On June 10, Gorillaz gave a huge performance at the inaugural Demon Dayz Festival at the Dreamland in Kent, England. They shared the stage with artists like Danny Brown, Vince Staples, and Kali Uchis. The show was livestreamed by Red Bull. It can now be seen on YouTube below:
Their new album has the overlying theme of Humans going crazy. It is described as one of the Gorillaz most outspoken and fun albums. It’s a party record, but it is definitely politically driven. The group has always had a post-apocalyptic feel, with doom-laden lyricism. The 2005 Demon Days critiqued the dumbing down of mass media and contained political themes like the “war on terror.”
The new album Humanz has a sense of purpose dealing with new political and social unrest. After the Summer of 2016, Damon Albarn delved back into his production of Gorillaz. He told the New York Times in April,
“As soon as Brexit happened, it was like some sort of subconscious talking drum with such a deep resonance that had just sort of unleashed…it had reawakened something.” Specifically speaking of Gorillaz, he clarified, “Now it’s super political.”
In 1998, the Gorillaz didn’t necessarily come from a very political place, but a shift happened when things took a turn and people started to feel a rise in populism. this created a very post-apocalyptic feel that the Gorillaz are known for.
This new album does not predict doom, like the other albums released by the Gorillaz. Humanz actually is an album that softens the blow and shifts gears from anger to apathy about the state of the world and society. It shares the internal conflict that people relate to. It encourages people to keep going through the political and social unrest and injustice.
The line-up of songs from the Demon Dayz Festival is listed below. The Gorillaz also played five encore songs including one of their original hits, Feel Good Inc.
Intro: I Switched My Robot Off
“Ascension” (with Vince Staples)
“Last Living Souls”
“Saturnz Barz”
“Stylo” (with Peven Everett and Bootie Brown)
“Tomorrow Comes Today”
“Rhinestone Eyes”
“Charger”
“Momentz” (with De La Soul)
Interlude: “The Non-Conformist Oath”
“Submission” (with Danny Brown, Kelela and Graham Coxon)
Interlude: Penthouse”
“Sex Murder Party” (with Jamie Principle)
“She’s My Collar” (with Kali Uchis)
“El Mañana”
“Dirty Harry” (with Bootie Brown)
“Let Me Out”
Interlude: “Elevator Going Up”
“Andromeda”
“Busted and Blue” (with Kelela)
“Strobelite” (with Peven Everett)
“Kids With Guns”
“DARE” (with Shaun Ryder)
“Out of Body” (with Kilo Kish)
“Garage Palace” (with Little Simz)
“We Got the Power” (with Jehnny Beth and Graham Coxon)
Encore:
“Sleeping Powder”
“Feel Good Inc.” (with De La Soul)
“Clint Eastwood” (with Kano and Little Simz)
“Don’t Get Lost in Heaven”
“Demon Days”
Currently, The Gorillaz are on a tour of North America.
Humanz is out now. Check out the full tour schedule here.
Leave a Comment