Murdoc: Gorillaz will "Raze Coachella to the ground"

The Gorillaz Camaro is at full speed, with the album set to drop in less than a week here in magic America. It's a special treat for us Gorillaz fans in the US, be it pasty British ex-pats like myself, or actual brilliant Americans. We were painfully shunned by Blur last year. This year we get our Damon Albarn fueled comeuppance; we get to see Murdoc, "Noodle", 2D (and Russel?) FIRST! Yeah, firsties. Suck it Europe and Japan.
In an interview with The Independent Murdoc Niccals; erstwhile metalhead, Gorillaz leader, and badass bass player, hints at the mind-blowing Californian show to come...

Actually it's funny because I was just thinking about this big concert I'm planning and all the espionage going on around it.

I'm not really prone to excitement, due to all the medication and everything, but this is really something! Something unbelievable. Something that we may even tour until we're skeletons...

We're doing Coachella, this fantastic festival in Palm Springs, near Los Angeles. Great golfing round there. It's like a big hot car park in the middle of the desert. And we've drafted in a whole slurry of big-name guest-stars, so check check check it out. 19 April. 2010. We're going to raze it to the ground.

(FYI, Gorillaz actually play April 18th.)

[independent]

The Independent's review of Blur's Hyde Park Shows: Somebody needs to work on their brand awareness.

The Independent has a pretty decent Hyde Park review...until it gets to this point:

"It's little wonder that Albarn cried at Glastonbury; he looked a little weepy here, too, in-between the manic, vigorous po-going in his classic black Adidas T-shirt and jeans. Albarn's never been so loved. This is his moment – and he's in fine voice."

I'm pretty sure that the classic t-shirt is a Fred Perry polo...I mean that's all I've seen him in for this whole reunion.

Obviously, it's really bastardy of me to be so nit-picky but if you're going to proclaim something a classic, you'd better get it right.

Blur's Glasto performance a critical triumph

Wow. It seems everyone was blown away by Blur's headlining performance. Every review I've read has been absolutely glowing. This can only mean good things for Blur fans right? Maybe Blur will be inspired to continue together and write a new album, or will it egg them into a few American dates? What about that vintage Blur photo-shoot t-shirt Graham wore! It was an emotional night, one that brought a few tears to this fan's eyes (and that was just watching it through a dodgy internet stream).

Here are a few quotes from the press:

Tim Jonze from The Guardian : "It's at this point – when previously dismissed tracks acquire a new life of their own – that you realise something truly magical is going on. Because tonight's headline slot is not just about the music. It's not even about nostalgia. It's about friendship – and the truly heartwarming sight of two best friends throwing aside their differences and starting afresh."

Laura Barton from The Guardian : "The audience, elated, even a touch delirious, wills them on; when Albarn's voice gives way a little in Beetlebum, the crowd rushes to catch it. Tender, one of the set's many highlights, is greeted with a warm rush of approval. "I'd forgotten they're a singalong band!" says the man to my right, as the band stops and starts, revs up the chorus once more and then falls silent, the sudden quiet filled by several thousand festival-goers softly singing the song's chorus: "Oh my baby," they lilt, "Oh my baby. Oh why. Oh why." It is one of the sweetest moments of the festival. Their efforts are duly rewarded with an ebulliant rendition of Country House, a song which acquires greater resonance here tonight for the muddy-booted masses. And for Alex James of course."

Nick Hasted from the Independent: "But is Blur, and Damon Albarn's tearful wrestling with his own Glastonbury moment, that makes this year's festival great."

More news and pictures from:

NME: Blur Close Glastonbury In Epic Fashion
Gigwise: Blur Unleash Emotional Headline Set At Glastonbury Festival 2009
BBC: Blur Bring Curtain Down On Glasto
The Sun: Blur Wows Glasto
MTV: Blur Close Glastonbury