Gorillaz at Printworks, London

by Anna · Published April 7, 2017 · Updated April 8, 2017

I’m thrilled to welcome a new contributor the the site! Welcome Chris Marron, self-described Britpop burnout and Man about (London) town! Marron gives us a first person account of the recent intimate Gorillaz show in London, the first public performance of the band in years!

Damon Albarn at Printworks, London March 2017

Less than 24 hours after announcing their first live performance since 2010, the Gorillaz take to the stage at the newly opened Printworks venue in front of a reasonably intimate audience to perform their new album “Humanz” from front to back. I say reasonably intimate, but considering the last time I saw them was with around 80,000 people at Glastonbury, tonight seems as intimate as seeing them in my front room.

Damon Albarn takes to the stage along with his trusted backing band (most of them appeared with him during his solo tour too) and sets out his stall early. We are informed that most of the guests from the new record will be performing throughout the show, although the cat was very much let out of the bag when Azekel (guest on “Momentz” along with De La Soul) posted a picture of the setlist on Instagram about an hour before the show started.

From the off we are treated to a cavalcade of guests, with Peven Everett starting the procession on “Strobelite.” After a rapturous round of applause from the audience, Damon announces that if the crowd chant “Rewind” loud enough after any song then they will be treated to a repeat performance of the track. This eventually occurs after they perform “Let Me Out” with Pusha T. By that point we’ve already seen Danny Brown, Kelela, Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and Anthony Hamilton grace the stage in front of an ever changing cartoon backdrop.

Kelela and Graham Dixon Printworks, London March 2017

The main set is wrapped up with album closer “We Got The Power,” featuring the quite mind bogglingly amazing trio of Jehnny Beth, Noel Gallagher and Jean Michel Jarre. We are then treated to two encores containing Kids With Guns, Feel Good Inc, Clint Eastwood (performed for the first time ever with original vocalist Del the Funky Homosapien) and Dont Get Lost In Heaven/Demon Days. None of us knew we would even be here yesterday but nobody in attendance will forget this night in a hurry. Welcome back.