It's been a long time coming, but yes… finally… Blur are set to premiere their first batch of new music in 9 years (one-off Record Store Day single "Fool's Day" dropped exclusively in the UK back in 2010). As promised via cryptic Instagram tweets and then an official announcement by bassist Alex James, the band will be performing the new songs "Under The Westway" and "The Puritan" (written especially for their upcoming Olympics closing ceremony gig in London's Hyde Park) from an undisclosed location in London and streaming the results for your viewing pleasure exclusively through Twitter.
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"Under The Westway" kicks off at 6:15pm BST (1:15pm EST), followed by an interview with the band and then a performance of "The Puritan" at 7:15pm (2:15pm EST).
I've got a fresh pot of coffee brewing and will be live-blogging the entire Blur-tastic event right here, so keep refreshing this page and be sure to head over to blur.co.uk/livestream to catch the performances and interview live!
Here we go…
12:53
A little less than half an hour to go. Coffee's brewed, smells fantastic. So ready for this!
12:59
We've gotten a little bit of a taste of what to expect on YouTube. Curious how the full band arrangements will sound.
1:10
Five minutes!!!
1:16
Seriously considering blowing my remaining life savings on a copy of Blur 21. Who's with me?
1:17
Hello London. Hello Marshall amplifiers. Hello boys!
1:18
Sounds more or less like how Damon and Graham performed it... wistfully sad upright piano, minimal electric guitars. Would've fit nicely on The Great Escape, don't you think?
1:19
Video's having a little trouble buffering, as expected. How many of you guys are watching out there??
1:20
"Am I lost out at sea / til the tide washed me / up off the westway..."
1:21
Amazing song. Okay, Twitter Q&A time! Tweet your questions with the #Blur hashtag and follow @BlurOfficial to see their responses.
1:24
p.s. You'll be able to download both songs from iTunes immediately after the webcast! We'll have the links for you soon as they're released.
1:26
My question: "Any plans to release the Hyde Park concert on CD/DVD for us American losers? #Blur"
1:27
Some really interesting questions coming in. Wow, you guys are so much smarter than I am. Pout.
1:46
...Okay, I take back what I said. Could these questions really be getting dumber as they go??
1:47
Though, to be fair, I'd also like to know what color shoes Damon is wearing today.
1:56
Okay, that wraps up the Q&A session. About 18 minutes 'til "The Puritan"!
2:12
Just a couple minutes away. Right leg is twitching. Thanks a lot for letting me brew all that extra coffee, you guys. Some friends you are!
2:16
Another run through the Blur 21 commercial. Any chance Damon will ever bring back that bowl haircut, y'think?
2:17
Oh my god, THAT KEYBOARD LOOP. Almost laughed coffee all over myself...
2:19
Hmm, not as crazy about this one. Damon's vocal is classically Blur, and Graham's laying some interesting guitar stuff on top. But I don't know, it's just kind of... shrug. Doesn't really grab you on first listen, does it?
2:20
...But... BUT... it has a "la la lah" part, which I think we can all get behind.
2:22
And that's all she wrote! Not a bad way to spend a lunch break, yeah? Don't forget, you can download both songs from iTunes now. Thanks for watching with us!
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Be sure to share your own real-time reactions to "Under The Westway" and "The Puritan" in our comments section below!
Follow on Ology: Brett Warner | MusicOlogy
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