-
ing 60 beats per minute.
In fact, the only interaction be-
tween the audience and anyone other
than Albarn was a quick chastise-
ment by Coxon to an ignorant audi-
ence member who didn't realize
there are more ways than the middle
finger to insult a Briton.
Albarn himself rarely spoke to
the audience, but he did empathize
with it by recognizing the heat gen-
erated in the club by the audience's
constant jumping and dancing. To
cool thecrpwd down, he kindly used
his bottled water to spray them in
termitteritly.
His stage presence, however, was
enough to make up for the lack of
verbal interaction. The lead singer
took advantage of the small platform
which jutted into the audience's
space and never hesitated to look at
his crowd. The only disadvantage to
this was that he completely over-
shadowed the other band members.
However, judging from the looks
on their faces, 1 don't think it mat-
tered too much to them.
The other band members looked
ooabout
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Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon. Atex James, and Dave Rowntree. collectivly of Blur, ro'cked Numbers on Monday
the sound as a whole made up tor
anv lack of lyrical distinction
Fheir encore ended with tin-song
it seemed everyone stood wailing
for the whole night "Song
After an hour and a hall's worth ol
whoo-hoo's from various members
of the audience, the Anglocentric
band appeased the masses ;md
ended with their latest ljit.
With a level of energy that never
faltered. Blur ended their show as
easily as they started it. and let! th<
stage wilh an aura of inpeneirabh
intensity
t6 be in their owneuphoric little
world, with Coxon serenely concen-
trating on his excellent guitar line
anfl James maintaining the band's
cool factor by always having a ciga-
rette hanging out of the corner of his
mouth.
Because the band is promoting
their latest seff-titled album, songs
off this album dominated the set.
Highlights of these songs at the
show included "Beetlebum," "Chi-
nese Bombs," and "Look Inside
America." Still, Blur favorites defi-
nitely pleased the crowd the most —
"Girls and Boys" and "There's No
Other Way" exhilarated not only the
fans, but the band as well.
All their songs, however ,whether
new or old, sounded much stronger
live than off the albums.
Blur does not make the mistake,
as some bands do, of making then-
live sets artsy or acoustic. They
refuse to hide behind any facades
and instead pump their sounds to-
intense levels that can only work in
their favor.
Though trying to discern Albarn "s
lyrics wattta pretty impossible task,
United States Foreign Policy Priorities on the
Eve of the Twenty-first Century
ft 4.
-w*ess
m J
mi
m policy
of Rice University
Open Invitation to All Students
The third annual conference of the James A. Baker 111 Institute for Public
Policy will feature former secretaries of state JAMES A BAKER. Ill,
WARREN CHRISTOPHER. HENRY KISSINGER, and CYRUS VANCE
and former president of the Soviet Union MIKHAIL GORBACHEV This
special event is open to all Rice students who are cordially invited to attend.
WHERE: Atitry Court
WHEN: Thursday, October 16 •
9 a.M. ~ 12:30 P.M.
INSTRUCTIONS: Students will be required to show their Rice identifica-
tion siards fit the door in order to attend the conference, Questions
concerning attendance should be directed to the Baker Institute student*
representative or Richard Stoll, assistant director of the Baker Institute, at
<stolflferuf.nce.edu>
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Hardi, Joel & Siy, Angelique. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, October 3, 1997, newspaper, October 3, 1997; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth246602/m1/13/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.