Sound: Good to very good audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Song 2, Girls and Boys, Movin' On, Oily Water, Stereotypes, M.O.R., To the End, End of a Century, Inertia, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, On Your Own, Parklife, The Universal, Sing

Comments: This is a fairly rare show; Blur warming up for the fan club gig the next month. The sound has the feel of a big show (it *was* in England after all!). Great set list that the first half of 1997 would be based on. Oily Water is excellent, and This Is a Low is beautiful. It sounds strange to hear the crowd's unfamiliarity with the new material, although the album wasn't released until the day of the fan club gig a month later.

Sound: Excellent soundboard

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Song 2, Girls and Boys, Movin' On, Oily Water, Stereotypes, M.O.R., To the End, End of a Century, Inertia, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, On Your Own, Parklife, The Universal, Sing

Comments: At first I thought this was a less complete version of the 3/8/97 Philadelphia show, because of the very similar sets. However, the Philly show has some songs not found here, and the between song banter is different. This is indeed the fan club gig from February 1997, the day the Blur album was released. This is an excellent and powerful show. The version of Beetlebum that opens the show is simply gorgeous, and Movin' On and Stereotypes are blasts of power! Inertia is a rarity, and the most punkish version I have ever heard of Advert is great! Excellent show.

Sound: Excellent soundboard

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set list:

Beetlebum, Song 2, Girls and Boys, Movin' On, Oily Water, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, M.O.R., To the End, End of a Century, Inertia, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, On Your Own, Look Inside America, Parklife, The Universal, Sing

Comments: A really great and LOUD show in front of what sounds like a small and intimate crowd. There are a lot of nice surprises, like Oily Water, Look Inside America, Inertia, and Sing! And the playing is as good as ever, even though you can tell they are sick of Parklife. One of my favorite shows!

Sound: Excellent soundboard

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Song 2, Girls and Boys, Movin' On, Colin Zeal, Stereotypes, M.O.R., To the End, End of a Century, Inertia, Popscene, Supa Shopper, Parklife, The Universal

Comments: This show has amazing sound....crisp and clear. Some of the best bass playing by Alex I have ever heard, including the best live version of Stereotypes my ears have experienced! The show is played incredibly well, and Inertia sounds so eerie and beautiful. Colin Zeal starts out with earthquake bass and drums before exploding into a great middle section. This is one of my favorite shows from the great live year of 1997.

Sound: Excellent audience

Time: Approx. 2 Hours

Set List:

Beetlebum, Song 2, Girls and Boys, Movin' On, Colin Zeal, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, M.O.R., To the End, End of a Century, Inertia, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Bank Holiday, Supa Shopper, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, Commercial Break, On Your Own, Look Inside America, Parklife, The Universal, Sing

Comments: This is a very good show. The crowd sounds REALLY into it...they sing along and shout things like "Damon you rule! Blur rules!"....not the typical USA response! There are some treats, like Stereotypes, which wasn't played much after 1996, and Commercial Break and Look Inside America, which has a wistful vocal from Damon. This Is a Low is wonderful. Good show.

Sound: Very good soundboard

Time: Approx. 15 Minutes

Set List:

Country Sad Ballad Man, Look Inside America, On Your Own

Comments: 3 very nice acoustic and drumless versions of songs from the then new album. Dave was sick and not in the studio, hence the no drums...he was resting up for the next night's gig. Real nice sound too.

Sound: Very good audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Girls and Boys, Movin' On, Coping, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, M.O.R., To the End, End of a Century, Inertia, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Bank Holiday, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, Song 2, On Your Own, Look Inside America, Parklife, The Universal, Sing

Comments: An excellent all around show....this one *sounds* BIG. The crowd, the songs, the playing....it feels more like a British Blur show than an American one. There's a lot of little in between song goofing around, and the set list is well picked, and really well played. The Popscene/Chinese Bombs/Advert/Bank Holiday sequence is powerful, like one continuous punk blast. Overall, a great show that is as big and grand as it sounds (good recording quality too!) 

Sound: Excellent soundboard

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, M.O.R., To the End, End of a Century, Girls and Boys, This Is a Low, Song 2, On Your Own, Look Inside America, Parklife, The Universal

Comments: This is a very good show, although Graham's guitar is out of tune at the beginning of Stereotypes. The set is a nice mix of old and new, considering Blur's disdain for some songs in their back catalogue. Most of the set is taken up airing the new album's material live. Look Inside America is really beautiful and The Universal is a great ending. This show is shorter than most, being from a radio broadcast but there are no edits so it is complete.

