Photo by Kyle Mcloughlin
Gorillaz marked their return with an electrifying concert at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro that has got me forever addicted to the sound of live music. From the beginning till the end, the whole ensemble kept me hooked on the stage.
Trueno, an Argentinian rapper and singer, was the opening act for the concert. He is the type of performer you see in films that could hype up an audience within the first beat. I felt his music coursing through my body, thanks to the collaborative effort of the band and the stadium acoustics as well as Trueno’s powerful vocals. It is safe to say that the majority of the crowd left the venue that night as a new fan of his, including those who are not usually fans of rap, such as myself.
The tech crew were the unsung heroes of the concert, elevating the experience through cool graphics and lighting, which always managed to match the vibe of track playing.
Gorillaz began their show with the title track of their latest album, The Mountain, accompanied by ethereal instrumentals and animated versions of the band themselves in the background, each of whom’s entrance onto the screen was met with a cheerful loud roar from the audience. The set list alternated between music from the new album and fan favorites such as Feel Good Inc. and On Melancholy Hill, many of which featured special guest appearances including Kara Jackson, Posdnuos, and more. Damon Albarn’s voice is its own signature: while distinctive, it is adaptive to each song without overpowering the other elements of it. His voice is complemented by the heavenly back-up singers who managed to fit into the unlikeliest of songs.
From the stage to the floor, there was an unmistakable widespread joy on the faces of the audience members, the band, the back-up singers, Damon, and the guest artists, which truly made the concert special. You could especially feel this sense of bliss all around the arena during the performance of The Shadowy Light, when the crowd created a sea of lights, which also brought a smile onto the faces of the band. The audience continuously matched the energy of the players on the stage and when a song ended, you could sense the anticipation in the auditorium, proven with the uproar the second the next beat was recognized.
Gorillaz’s music itself is remarkably diverse: the new album takes a lot of inspiration from Asian sounds, it makes you fall in love again with traditional music you might have grown up hearing or perhaps opens you up to a whole new soundscape that you would have otherwise been unfamiliar with. Though, this diversity isn’t anything new in Gorillaz’s discography, as they have already collaborated with artists all around the world and have experimented with different styles, languages, and genres. Gorillaz have such a wide range of music, that there is something to listen to for everyone and if listening to their albums hasn’t made you a diehard fan, seeing them live definitely will.
Words by Ayesha Anis (she/her)
qmunicatemagazine.co.uk 