Blur, Elastica – Old Trout, Windsor
Ticket long since lost. This is a flyer someone posted to Facebook
I still have strong memories of this gig. I remember the drive past Windsor Castle (the first and only time I’ve seen it), and the small back room where we managed to ensconce ourselves to the front near stage left. I remember the room being so full it must have violated fire regulations several times over. I remember everyone wearing Fred Perry shirts (except me).
I remember Elastica coming on stage, and Justin burping all the way through the intro to Line Up. I also vaguely remember Graham Coxon getting behind the drumkit to play on Vaseline.
Blur were touring Modern Life Is Rubbish and it was around about now that I realised what a fantastic album it is – 30 years later, it’s still my favourite of all time.
My first Blur gig, and I think I became an Elastica fan tonight too. Easily one of the evenings which summed up the greatness of the 90s for me.
Back in 2007, Uncut magazine asked Adam Ficek from (then hot property) Babyshambles about his favourite gig. It was this one. He said:
It probably would have been a really early Blur show, just as they were introducing the Parklife stuff into their set. I saw them at The Windsor Old Trout, with Elastica supporting. They played a lot from Modern Life Is Rubbish, which I thought was amazing, ‘cause there was so much shoegazing stuff around, so it was great to hark back to good Britishness.
It was clear something really interesting and new was happening. I thought Leisure was alright – I was probably a bit too young to appreciate it – but Modern Life… I thought that was great. As for the gig itself, Graham played a track with Elastica on drums [“Vaseline”], I remember that the most. When they did ‘Bank Holiday’ I remember it kind of blew me away a bit. I must have been about 14 or 15, and it was really good, especially seeing any band in those small venues when they’re on the brink. It was so new, suddenly it’s opened your ears and you think ‘wow’!
I know it’s an impressionable age, but it really surprised me. I saw Blur again around ‘13‘, it was very dark and less glossy. Britpop had died and so it was that post-Britpop fallout. They were great, though, it was more mature and went in a different direction. Every band’s got to move forward. My favourite Blur album’s still Modern Life Is Rubbish, though.
I think he would have been 19 instead of 14/15, but shows like this made me feel like a teenager again too.
Friday 27 August 1993, 893 views
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Gigs
- Aggrasoppar – OY Brewery, Tórshavn
- International Pop Overthrow 2025
- Gigantic Indie All Dayer – Marble Factory, Bristol
- HMS Morris, Pictish Trail – Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham
- The Others – The 100 Club, Soho
- Stray Tracks: White Gates Band, Mystery Team, Basharan, SNM, Monumental – Pink Toothbrush, Rayleigh
- Franz Ferdinand, Master Peace, Great Leslie – Empire, Shepherd’s Bush
- Melys, Yr Anghysur – Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda
- Ynys, Sybs, Lafant – Y Cwps, Aberystwyth
- Sultans of Ping FC – Saint Luke’s & The Winged Ox, Glasgow
- Franz Ferdinand, Permanent (Joy) – Grand Central Hall, Liverpool
- Half Happy, em koko – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
- My Life Story – The Quarry, Liverpool
- Melys, Osgled – Y Cwps, Aberystwyth
- They Might Be Giants – The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Darling Buds, Simon Love and the Loves – 229, Great Portland Street, London
- Fightmilk, Tugboat Captain – Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney
- Bugeye, Lucky Number You – The Victoria, Birmingham
- Art Brut – The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
- Sultans of Ping FC, Meryl Streek – The Ritz, Manchester
- Chroma, Baby Brave, Lila Zing – Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham
- Melin Melyn, Ynys, Pys Melyn – Town Hall, Llangollen
- Antarctic Monkeys – The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
- Bloc Party – The Institute, Digbeth, Birmingham
- Urdd Gobaith Cymru: Achlysurol, HMS Morris, Llareggub Brass Band – Mathrafal Field, Meifod
- Echobelly, Camens – Live 45, Kidderminster
- Futureheads, Adult Play – Shrewsbury Castle, Shrewsbury
- Adwaith – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
- Melys, Pys Melyn, Sophie Kilburn – Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda
- Sea Power, Callum Easter – Town Hall, Birmingham
- Dydd Miwsig Cymru: Morgan Elwy, Tew Tew Tennau, Mynadd – Y Institwt, Llanfair Caereinion
- Bikini Beach Band – The White Hart, Stoke Newington
- Pacifica, House of Women – Academy 2, Islington
- Fonda 500, Bugeye, Hurtling, Colossus – Amersham Arms, New Cross
- Snow Coats, Toodles and the Hectic Pity – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Snow Coats – Tunbridge Wells Forum
- Darling Buds, Keeley – The Thunderbolt, Bristol
- Fightmilk, Feeble Strength – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Thousand Yard Stare – The Lexington, Islington
- Thousand Yard Stare – Prince Albert, Brighton
- Be Your Own Pet – Rough Trade East, Whitechapel
- Brian Butterfield – Bush Hall, Shepherd’s Bush
- Pulp – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Blur, Self Esteem – Wembley Stadium, Wembley
- Blur, Wu Lu – City Hall, Newcastle
- Salad, Repetitive John – Arts Club, West Hampstead, London
- Salad – The Hope and Ruin, Brighton
- The Others – The Garage, Highbury
- Fightmilk – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Ynys, Gillie – The Victoria, Dalston
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