Glastonbury Music Day 1: Gorillaz
Gorillaz took to the Pyramid Stage Friday with an array of talent on show. As the night drew in and the atmosphere heightened, the stage was set. Here JD's review...
View the photos:Gorillaz at Glastonbury 2010
Damon's cartoon supergroup cum all-star revue marks his third year at the heart of the Glastonbury - last year with Blur and in 2007 as chief pilot on the Africa Express - and the honour hasn't escaped him. He's leaping around the stage as if he's scored a World Cup winner, the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble swaying, Mick Jones on guitar and Paul Simonon on bass prowling either side of the stage like punk rock generals.
"It's The Clash," shouts someone in the distance. Well, true there are more Clash members on stage than Blur members but this is a very different feast to both those icons of British pop. Sadly this fact is wasted on a sizable portion of the audience. Most of the crowd is unfamiliar with Gorillaz' recent concept opus, Plastic Beach, so it isn't until the double melodic whammy of Stylo and On Melancholy Hill that the atmosphere starts to build.
Relating the cartoon storyline unfolding on the big screens would be as pointless as Claire Balding describing an Olympic opening ceremony. Suffice to say Jamie Hewlett's artwork is a joy to behold - all played out on the biggest flatscreen on the planet.
Empire Ants marks a turning point between melancholia and joy. Midsong, they leave the kind of downtempo laments Albarn copyrighted as long ago as Parklife's To The End and ease into a squelching electro groove. Next De La Soul rap on the gloriously sweet Superfast Jellyfish, then the first of many, many unexpected guests sashays on to the stage.
"This one's for Frank Sidebottom," drawls Shaun Ryder. "He's up there somewhere." Dare is a moment but more is to come: Mark E Smith ambles on as if he's just fallen out of a bookies, in leather jacket, rumpled shirt and Richard Madeley hair to spout typically incomprehensible but simultaneously genius bile on Glitter Freeze.
"Is that Fabio Capello?" says a young woman behind me as Lou Reed appears onstage. It's at this point that you truly begin to marvel at the logistical miracles that made this show possible.
The encore is fantastic and delivers the hits half the audience has been hanging on for, as well as a tribute to Dennis Hopper whose channeling of Jack Kerouac soundtracked Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head. Feel Good Inc sends the audience into a frenzy and by the time Snoop Dogg steals the entire show on the closing Clint Eastwood it's apparent that Damon has pulled it off again. JD
View the photos:Gorillaz at Glastonbury 2010
6:13 PM | 26/06/2010
More Photos Of:
Latest Glastonbury
-
Video - Glastonbury Festival 2011 highlights with Graham Coxon, Biff Clyro, Brian Cox
Watch Q Radio's short film from this year's event
-
Billy Bragg takes Glasto easy: just 4 shows
The Q columnist still played more than most bands
-
U2, Beyonce, Radiohead, Pulp: The 10 bets quotes of Glasto 2011
Plus Guy Garvey wakes up a music legend, and find out the band Bono most wanted to see
-
Beyonce, Vaccines, Laura Marling... The 10 best bands of Glastonbury Day Three
Plus Queens Of The Stone Age, Kasier Chiefs, The Streets, Don Maclean and more
-
Relive Glastonbury 2011 with the Q Review - on sale now
How to get your hands on the definitive rundown of this year's festival
-
Pulp, Elbow, Coldplay, Horrors... The 10 best bands of Glastonbury Day Two
Plus James Blake, Chemical Brothers, Walkmen and Zane Lowe's guest pick
User Comments
Post A Comment
They were amazing and really blew me away, the guest line up was incredible it was sad about Mos Def tho. Cracking set and cracking weekend, Glastonbury never disappoints!
Posted by Natalie at 9:57 PM | 28/06/2010 | Report Abuse
I cannot agree with this review one bit. It was a terrible performance. No one is doubting that what Albarn has done is clever but it took until the end of the encore to get the crowd moving to a song that they could actually sing along to. This wasn't a Gorillaz gig where everyone had paid to see them especially. This was a festival where there are many people who don't know the music. And how can people priase Mark E Smiths contribution when he had the words on a piece of paper infront of him?! If I'd have known it would have been this bad I would have gone to see the Bootleg Beatles.
Posted by Sam at 9:37 AM | 29/06/2010 | Report Abuse
Brilliant set! I loved it, anticipation for Feel Good Inc and Clint Eastwood and it was amazingly delivered. The Plastic Beach records were great, although I'd prefer a few more from their old albums instead (Demon days, 19-2000 etc).
Nevertheless I loved it! Thanks Damon n Gorillaz!
Posted by Steve at 2:56 PM | 29/06/2010 | Report Abuse
wat was that song called where he got everybody singing it at the end... cant remember the lyrics, it was quite repetative.... but good!
Posted by sam at 9:47 PM | 29/06/2010 | Report Abuse
Agree with Sam, probably one of the worst headlining acts I have seen at any festival. Lacked any atmosphere, I was bored, not something I thought I'd be saying. Definately wont be watching them at Benicassim in a few weeks!
Posted by Niall at 12:20 AM | 30/06/2010 | Report Abuse
This was a truely amazing performance, aptley fitting for the Glastonbury stage. It was full of political statement aligned with the ethos of the festival. It combined multiple genres of music, across multiple mediums, to create an inspiring piece of contemporary art. Everything may not have been to everyones taste, but everyone can find something they liked and when viewed with an open mind, the artistic ability of all envolved should be admired.
Posted by Dave at 10:38 PM | 30/06/2010 | Report Abuse
these were great...this new album takes 3 listens to get in to but when you do you it really knocks you off your block....best album of the last 5 years for sure...
Posted by luke at 1:51 AM | 10/07/2010 | Report Abuse
this review is a joke. the worst gig i have ever seen. damon and co didnt feel the crowd, didnt measure us, didnt respond to us - just kept ploughing on and on thorugh crap songs noone has ever heard, and then the african drums ...ohh jesus. i was 20 yards from the front. noone was moving. no moshing, jumping, nothing. just people with thier arms folded trying to avoid the streams of people returning from the front barrier ...not because it was too hectic, because it was crap.
the worst bit was the last song of the set, plastic eating people. having just stood through a bunch of rubbish , having damon and co evangelise at me and the crowd about overfishing, plastic build up...hey do you eat fish? yeah, you are the devil man the devil! i mean bono may have had a go about something but wasnt expecting it from damon. so that wasnt good.
then ...ooh...the encore, ok last chance guys. play feelgood inc for christs sake! no, we get some old chinese bird droning on about some load of old tosh. at this stage, i left. as i was leaving, feelgood inc cranks up. but its too late. you want me to get excited about that NOW? after all that crap?? i was furious.
damon, you were incredible last year at hyde park. what happened man?
Posted by kev at 1:05 PM | 17/07/2010 | Report Abuse
Post A Comment