pics: Blur and Courtney Barnett @ Madison Square Garden

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

“It looks like we made it to the end,” Albarn sang in “To the End,” a certainty in numbers that kept turning up all evening: in the gospel pastiche “Tender” from 1999’s 13; the young, clinging lovers of “For Tomorrow” on Modern Life Is Rubbish; even during the brittle isolation of 13’s “Trimm Trabb.” Albarn sang much of that song bent over a cluster of fans in the front, as if lying on a bed of adulation; at one point, as he intoned the line “I sleep alone,” a hand reached up like contradiction, stroking his head with a soothing-angel’s touch.

“Tonight, for us, is about saying thank you,” Albarn announced before singing “End of a Century” from Parklife. It was actually something he said repeatedly, citing friends, family, the crowd and colleagues like Street. But Blur at the Garden was also a victory earned – celebrated with perfect timing. – [Rolling Stone]

Blur played a very enjoyable, favorites-filled set at Madison Square Garden on Friday night (10/23), their biggest NYC show ever. Opening was Australia’s Courtney Barnett (who can headline pretty big places herself these day) who then stuck around NYC to play the slightly smaller Baby’s All Right on Saturday night (10/23).

More pics, and Courtney’s MSG setlist, below…

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Courtney Barnett

SETLIST: Courtney Barnett @ Madison Square Garden 10/23/2015
Avant Gardener
Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party
Small Poppies
Depreston
Elevator Operator
An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York)
Dead Fox
Pedestrian at Best

Blur