|
Gorillaz live at the Roundhouse, London
30
April 2010
Reviewed by
The
Independent
 Mos
Def, De La Soul, Kano, Bobby Womack, Shaun Ryder – it sounds more like a
festival line-up than a list of just some of those who make an
appearance during Gorillaz's first full UK show for five years, but such
is the power of Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's creation. The fact that
the group's three albums feature so many collaborators makes a
full-blown tour a logistical nightmare, but when they do manage to get
together it can produce a hell of a show.
With
that line-up, and considering chances to see the Gorillaz experience are
so scarce, if expectations are high before tonight's performance then
the duo only have themselves to blame. They already set themselves a
high benchmark in 2005 with their triumphant five-night stretch at the
Manchester Opera House, which saw them play Demon
Days (from the same year) in its entirety.
For
this performance – one of two at the Roundhouse following the release of
their third album, Plastic Beach – some of the
stagier aspects of the Manchester production have gone. Given that
Gorillaz are a virtual band, it has been a challenge for Albarn and
Hewlett to translate their concept into a live setting. Five years ago,
their answer was to make only the silhouettes of the musicians
(including Albarn) visible, letting the guest stars take centre-stage.
There
are no such visual tricks tonight. The procession of guests that takes
to the stage may provide the focus, but the band itself remains fully
visible. This new openness is to be welcomed, especially considering the
identity of some of those whom Albarn has persuaded to play with him –
there is a thrill for any music fan in seeing the Clash's Paul Simonon
and Mick Jones playing together, swaggering around the stage wearing
sailors' hats.
Albarn himself spends the night swapping between singing at the front,
and his keyboard and microphone at the back, yet even when he is playing
second fiddle vocally he remains at the heart of proceedings, and on the
beautiful "On Melancholy Hill" his voice shines. Hewlett's contribution
to the evening comes through the large screen hanging above the stage,
which shows a mixture of video, animation and drawings, and the visuals
manage to walk a fine line by being atmospheric without overpowering the
music.
Rightly so, as the songs – almost all drawn from the last two albums –
provide plenty of highlights, from the moment the bass line of "Welcome
to the World of the Plastic Beach" begins (with Snoop Dogg appearing on
video rather than in person). "DARE", complete with Shaun Ryder, brings
the audience to its feet, but one of the biggest cheers of the night
goes to Bobby Womack, who recreates his primal vocals on "Stylo",
assisted by Mos Def.
Another high point is "White Flag" which – after an extended piece from
the Syrian National Orchestra – is propelled along by the energy of Kano
and Bashy before culminating in a fantastic intercontinental clash of
music styles. Gorillaz finish by returning to the band's beginnings,
with a menacing and earth-trembling version of "Clint Eastwood", topping
yet another night of success for Albarn.
(5/5)
Toby
Green
|
