The music Gods have been shining on the concert goers in IMMA of late with the fair weather and tonight was no exception. Both Natasha Kahn and Damon Albarn commented on the dark grey clouds overhead but assured the crowd there would be no rain. I missed the first support band not only due to tardiness but also because we took a tour around the photographic exhibition Blur 21 in the great hall in Kilmainham.

Bat for Lashes took to the stage promptly at 7.15 and put on a great set including all her hits “What’s a girl to do?”, “Laura” and “Daniel”. Natasha Kahn is quite a mesmerizing artist and her music is like the soundtrack to a Gothic Hammer horror from the 1970’s which is a compliment in my book. Although I am not terribly familiar with her back catalogue, husband has 2 of her albums and I have heard them in the background on occasion but after seeing her live I will be digging the CDs out for a proper listen.

Blur arrived out at 9pm opening with Girls and Boys and following with a good mix from Leisure, Modern Life is Rubbish, and Park Life for the beginning section. Phil Daniels put in an appearance to the delight of the crowd. The encore opened with a more mellow collection of songs like Tender, under the westway and the Universal but ended with the big crowd pleaser of Song 2 to send people on there way with a spring in their step.

It was an amazing crowd in Kilmainham tonight with families bringing their kids, grandparents, über hipsters, a guy who looked like Neil from the young ones and a dude dressed like Don Johnson circa Miami Vice, and each and everyone had a great time as pints were spilt and splifs were smoked in a big field where people gathered to worship at the altar of Damon Albarn.

Setlist – Blur – Kilmainham, Dubiln – 01-08-13:

Girls & Boys

Popscene

There’s No Other Way

Beetlebum

Out of Time

Trimm Trabb

Caramel

Young & Lovely

Coffee & TV

Tender

To the End

Country House

Parklife – with Phil Daniels

End of a Century

This Is a Low

Encore:

Under the Westway

For Tomorrow

The Universal

Song 2

Review by LAW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIEsmGzo2UE