Co-op Live was transformed into a neon-soaked portal on Friday night, as Gorillaz came to town for night one of the Manchester leg of The Mountain tour.
Damon Albarn and his rotating collective of quality musicians and special guests didn’t just play a gig; they staged a high-definition, multi-sensory takeover that felt remarkably fresh for a project now decades deep.
The production was, in a word, towering. We’ve come to expect greatness from the Hewlett-Albarn partnership, but the scale of the visuals at Co-op Live felt like a leap forward even by Gorillaz‘ high standards.
The venue, despite its early critics, was the perfect hosting ground. The seamless integration of the animated band members with the live ensemble created a depth that smaller venues simply can’t contain.
Perhaps the biggest surprise, given the venue’s size, was the pristine sound quality. Every bass-heavy synth line and intricate percussion layer felt surgically precise, avoiding the “stadium echo” that usually plagues massive arenas. It was crisp, immersive, and loud in all the right ways.
One of the most striking elements of the night was the eclectic crowd. While the Gen X and Millennial “Original Fans” were there in force, the front rows were dominated by a younger audience, testament to The Mountain‘s resonance with a new generation.
It’s clear that Gorillaz have achieved a rare, ageless status; seeing teenagers lose their minds to tracks released before they were born alongside brand-new material proved the band’s enduring relevance.
The setlist leaned heavily into the success of their latest era. “The Mountain” has clearly cemented itself as a fan favourite, and the live renditions of this newer material were met with just as much fervour, if not more, than the legacy hits.
The band didn’t just lean on nostalgia; they pushed forward, showcasing a confidence in their current sound that kept the energy peaking for the full duration.
The energy hit a fever pitch when Joe Talbot of IDLES stormed the stage. His raw, kinetic energy provided a brilliant contrast to the polished groove of the band, injecting a shot of punk adrenaline into the arena that left the crowd reeling.
But the showpiece of the spectacle was the encore, as The Hardest Thing intro led into The Mountain’s leading light “Orange County”, featuring Kara Jackson, again showcasing the new material’s immediate importance for the key moments of the live show.
All in all, the show was an absolute triumph. From the technical precision of the sound to the sheer joy of the performance, it was an incredibly enjoyable reminder that Gorillaz remain the gold standard for live “concept” shows.
Main Photo Credit: Luke Dyson (www.lukedyson.com)
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