Review: Gorillaz launch Mountain tour at Co-op Live

How much of the new release do you play? How many of the fan favourites do you keep in the set?

Gorillaz at Co-op Live, Manchester (Picture: Luke Dyson)

In launching the Mountain tour at Co-op Live, Gorillaz delivered a masterclass in how to bring a new album to the stage and still delight the doting crowd with hit after hit.

This was so much more than a gig. In typical Gorillaz fashion it was also a live art installation with the Co-op Live’s massive screens being put to full use as Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon creations and delicate illustrations provided the backdrop for an astonishing array of musicians to spellbind us.

At the centre of it all, Damon Albarn was part ringmaster, part high priest – an almost delicate figure in British Rail jacket – the stage was his pulpit as he spread his message of compassion and unity.

Damon Albarn and Joe Talbot of Idles during Gorillaz show at Co-op Live Manchester (Picture: Luke Dyson)

The Mountain is a spiritual album, reflecting on love, loss and the hereafter, not the subjects you would think would translate into a 20,000+ arena setting. But the world rhythms and driving beats created a hypnotic effect which was mesmerising.

On the screens there were cameos from Sparks, on a wonderful The Happy Dictator, and Bobby Womack on Stylo.

More guests came on stage in person with Joe Talbot of Idles sharing the microphone for The God of Lying, Omar Souleyman on Damascus and Bootie Brown on Dirty Harry.

Damon Albarn and Kara Jackson during Gorillaz show at Co-op Live Manchester (Picture: Luke Dyson)

The encores illustrated perfectly how balanced and nuanced this special show was. Two songs from the new album – The Hardest Things and Orange County, featuring Kara Jackson. And then the explosive finale as De La Soul’s Pos whipped the crowd into a frenzy for Feel Good Inc with the show ending with Clint Eastwood leaving the crowd delighted and exhausted in equal measure.

Several times Damon Albarn climbed down from the stage to stand at the barrier with the fans who hung on his every word. He looked genuinely moved by the welcome he’d received in Manchester and it was richly deserved.

Music needs genuine artists, people who are prepared to think outside the box, stick to their convictions and produce work you can tell is special to them.

Gorillaz at Co-op Live, Manchester (Picture: Luke Dyson)

You may not like everything they do but you have to admire and appreciate the fact they do it and do it so well.

On this showing, Gorillaz are still the trail-blazers they were when the first drawings of 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs first appeared some 28 years ago.

The Mountain tour is back at Co-op Live tonight before heading around the UK

Setlist

The Mountain

The Happy Dictator

Tranz

Tomorrow comes today

19/2000

Rhinestone Eyes

The God of Lying (idles)

The Moon Cave

El Manana

On Melancholy Hill

The Empty Dream Machine

New Genious

Saturnz Barz

Delirium

Andromeda

Stylo

Damascus

Dirty Harry

Casablanca

The Sad God

Encores

The Hardest Thing

Orange County

Feel Good Inc

Clint Eastwood