Everybody’s favourite virtual band, Gorillaz, kick off their huge world tour in Manchester. They present The Mountain with the usual array of special guests.
TOMORROW COMES TODAY
It’s not unheard of for established musicians to branch out into other musical projects – and it’s pretty common for those projects to succeed. But only occasionally does a side project become so successful that it surpasses the original, even by commercial standards. That’s exactly where Damon Albarn now finds himself following this bands ninth, and critically acclaimed album, The Mountain.
Of course, Gorillaz are far from a one-man band. As has been the case for the last quarter of a century (“How can it be that long?” we all ask), Jamie Hewlett’s creative input carries just as much weight as Albarn’s, brought to life through the brilliant and imaginative use of visuals.
SOULEYMAN
The night opens with The Mountain collaborator Omar Souleyman, whose high-energy modern dabke quickly gets the audience in the mood. You might be forgiven for having reservations about a support act for a mainstream band who sings primarily in Arabic and Kurdish, but any doubts vanish the moment he steps on stage.
Accompanied only by his keyboardist Hasan Jamo Alo, and sporting his iconic sunglasses and keffiyeh, Souleyman wastes no time before the techno beats kick in. By the end of the set, the crowd are waving their arms in unison. Lovely stuff; and a fitting start to a celebration of eclectic music.
FIND THE MOUNTAIN
The main set comes to life with album opener and title track The Mountain. Hand drawn visuals from Hewlett adorn the backdrop. It is closely followed by a banging version of The Happy Dictator. From there, the band take a step back in time with Tranz (from Humanz), Tomorrow Comes Today, and 19-2000 (both from their self-titled debut), with the latter proving a huge crowd-pleaser.
As expected on a tour supporting a new record, The Mountain features heavily, with no fewer than 11 songs making the setlist. Guest appearances come from IDLES‘ Joe Talbot, Yasiin Bey, Bootie Brown, Kara Jackson, Pos, and earlier support Omar Souleyman, alongside a host of virtual collaborators, including local legend Mark E. Smith.
Perhaps a testament to Gorillaz’s ability to evolve – and often reflect – the times, the newer material is not only warmly received but stands shoulder to shoulder with the modern classics that preceded it. Quite how Albarn continues to produce such consistently high-quality and varied output after more than 35 years in the business, with barely a pause, remains something of a mystery.
All images by Luke Dyson.
FEEL GOOD
This was a classic Gorillaz show. The band are clearly in great spirits; perhaps in contrast to the darker and sombre themes of their latest album (maybe performing these songs is cathartic for Albarn?). The material suits perfectly a venue of this scale. You can’t get much bigger indoors than Co-op Live, and tonight’s crowd rose to the occasion, especially during the impromptu mobile phone light show for The Shadowy Light.
After a varied, career-spanning set, though notably omitting albums The Fall, Song Machine, and Cracker Island, the night closes with modern classics Feel Good Inc. and Clint Eastwood.
When Damon Albarn will next return to Manchester, and in what guise, is anyone’s guess. But it seems inevitable he will. The city clearly holds a special place for him, from Gorillaz’s past visits (including the live debut of Demon Days), to appearances with Blur, and his work as a solo artist and composer for the Manchester International Festival.
Whenever he does return, the bar has been set high. In the meantime, he’ll continue on the road with Hewlett, the band, and their collaborators, culminating in their biggest ever U.K. show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June. If you get the chance, get yourself to one of their shows for a great night, full of singalong modern classics.
Gorillaz: Website
Omar Souleyman: Bandcamp