Gorillaz brought out Vince Staples, Del & more for tour kickoff show (pics, setlist, video)
Gorillaz began their tour in support of their new LP Humanz on Saturday night (July 8) at Northerly Island. Damon Albarn and his six-piece band -- plus six backup vocalists -- brought the album to life with their trademark visuals and a plethora of special guests. They started things off with a bang by playing LP standout "Ascension" complete with an appearance by featured vocalist Vince Staples. The Humanz vocalists not present were projected behind the band, like Popcaan on "Saturnz Barz," and Grace Jones on "Charger." Show openers, past collaborators, and Chicagoans the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble added some oomph and pizzazz to Plastic Beach's "Broken," making the tune a major highlight of the evening.
Golden-voiced Peven Everett joined the band for their collaborate tune "Strobelite" and also nailed the late Bobby Womack's parts in "Stylo." A static image of Womack (who died in 2014) appeared on the screen towards the end of the song, which was a nice touch. Additional opener Little Simz came out for the unreleased "Garage Palace" and stuck around for "We Got the Power." Albarn and co. capped the night with a five-song encore that included "Clint Eastwood" with a surprise appearance by Del the Funky Homosapien. Check out setlist and a few videos from the show below and photos are in the gallery above.
There was talk that Gorillaz would be putting on a Chicago edition of their Demon Dayz festival but there's been no further word on that.
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SETLIST: Gorillaz @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Ascension (with Vince Staples)
Last Living Souls
Saturnz Barz
Charger
Rhinestone Eyes
Sex Murder Party (with Jamie Principle) (and Zebra Katz)
She's My Collar
Busted and Blue
El Mañana
Carnival (with Anthony Hamilton) (With "Little Pink Plastic Bags" tease intro)
Broken (with Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
Andromeda
Strobelite (with Peven Everett)
Out of Body (with Zebra Katz) (and Imani Vonshà)
Garage Palace (with Little Simz)
We Got the Power (with Little Simz)
Encore:
Stylo (with Peven Everett)
Kids With Guns
Clint Eastwood (with Del the Funky Homosapien)
Don't Get Lost in Heaven
Demon Days
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photos by James Richards IV
