LIVE FROM THE PIT: Gorillaz and Omar Souleyman
- Tyler Whiting
- Mar 26
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 26
Twenty-five years after their virtual debut, GORILLAZ are still reminding us why they remain a cult classic. Bold, bright visuals and packed with a whole soundscape of genres that offered a punch with multisensory delight. Playing their sold out The Mountain Tour around the UK and worldwide to tens of thousands of fans every night, we were lucky enough to catch the tour at its stop at Birmingham, BP Pulse Live.
The brand new album The Mountain indulges the listeners in multicultural and diverse artists, languages, music styles and genres. Exploring themes of death, grief and the afterlife which were inspired by both GORILLAZ creators, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, both experiencing deaths of close family members during the production process of the album. Recorded across India, London and multiple other locations, and drawing heavy inspiration from classical Indian instrumentation, The Mountain continues the Gorillaz tradition of collaboration with other artists with a wide spread range of music styles.
Opening the evening was the supporting act OMAR SOULEYMAN, who also featured as a guest artist on the new album. With his unique blending of Middle Eastern melodies with electronic beats, throaty vocals and keyboards in the genre of dabke, the Syrian singer with his iconic glasses quickly charmed the audience with a humble setup of one table, backing dj/keyboardist and a dream. Even with a slight language barrier, Omar had the audience in the palm of his hand, encouraging chants, clapping of hands and a plenty of waving arms in the air.
The lights went down, an excited thrum rippled throughout the arena and the artists who formed the GORILLAZ band took to the stage. A red wash encaptured the stage as the first notes of The Mountain were played, the title song of the new album. Spotlights drew everyone’s attention to different instruments where they played solo and in turn joined in the blending of instruments to create the familiar sound. A single warm spotlight on Damon Albarn as he stretched his arms up the sky in prayer formation. Title cards rolled, we watched as the tale of The Mountain was displayed live on a grand scale.
With the familiar faces of Noodle, 2D, Murdoc and Russel appearing slowly as the tale unfolded before the arena, set to the cinematic score and with stunning visuals inspired by ‘a golden age of animation’, the crowd was transported into the world of GORILLAZ.
Blasting into The Happy Dictator, orange lighting casted the arena in a warm welcoming glow. Callbacks and almost every word was sung along from each corner of the room, before a shift to Tranz with fast flashing screens, visuals and colours which had the entire audience up and jumping. It was clear to see why GORILLAZ have such a diverse fan base just from the range of different styles and sounds, hiphop, electric, alternative rock and art pop to name a few.
The set was broken up into sections in which The Mountain animation was slowly but surely revealed in full, a cinematic experience that unraveled throughout the evening. Packed full of references to The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmations, and featuring hand drawn animations on skillfully painted backdrops that did not hold back in colours and brought that ‘goosebump’ feeling of awe.
The setlist packed a punch with songs from all eras of Gorillaz discography, from Rhinestone Eyes and On Melancholy Hill which featured on Plastic Beach, Stylo and Damascus from The Mountain, 19/2000 from self titled album Gorillaz all the way to Dirty Harry from Demon Days.
It would not be a GORILLAZ gig without plenty of guest appearances, and my goodness there was plenty. Joining the stage were IDLES, YASIIN BEY, OMAR SOULEYMAN, BOOTIE BROWN, KARA JACKSON, and POS - DE LA SOUL. Each in turn riled up the crowd in their own way. Even guests that were not there in person were featured on the giant screens that set the stage, vocals from the tracks played live and set to the music video animations and videos.
Damon Albarn took a pause in the set to speak softly to the audience through his gramophone mic, ‘It’s nice to be back here…it never really felt like I left’. A statement that was met with cheers from all the proud Brummies in the crowd.
Wrapping up the night was bittersweet, after belting out Dirty Harry raps with BOOTIE BROWN, a slower end to the evening with The Shadowy Light and The Sad God. Although after plenty of cheers and foot stomping, the arena was treated to an encore. Closing out in style with fan favourites Feel Good Inc and Clint Eastwood which had everyone on their feet dancing and singing along, there truly is nothing better than the sound of a Melodica to end your night.
Words: Tyler Whiting
Photos: Luke Dyson
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