Recently reunited Britpoppers Blur performed their first major concert in six years Sunday night, rocking more than 100,000 fans at the Glastonbury music festival in Somerset, England.The quartet played a 24-song set that spanned their entire career, from hits like “Song 2” and “Coffee and TV” to early singles such as “Parklife” and “To The End.”
Here’s a roundup of reviews from intrepid critics who strapped on their wellies and braved the mud for Blur’s headlining, festival-closing performance:
–“With the set following a similar pattern to the band’s recent intimate warm-up shows, the band seemed to have no problem with the radical increase in scale. ‘I’m enjoying this,’ declared Albarn midway through the set. ‘Thank you!’ ” — NME
–“Blur don’t make this a difficult reconciliation. Glastonbury gets the hits; a loping, luminous version of ‘There’s No Other Way’ and a doleful ‘Badhead,’ dedicated to the festival’s hangovers.” — Spinner
–“Blur began their set with a raucous rendition of ‘Girls & Boys’ and from there on in did not relent. Other songs included ‘Song 2,’ ‘Beetlebum,’ ‘This Is A Low’ and closer ‘The Universal.'” — Gigwise
–“Overcome by the whole occasion, Damon was moved to tears during “To The End.” He had to sit down and take a breather, head in hands. And on encore “Song 2,” he lost it again, this time throwing water at photographers in the pits. He even had to be held back by security guards as the crowd tried to drag him off the stage.” — The Sun
–“Blur: the best Glastonbury headliners in an age? It really, really, really did happen.” — The Guardian
