Gorillaz

Are Gorillaz a band or a brand? Essentially, they’re a curious amalgamation of both, but one that has a surprisingly extensive back catalogue of solid pop hits. The abundant hooks were delivered in a frenetic fashion, with a merry Damon Albarn prancing around the stage alternately singing and playing the odd bit here and there, all jubilant drawl and spry swagger.

The live setup was extravagant, featuring two drummers, two keyboardists, backup singers/dancers and an array of guest vocalists. The tonal variety of the performance worked very well, with some fairly fiery hip hop a highlight in the middle, along with some soulful moments in a soul sense, and some soulful moments in a Blurry indie guitar sense too. We were treated to three massive screens and a hydraulic all seeing eye, which showcased the group’s strong visual identity, utilising their memorable videos and bespoke live animations.

An energetic performance, brimming with ideas about how to present fairly middle of the road pop rock in a colourful way.

Brighton Centre, 27 November 2017
Rating:
Joe Fuller