Following the release of Gorillaz ninth studio album, ‘The Mountain,’ the virtual band, fronted by Damon Albarn and illustrated by Jamie Hewlett, embarked on a supporting tour, and on the 24th of March, it was Glasgow’s turn. ‘The Mountain,’ is an emotionally heavy album, shaped by real grief and loss, as it explores life, death and everything that comes in between, as the mountain itself is a reflection of grief and the journey through it. The album builds a rich, and almost spiritual atmosphere, as it blends global sounds with deeply personal themes, and the artwork reinforces the album’s core idea, that people, just like art, do not truly disappear.
And the new album was welcomed to Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, as fans awaited to witness the highly praised tour. The band were supported by the vibrant hip-hop artist Trueno, from Argentina, who has received praise for their high-energy, freestyle performances, and they did not disappoint. The audience responded with enthusiasm, as they were left with a memorable performance, leading up to a night they would remember for years.
Then the moment finally came to welcome the virtual band on stage, as excitement rippled through the crowd as the side-screens were illuminated by dazzling letters stating “Gorillaz,” promising the audience an unforgettable night. As suspense built up in the audience, the band burst into tune with the title track from the new album, ‘The Mountain,’ as the opening instrumentals gradually built up, introducing new instruments and sounds, setting the atmosphere with an introduction that pulls the audience in, and prepares them for a journey.
Meanwhile, the screen behind the band flickered to life with vibrant animations, introducing the bands signature visuals and merging them into the band’s performance, but these aren’t just background visuals – but interactive throughout the show. As physical visuals of the mountain and the animated characters journey towards it were immediately introduced to the audience, allowing them a preview of the journey they’re about to be taken on.
Despite the setlist being predominantly based off their new album, they curated the setlist to include several fan favourites from their other albums, including ‘Tomorrow Comes Today,’ ‘On Melancholy Hill,’ and ‘Stylo,’ which had the audience erupting into song alongside the band, all the while impressive visuals continued telling a story in the background.
All the songs, despite being from separate albums, blended perfectly, engaging the audience with a surreal performance that captivated the audience through the visuals and audio. As the evening continued, the energy continued to climb upwards, as the band continued to share a few older songs, including ‘Kids with Guns,’ and ‘Dirty Harry.’ As the audience continued to sing along, the band performed ‘The Sad God,’ from their new album, which closed the set perfectly as they exited the stage.
But not really – as they were welcomed back to the stage for the encore, which they kicked off with another single from their new album, ‘The Hardest Thing,’ as the visuals erupted back to life, leaving the audience in awe. However, the energy only travelled upwards from there, as the audience erupted into cheers from the first beat of the band’s iconic, ‘Feel Good Inc.’ which saw everyone up on their feet dancing, before welcoming the final and most anticipated song of the evening, ‘Clint Eastwood,’ which left Glasgow vitalised as the band exited the stage for good this time, despite attempts for yet again, “one last song.”
The evening was an incredible experience blending live music and mesmerising visuals into one. It displayed plenty of the new, heartfelt album, while also sharing highlights from the band’s past through their previous albums, and it left the audience with a truly unforgettable night.
