Both Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon showcased new songs at recent gigs.

DAMON’S SURPRISE GIG APPEARANCE

Damom made a surprise appearance at the Tsunami benefit concert last Saturday at Bristol Academy. Damon played 2 tracks acoustically (just Damon + his guitar) – Tender (complete with audience sing-a-long) & a new, as yet untitled song.

The gig also featured Portishead, Massive Attack, Robert Plant and The Coral.

A web stream can be seen at the concert website – www.crisisinasia.co.uk

GRAHAM GIG

Graham played the Hammersmith Palais on Friday night as part of the NME Shockwaves Awards festivities. Graham, who won Best Solo Artist at the award ceremony, performed the following set featuring 2 new songs: Spectacular, No Good Time, Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery, Life It Sucks, Right To Pop!, Gimme Some Love, Fags & Failure, Don’t Be A Stranger, Feel Right, Fame & Fortune, I Can’t Think Of Your Skin, Freakin’ Out, People Of The Earth, Who The Fuck?, All Over Me, Lake

Blur Fan Club

Gorillaz have let slip to nme.com that their new album will be called ‘Demon Days’.

The follow-up to 2001’s self-titled debut is set for release in May and was recorded at the group’s own Kong Studios in Essex.

Drummer Russell Hobbs told nme.com: “We’ve noticed that some people have picked up on ‘Reject False Icons’ as being the new Gorillaz album title. This was actually more like the motto we used while we were working on the tracks to keep us fresh.”

He added: “The album title now is ‘Demon Days’. We’ve pretty well finished. Noodle and Dangermouse are just trimming the last bits of the back and then this cut should be razor sharp. I guess we’re looking at a May date for this thing to drop.”

The title has, according to guitarist Noodle, a number of different meanings. She said: “It’s interpretation is completed by the instinct of the listener. In one sense the Demon is a disease and the disease is an absence of thought, a state where people make action without consideration. This is the invisible evil, with a million eyes. This is the return of the ogre, the rise of the beats. Its time is now.”

“The moment we live in has agitated this slumbering giant, the dormant illness,” she explained. “These are the Demon Days, and the land it stalks is the on cusp of a thick fog. In another sense it is time to become the Demon. A time for an action, made with less contemplation, but from a disciplined and considered instinct. Strike with perfection and effect. These are Demon days we exist in. We strike to capture the moment. And hope to contain it, in a balance.”

Gorillaz are rumoured to be releasing ‘Feelgood Inc.’ as the first single from ‘Demon Days’, which is also expected to hit the shops in May.

NME

Graham Coxon won the Best Solo Artist at this years NME awards.

The full list of winners are as follows:
Best British Band – The Libertines
Godlike Genius Award – New Order
Best Album – Franz Ferdinand’s “Franz Ferdinand”
Best Event – Paul McCartney/Glastonbury 2004
Best Live Band – Muse
Best New Band – Razorlight
Best Solo Artist – Graham Coxon
Best Track – Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out”
Best International Band – The Killers
The Phillip Hall Radar Award – Kaiser Chiefs
Best Video – Green Day’s “American Idiot”
Best Music DVD – Oasis’ “Definitely Maybe”
Special Award For Lifelong Services To Music – John Peel
John Peel Award For Innovation – The Others
Best Film – “Shaun Of The Dead”
Best TV Show – “Little Britain”
Best Radio Show – Zane Lowe
Best Dressed – Brandon Flowers, The Killers
Worst Dressed – Britney Spears
Best Live Venue – London Carling Brixton Academy
Best Website – NME.COM
Hero Of The Year – John Peel
Villain Of The Year – George W Bush
Sexiest Man – Brandon Flowers, The Killers
Sexiest Woman – Gwen Stefani
Worst Album – Busted’s “A Present For Everyone”
Worst Band – Busted

Well, not quite, but you can bid for Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s stylish 12-piece blue settee on a certain reputable auction site – and there’s just over a day left to get your offers in.

The sofa, which will currently set you back a little over £200, was once in situ with his former home in west London’s Ladbroke Grove according to the item description, which reads:

“This unique electric blue 12-piece sofa is being sold by the owners of Damon Albarn’s former residence on Chesterton Road.

“Commissioned by the Blur frontman it was custom-made for the ground floor sitting-room of the house where he lived for five years and wrapped around three walls of this room.

“Comfortable, stylish, and funky, it comprises of six base pieces and six sausage cushions and is light in weight, with removable covers in blue fabric.”

The item is listed as ‘12 Piece Sofa From Ex Residence Of Damon Albarn/Blur’ on eBay and the auction ends at 8:21pm tomorrow (February 16). For more details (he’s also selling a lamp and a rather nice occasional table) click here.

Xfm

Empire Sq, the animation by Dave Rowntree of Blur gets it’s TV debut on Channel 4 on the 18th February.

The animation has been running on empiresq.com for around a year now where all the previous episodes can be viewed online.

A trailer for the forthcoming Channel 4 show is on the Empire Sq. website.