LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- After a six-year hiatus in which many bands have emerged , such as the Arctic Monkeys , Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs , copying their blend of melodic , intelligent songs and cheeky blokeishness , Blur return to show them who is best . Blur frontman Damon Albarn still exudes the matey bonhomie that made him one of the best-known British pop stars of the 90s . Much has changed since the mid-1990s when the Essex boys fought Oasis in the hyped Battle of Britpop . Singer Damon Albarn has pursued successful side projects such as Gorillaz and the Chinese opera Monkey , guitarist Graham Coxon went solo after being axed acrimoniously during the troubled recording of the `` Think Tank '' album , bassist Alex James makes cheese on his farm while drummer Dave Rowntree plans to stand for the UK parliament at the next election . Happily for fans , the band 's two dominant personalities in Albarn and Coxon are now reconciled and , in the year 's most anticipated reunion along with The Specials ' comeback gigs , Blur on Thursday played the first of two outdoor concerts in London 's Hyde Park . Before a massive crowd and a setting sun , Blur kick off with their first single , a feedback-drenched `` She 's So High '' before going straight into `` Girls and Boys , '' the disco-inspired anthem to hedonism that propelled them into the big time in 1994 . Albarn exudes matey bonhomie , asking , `` Was that adequate ? '' The crowd roars its reply in the affirmative . The good-natured banter continues throughout the concert ; he pays tribute to Hyde Park 's `` lakes , Speaker 's Corner ... other stuff '' and more thoughtfully , reminds the crowd that a million people marched there in 2003 in an unsuccessfully effort to prevent the Iraq war . Coxon seems happy just to be back in the band , doing the job he does best . There is a poignant moment when he takes the lead vocals in `` Coffee and TV '' while Albarn watches his songwriting partner admiringly . And as with all the greatest concerts , the hits the crowd has paid to hear keep coming : `` There 's No Other Way , '' a raucous and bouncy `` Country House '' and `` Parklife '' on which actor Phil Daniels takes the jokey vocals . The audience responds to all the songs perfectly , even forcing the band into an extended singalong version of `` Tender . '' The only disappointment on that song is that the gospel backing singers are drowned out in the mix . As the light fades , a superb light show suits the mood of the songs perfectly . And despite this being a huge concert , there is room for more subtle songs like `` Out of Time , '' a nostalgic `` End of the Century '' and `` This is a Low . '' Blur finish with `` For Tomorrow '' and `` The Universal , '' ending what , for this reporter , will be remembered as one of the most amazing concerts . What Blur fans hope for now is some new material to match the classics they are evidently so proud of .
Iconic 'Britpop ' band Blur play comeback gig in London after six-year hiatus . Guitarist Graham Coxon returns to band after he was axed . The group have been touring since the early 1990s and released their last album in 2007.