Gorillaz’ first ever Cardiff gig was a vivid, beautiful and alive musical experience. Off the back of their latest album The Mountain, anticipation was high for what proved to be a performance equally rooted in experimentation and crowdpleasing nostalgia.
The night started off with a high-energy set from Argentinian rapper Trueno, who captured the crowd’s attention from the outset, and whose stage presence got the audience amped up before Gorillaz opened with a segment of the animated short film released to accompany The Mountain. It set the adventurous tone of the evening.
Selections from the new album kick off the set itself, with The Moon Cave and The Happy Dictator further showcasing their ability to mix global influences with electronic and alternative sounds. The transition between different albums (The Mountain is their ninth) was met with a shift in the colour tone of the set, creating a performance that feels like a journey rather than a sequence of individual tracks.
Some of the most iconic Gorillaz songs – Tranz, Tomorrow Comes Today, 19-2000 – added a burst of familiarity that had the entire arena moving. With barely any space in the room to stand still, the crowd never stopped dancing, matching the band’s relentless energy from start to finish.
A succession of guest vocalists enlivened proceedings further still, with the arrival of Gruff Rhys adding some local warmth: his appearance for Superfast Jellyfish became one of the most energetic moments of the night. Yasiin Bey brought a sharp intensity to Stylo and Damascus, and Bootie Brown’s performance of Dirty Harry with the band was a bass-heavy standout.
Damon Albarn’s stage presence struck the perfect balance between playful and sincere. At several points, he stepped down into the crowd itself, singing with the audience and creating moments that felt intimate despite the scale of the venue.
The encore saw Trueno warmly welcomed back onstage to perform The Manifesto with the band; Feel Good Inc., featuring De La Soul’s Posdnuos, made the arena feel like a communal party; and Sweetie Irie made sure the night ended on an undeniable high with Clint Eastwood.
Gorillaz, Utilita Arena Cardiff, Fri 27 Mar
words MARTHA HUMPHREYS photos WILL BAILEY