Sound: Very good audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Movin' On, Jubilee, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, M.O.R., To the End, She's So High, Swallows in a Heatwave, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Girls and Boys, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, You're So Great, Song 2, On Your Own, Parklife, Look Inside America, The Universal, Sing

Comments: This is another good show from the Japan mini-tour. The sets were always full of surprises for these shows (see 6/3/97), and this one has You're So Great, which was very rarely, if ever played live. The show itself is excellent and very powerful, and sequencing of songs is slightly different which makes it even more of a treat. I especially enjoyed hearing Country Sad Ballad Man right after a great version of Stereotypes. This Is a Low is a gorgeous version too.

Sound: Excellent audience

Time: Approx. 2 Hours

Set List:

Beetlebum, Movin' On, Jubilee, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, M.O.R., To the End, She's So High, Swallows in a Heatwave, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Bank Holiday, Girls and Boys, Beard, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, Fried, Song 2, On Your Own, Supa Shopper, Parklife, Strange News From Another Star, The Universal, Sing

Comments: This show has a really loose sounding atmosphere and as such, within the great playing are quite a few gems, such as the only known performance to this time of Beard, a rare version of Fried, and the first ever time the hardly-ever played Strange News From Another Star was played. The rest of the show is a typical killer 1997 show with some great improvs in between songs. Great sound too! 

Sound: Very good audience

Time: Approx. 45 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Movin' On, M.O.R., Country Sad Ballad Man, Girls and Boys, On Your Own, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Bank Holiday, Song 2

Comments: Blur's set from this yearly concert is really good. Country Sad Ballad Man is a heavier version than most I've heard at the end and it works really well. The entire second half of the set is one long punk inspired rock-out that is so exciting, ending with a wild Song 2. Too bad they weren't allowed a longer set! 

Sound: Very good audience

Time: Approx. 45 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Song 2, Girls and Boys, Movin' On, Oily Water, M.O.R., End of a Century, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Death of a Party, On Your Own, Parklife

Comments: This was Blur's set from the annual festival that KROQ throws every year in California. The sound is really good and the playing is fast and great. Beetlebum is a great version and Movin' On sounds great, followed by an eerie and heavy Oily Water. Advert has some amazing bass from Alex and the set ends with a fast paced Parklife. Too short, as this one is really good!

Sound: Very good audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Movin' On, Jubilee, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, Look Inside America, She's So High, Swallows In a Heatwave, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Bank Holiday, Song 2, On Your Own, Parklife, I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, M.O.R.

Comments: La Luna sounds like a small club from the feeling I get off this tape. Damon seems to strain with his voice a little during Beetelbum, but that soon goes away and this show is very strong and energetic. Alex and Dave indulge in some background music during Damon's talking to the crowd, and they even get into Whole Lotta Love with Graham after Song 2! Some fans keep yelling, and then CHANTING "Oasis sucks!"...I love it! Really great sound on this.

Sound: Excellent audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetletbum, Movin' On, Jubilee, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, Coping, She's So high, Swallows In the Heatwave, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Bank Holiday, Girls and Boys, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, Song 2, On Your Own, Paklife, Look Inside America, I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, M.O.R.

Comments: This is a very good show, although the band doesn't seem to enjoy playing. Their playing is great, but Damon hardly addresses the crowd and when he does he sounds like he doesn't want to be bothered by them. There are some good rare songs here played live, such as Look Inside America and I'm Just a Killer For Your Love. Overall, this is just another show but a very good one. 

Sound: Very good soundboard

Time: Approx. 30 Minutes

Set List:

Chinese Bombs, Swallows In the Heatwave, Country Sad Ballad Man, I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, Song 2

Comments: There don't appear to be any cuts on the recording, and since this is listed as the last date of Blur's summer U.S. tour of 1997, I am assuming maybe it was a promo show or radio broadcast, as there are people introducing them. The playing is really loose and great, including a botched-up false start to Chinese Bombs. Country Sad Ballad Man is great and a particularly heavy Song 2 ends it. Nice sound too.

