[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ class=”cs-ta-left” style=”padding: 0px;”][x_blockquote cite=”” type=”left” class=”introduction”]Rowena Field-Carter runs through the best bits from last night’s exclusive Gorillaz secret gig in London.[/x_blockquote][x_image type=”rounded” src=”http://www.rebelessex.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/gorillaz-ticket.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”” class=”image”][cs_text class=”caption”]Photo credit Rowena Field-Carter @2017[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Last night, I had the pleasure of being one of a lucky few to attend Gorillaz secret gig at Printworks in East London.
The gig was announced late on Thursday night, and having followed the hype and story they have been slowly building up over the past couple of months, the climactic release of four new tracks, and announcement of a secret show on Friday was too much to not be involved in.
[/cs_text][x_blockquote cite=”” type=”left” class=”quote”]”A single spotlight lit up the dark stage and broody electronic music filled the venue”.[/x_blockquote][cs_text]Printworks is a multi-level maze of rooms, corridors, and warehouse space, which used to house the printing presses that once delivered the Evening Standard and the Metro, making it quite the eerie venue. As I entered amongst the hopeful crowd of music industry professionals, music journalists and hardcore Gorillaz fans, an expectant vibe filled the space.
After standing around for an agonising hour as Printworks filled up, a single spotlight lit up the dark stage and broody electronic music filled the venue. Damon Albarn then took to centre stage and told the crowd we would be treated to hearing the new album âHumanzâ played in full, and that every collaborating artist featured on the album was there (with the exception of a few).
[/cs_text][x_image type=”none” src=”http://www.rebelessex.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/gorillaz-venue.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”” class=”image”][cs_text class=”caption”]Printworks London. Photo credit: Rowena Field-Carter @2017[/cs_text][cs_text]
âHumanzâ first public test drive was unforgettable. The crowd was ecstatic throughout, and the tense mixture of heavy bass, electronic dance and heavily political lyrics at times charged the room. Highlight tracks throughout the night were âAndromedaâ, âLet Me Outâ featuring Pusha T, to which the crowd screamed âRewind!â so loudly that the band played it twice. Curveball come back track âHallelujah Moneyâ featuring Benjamin Clementine, which was captivating, sinister and bizarre (especially with the brief appearance of Spongebob Squarepants at the end) was also poignant, and then âWe Got the Powerâ featuring Jehnny Beth from Savages, and 90âs frenemy to Albarn, Noel Gallagher, closed the set.
In a BBC radio one interview with Mistajam last week, Albarn explained that âThe album kind of came from this dark fantasy of⊠I suppose it came into my head at the beginning of last year, which was like, just imagine the weirdest, unpredictable thing happening that changes everything about the world. How will you feel on that night? Will you go and get drunk? Will you just stay at home? Will you just watch TV? Will you talk to people?â
This tone was strongly communicated throughout the performance of the album, but somehow magically intertwined with the sense of just wanting to forget your troubles, and dance to the sound of this âdark fantasyâ.
[/cs_text][x_blockquote cite=”” type=”left” class=”quote”]”The sense of just wanting to forget your troubles, and dance to the sound of this ‘dark fantasy'”.
[/x_blockquote][cs_text]Once the album was over, the crowd cheered for more, and we were then treated to several stunning renditions of the Gorillaz staple classics âKids With Gunsâ, âFeel Good Inc.â feat De La Soul, and âClint Eastwoodâ feat Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Noel Gallagher.
The night was incredible, and something I wonât forget easily. Now I am going to wait eagerly for the 28th, so I can relive it all over again.
Set List:
1. Ascension
2. Strobelite feat. Peven Everett
3. Saturnz Barz
4. Momentz feat. De La Soul
5. Submission feat. Danny Brown & Kelela
6. Charger
7. Andromeda
8. Busted and Blue
9. Carnival feat. Anthony Hamilton
10. Let Me Out feat. Pusha T
11. Sex Murder Party feat. Jamie Principle & Zebra Katz
12. Sheâs My Collar feat. Kali Uchis
13. Hallelujah Money feat. Benjamin Clementine
14. We Got The Power feat. Jehnny Beth & Noel Gallagher
Encore:
15. Kids With Guns
16. Feel Good Inc feat De La Soul
17. Clint Eastwood feat Del Tha Funkee Homosapien & Noel Gallagher
18. Donât Get Lost In Heaven/Demon Days
âHumanzâ will be released on 28th April 2017. You can pre-order online now here.
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]