GORILLAZ REANIMATED

November 3, 2010

Stepping out of the virtual realm and onto the stage at Rogers Arena Wednesday night, Gorillaz played the last concert of the North American leg of their Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour.

Created in 1998 by British musician and former Blur frontman Damon Albarn and comic artist Jamie Hewlett of Tank Girl fame, Gorillaz made waves in the mainstream with "Clint Eastwood", the first single off their self titled, debut album.

The familiar faces of the virtual band made up of 2D, Noodle, Murdoc, and Russel, and their fictional universe played a large role in the show -- projected across an IMAX worthy screen behind the stage -- that featured real, live musicians as well. Albarn worked the stage alongside Mick Jones and Paul Simonon, founding members of The Clash.

Assisted by a slew of musicians including the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, a full string section, and other guests, Gorillaz have been brought to life for an incredible live show that connected fans with the both the imagined and the real.

The opening entertainment was provided by N.E.R.D, headed by Pharrell Williams, which played to the crowd that was filing into the stadium. Promoting their latest studio album Nothing, the group had the crowd hopping by the time they closed out their set.

An orchestra instrumental intro welcomed fans, while a tour of the Plastic Beach played on the screen. The video transitioned into a Snoop Dogg virtual performance for "Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach". "Last Living Souls" and "19/2000" with Rosie Wilson followed.

In the wake of their third studio album Plastic Beach, which was released in March and debuted on the American album chart at #2, Albarn and Hewlett have reanimated the band in a live show. Combining elements of reality and fiction, Gorillaz have launched their first world tour after a career that dates back over ten years.

Their new live experience -- the video animation, artwork, and stage design by Hewlett -- first debuted at the Coachella music festival in April, headlining the final show in front of a record crowd of 70,000.

The group performed "Stylo" with soul and R&B singer Bobby Womack, "On Melonchaly Hill", and "Superfast Jellyfish" with De La Soul, all singles from their latest album. Reaching back to 2001, they also pulled out "Tomorrow Comes Today", and "El Mañana" from 2005's Demon Days.

Just as their sound crosses multiple musical genres, including hip hop, alternative rock, and electronic, the show spanned the depths of Gorillaz's catalogue.

Drawing fans into the imagination of Albarn and Hewlett, the combination of captivating visuals synced with live performances and an impressive assembly of artists, immersed the crowd in the complete Gorillaz experience.