Review: Many days ago, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett sat in the level they shared, watching time after clip on MTV, their minds becoming progressively duller as they realized how rarely anything of content was being produced. It was from this that the player and artist decided to create Gorillaz, a cartoon band whose visual component was only as significant and creative as the music.
What struck me when I was watching the Gorillaz at the Entertainment Centre was that the embarrassment of stimulation on stage really made them a lot of their time. Today's youth (including myself) have become customary to being able to access every attribute of a band via youtube, music blogs, magazines and TV. The visual representation and the way they make their identity through these mediums has become an important role of their individuality and no other band has engaged with this in quite the saame way Gorillaz have.
On stage, Gorillaz certainly didn't lack substance. The creativity and singularity of their music was set out for all to see: on stage accompanying the usual members was a string section (made of good-looking girls in Santa outfits which my male companion approved highly of) and a brass section, as good as two drummers, back-up singers and numerous guest performers, including Little Dragon and De La Soul. Albarn had enormous amounts of vigor and gave a heavy performance, jumping around the stage, playing the piano, even on his knees at one period during `To Binge' with Little Dragon.
Sadly, however, some of the vitality was confused in the cavernous ceilings of the Entertainment Centre: the acoustics did them no favours. The seating structure of the locale was likewise a setback - it's difficult to get properly involved whilst sitting down. My company and I were even asked to "hold the other spectators a fortune" after we were inspired to bear up and get a boogie anyway. A chance at what, may I ask? Being the most boring concert attendees that ever existed? Needless to say, the want of appropriate response by the Sydney audience was a bit of a buzz-kill.
Gorillaz gave a flawless performance, with their hits `Dare' and `Feeling Good Inc.' particular highlights. `Stylo' was one of the better of the night, which was exhilarating to hear to live while watching the frantic car track with Bruce Willis and their optical counterparts. `Welcome to the Creation of the Plastic Beach' was another high point, seeing Snoop Dogg dressed in a sailor's outfit doing his sexy sneer on the big screen was a kick.
However (and I am pulling at threads here), it was a tad disappointing to see the familiar videos play as a backdrop to every song. A great portion of the band's ingenuity is in their visual aspect; it would have been a truly live performance seeing brand new video art on the screen. It felt a little like we were seeing Albon's band while Hewlett was low at the pub, having already done his part.
All in all, it was a highly enjoyable performance, thrilling to see the cartoon monkeys in the flesh, which was only hindered by a few minor setbacks. I would be foremost in queue to see them again if we are lucky enough to give them back down below in the not-too-distant future. Georgia Booth
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