Gorillaz Delivers "Feel-Good" and Unifying Concert at Paléo Festival

Gorillaz, the virtual band masterminded by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, captivated the Paléo Festival with a "feel-good" and unifying performance, eight years after their last appearance. The concert, which lasted 90 minutes, showcased a perfectly constructed setlist that resonated with the audience.

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When Damon Albarn unveiled a virtual group created with the help of cartoonist Jamie Hewlett at the very beginning of the 21st century, we thought it was a side project, a passing phase.

Damon Albarn, dressed in a camouflage jacket with a Che Guevara badge, led a troupe of thirteen musicians and choristers. The show opened with an atmospheric rendition of "The Mountain," the title track from their latest album, which was built around posthumous collaborations with artists who had previously worked with the band. Albarn, known more as a composer and a unifying force than a vocalist, demonstrated his ability to draw inspiration from African and Asian music.

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Blur had released their sixth album (13) two years prior, moving away from the britpop sound of their early years, and we thought Damon Albarn was taking a short break with Gorillaz.

The performance incorporated striking visual elements, including the appearance of the virtual band members – 2-D, Noodle, Murdoc Niccals, and Russel Hobbs – on a monumental screen. The concert also included poignant moments, such as a tribute to the late Mark E. Smith, the singer of the post-rock band The Fall. Despite occasional issues with overly present bass that sometimes interfered with certain songs, the overall experience was described as deeply moving.

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Here we are in 2005 with the prodigious Demon Days, Gorillaz's second recording.

Since their debut in 2001 with the hit "Clint Eastwood," Gorillaz have released nine albums, mirroring the output of Albarn's other band, Blur. Their journey from a seemingly parallel project to a sustained global phenomenon highlights Albarn's creative evolution and his talent for bringing together diverse musical influences and collaborators.

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Eight years after Gorillaz's first appearance at Paléo, here is Damon Albarn – accompanied by thirteen musicians and choristers – arriving in a camouflage jacket, Che badge on his lapel, and giving a military salute – as if he were on the side of the revolutionaries.