It`s been around nine years since virtual band Gorillaz, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett in 1998 played shows in my hometown of Birmingham. The band primarily consists of four fictional members 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs and their music has featured collaborations with a wide range of musicians and featured artists, with Albarn as the only permanent musical contributor.The band`s ninth album, released in February `The Mountain` was a real return to form.
A few observations tonight, one there are hardly any empty seats in this fifteen thousand plus arena, two nearly everybody is wearing a tour t shirt or sweatshirt and three there`s Dads and Moms with kids alongside some more mature fans such as myself and the anticipation of tonight`s show is tangible.
Sarod, sitar, and bansuri flute allow a sense of awakening as the band share the wonderful title track of the latest release `The Mountain` as the four animated characters meet on screen and Denni Hopper`s image is portrayed behind the band. I`m transported to heaven as the opening bars to `The Happy Dictator` rings out and my favourite band Spark`s vocalist Russell Mael is trading vocals with Albarn and “oh what a happy land we live in” rings out. That could have been the highlight of the evening by my god, there was so much more to come. A melodica rings out as Albarn shares the trippy `Tomorrow Comes Today` with the four backing singers adding an almost gospel like sense to the track.
I had to blink twice as I thought I’d imagined it but there he was the terrific Jo Talbot of IDLES suited and booted and adding his dulcet tones to `The God of Lying` and hugging Mr Albarn. There was an almost yin and yang vibe as the introspective `The Empty Dream Machine` hypnotises us followed by, for me, one of the highlights of the night the frenzied `Delerium` with the unmistakable Mark E Smith`s vocals ringing out.
`Andromeda` has the singer venturing to the barriers , shaking hands, and signing autographs for the faithful who had been there since the doors opened at six thirty, a humble gesture which said a lot about this indie legend as a man. The mesmerising `Stylo` has American rapper and singer Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) chanting as we witness Bruce Willis on the big screen trying to assassinate our animated heroes, visually and musically stunning. The infectious `Damascus` has Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) front-of-stage in a jewel-encrusted baseball cap trading vocals with the cool Omar Souleyman in a hypnotic clash of synth-pop, hip hop, and Arabic tones.
`Dirty Harry` has American rapper Bootie Brown (The Pharcyde) adding his quality tones to this funky offering that has the packed audience swaying their arms in the air. A track that had a real Stevie Wonder vibe live.
The image of the legendary Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle fills the screens as her vocals intertwine with Damon`s on `The Shadowy Light` as lit phones light up the venue on this almost mantra like listen. The pensive, simplistic, and meditative `The Sad God` lead us out of this evenings absorbing performance.
We don`t have too long before the participants are urged to return and do so with the heartbreaking `The Hardest Thing` a kind of eulogy and almost rhetorical as to what we all face when we have lost someone. Former Youth Poet Laureate Kara Jackson shares vocals with Damon on the gentile heart-rending `Orange County`. The remote `Feel Good Inc.` has American rapper Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer) from De La Soul exchanging vocal duties with Mr Albarn but the one song that sent this nigh on sold out audience into raptures was the trip-hop indie classic `Clint Eastwood`. The final two cuts are from the second album `Demon Days` with `Don`t Get Lost in Heaven` and the title reggae infused track itself.
I have to confess that I attend close to one hundred gigs a year and can get very blasé about events but tonight I was astounded at how good the musicianship and the visuals were with the big screen not distracting from the live performance but allowing one to study the musicians in closer detail. This was an almost overwhelming auditory experience as well as a visual delight. I rarely want to see a band again on a tour but with eight more dates in the UK this is one show that I’d definitely attend again in the blink of an eye.
I would encourage and recommend you get to this show if you can as for me, it I know will become the gig of the year by a country mile.
