Energized British Band Was A Blur At Dv8

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Blur and That Dog last night at DV8.

"WOO-HOO!"

The youthful energy and innocence of Blur, epitomized in that cry from its breakthrough American hit, "Song 2," was in abundance last night in the steamy confines of DV8. The widespread appeal of the British band, a colossus second only to Oasis in its homeland, became apparent as its fun, varied 90-minute set unfolded for a packed, devoted audience.

Blur is giant in England not only because natural-born frontman Damon Albarn emphasizes his British accent when he sings - instead of trying to sound American like so many other non-American bands - but mostly because Blur is an amalgam of the whole history of English pop music. In its songs last night were influences going back to English music hall traditions, to the Beatles and the Stones, through psychedelia to David Bowie and the punk revolution, right up to modern rock - with even a little disco thrown in.

No wonder British kids identify so strongly with Blur, while American rock fans have generally shown indifference - although "Song 2," a hit on modern rock radio and MTV, may change all that because it has the potential to crash into the mainstream and become a summer hit.

The short, killer song was saved, not surprisingly, for the encore, but the band had the crowd in the palm of its hand long before that.

Opening aggressively with "Beetlebum," the first cut on its latest album, simply entitled "Blur," Albarn strummed guitar as he bounded around the small stage in baggy blue jeans and baggy white shirt with Bruce Lee's picture on the front. The influence of the Stones could be heard on "Movin' On," while '60s psychedelia marked "She's So High."

A song about a sailor meeting a girl on shore leave was straight out of the music hall, complete with brass accents (from a synthesizer). The crowd barked backed the chorus to the disco-tinged "Girls and Boys," and sang along on other songs.

Albarn showed his thanks by splashing liter after liter of bottled water onto the crowd, sometimes standing on speaker cabinets the better to drench fans. When he wasn't singing or playing guitar or keyboards, he was a - well - blur of energy, leaping and bouncing, almost hitting his head on the ceiling. He and guitarist Graham Coxon made in-jokes and Albarn teased bassist Alex James about his newfound sobriety. But Albarn always cut short the clowning and brought the emphasis back to rock, obviously enjoying himself.

Later this summer, Blur will be headlining stadium shows in England with potential audiences in the 50,000 range, so it was nice to see the band in the intimate setting of the all-ages dance club DV8, even if the place got uncomfortably hot.

Opening was the perky California pop group That Dog, headed by Anna Waronker and sisters Petra and Rachel Haden. The band is likable and competent, but its songs are dependent on cliches and simple rhymes, as is painfully evident on its current single, "Never Say Never."