Sound: Very good to excellent audience

Time: Approx. 2 Hours

Set List:

Beetlebum, Stereotypes, Movin' On, M.O.R., There's No Other Way, Globe Alone, Country Sad Ballad Man, To the End, Popscene, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Bank Holiday, Girls and Boys, Death of a Party, The Universal, Theme From Retro, On Your Own, I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, Coping, Country House, Parklife, For Tomorrow, Song 2, Sing

Comments: Blur's complete set from this yearly British festival. It's a HOT show with great playing and lots of energy! The organ at the beginning of To the End has some problems and gets really annoying....it kind of ruins the mood of this great song. Country Sad Ballad Man is great, and this show should offer already solid support that in Beetlebum, besides a great song, Blur had one hell of an opener. The encore section rocks out, and a rare Country House is played in what must be the latest it has ever been played, excluding the singles-night shows from December 1999. Some moron keeps yelling for Song 2 from the beginning. I also have this show on complete video, shot from the crowd.

Sound: Excellent soundboard

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetelbum, M.O.R., Movin' On, Stereotypes, Country Sad Ballad Man, She's So high, To the End, Popscene, Girls and Boys, Death of a Party, The Universal, Theme From Retro

Comments: This is a very good festival show, although Damon is recovering form a bout with the flu (he mentions it), and his vocals seem very strained on To the End. However, elsewhere he sounds fine. Graham's guitar is severely out of tune and affects Stereotypes, but overall this is a solid, good set with Alex playing some great basslines and the band really playing quite well.

Sound: Very good audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Movin' On, M.O.R., There's No Other Way, Globe Alone, Badhead, Country Sad Ballad Man, She's So High, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Popscene, Bank Holiday, Girls and Boys, Death of a Party, The Universal, Intermission, Theme From Retro, On Your Own, Parklife, Coping, I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, Song 2

Comments: It's hard to believe Blur is still not popular in America, as the crowd is crazy at this show. The playing is excellent...there doesn't really seem to be a BAD 1997 show! Strange to see Globe Alone, as they had disowned The Great Escape by then, and Badhead was a rarity in the Parklife days! Great version. There is a great segue from the beginning of Chinese Bombs all the way through the end of Bank Holiday....brutal stuff!

Sound: Very good audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, Movin' On, M.O.R., There's No Other Way, Globe Alone, Badhead, Country Sad Ballad Man, She's So High, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Popscene, Bank Holiday, Girls and Boys, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, Theme From Retro, On Your Own, Parklife, Coping, I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, Song 2

Comments: A very high-energy show in front of a crazy crowd. Every time I listen to American Blur shows, I am surprised to hear the rapturous crowd only because they really aren't as popular over here as they are everywhere else (they certainly should be!). Globe Alone followed by Badhead is a great combo, as always, and Damon's singing is just great. This whole show is just another great, energetic and slick one from 1997, which I keep saying was a great live year for them (well, it was!).

Sound: Very good audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, M.O.R., There's No Other Way, Slow Down, Globe Alone, Chemical World, Badhead, Country Sad Ballad Man, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Popscene, Bank Holiday, Girls and Boys, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, On Your Own, Parklife, Coping, I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, Song 2

Comments: This is a great show. Nice sound and a real interesting setlist with rarities like Badhead, Slow Down (!) and Globe Alone. Greta playing, and as usual, the "medley" from Chinese Bombs to Bank Holiday is blistering! I'm Just a Killer For Your Love is awesome. Great show!

Sound: Excellent soundboard

Time: Approx. 30 Minutes

Set List:

Girls and Boys, Beetlebum, Badhead, There's No Other Way, Chinese Bombs, Death of a Party, On Your Own, Parklife, Song 2

Comments: This is not the complete show, but a half-hour fragment in excellent soundboard sound. The playing is very good. I was quite surprised to hear Badhead....it's a really nice version! Alex plays some amazing basslines at the end of On Your Own that are all over the place, and Death Of a Party is downright hypnotic.

Sound: Excellent audience

Time: Approx. 90 Minutes

Set List:

Beetlebum, M.O.R., There's No Other Way, Colin Zeal, Globe Alone, Popscene, On Your Own, She's So High, For Tomorrow, Country Sad Ballad Man, Chinese Bombs, Advert, Bank Holiday, Girls and Boys, Death of a Party, This Is a Low, Theme From Retro, The Universal, Parklife, Coping, I'm Just a Killer For Your Love, Song 2

Comments: The sound on this show is murky for the first verse of Beetlebum but then clears up very nicely and is crisp and loud! The playing is excellent and this is a very punk-sounding show. Advert is sandwiched between the speed metal of Chinese Bombs and the thrash punk of Bank Holiday. This Is a Low is a great version, and a brutal and seamless segue into I'm Just a Killer For Your Love leads into the final blowout of Song 2. This is another very good 1997 show.