WRITTEN BY JAMARI SHELTON
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There is always something so nostalgic about concerts for me. As the months turn into weeks, the weeks turn into days, and the days turn into just a few hours, the sudden realization that everything I've been looking forward to is actually happening starts to settle in.
It's a lot to take in, especially when you're surrounded by thousands of other fans who have been anticipating the same night as you. But once the lights dimmed and Gorillaz took the stage, all those worries suddenly felt unimportant. Especially for me, someone who's never even listened to Gorillaz.
My best friend, Jade, had an extra ticket and invited me. While I never really listened to Gorillaz, my love for music always persuades me to go.
Between the energetic atmosphere, stunning visuals and performances, there was a sense of bliss and comfort that sitting in my bedroom with headphones on could never give me. It was immersive, almost like living out a dream where, for a couple of hours, you forget everything else and simply enjoy what's happening in front of you.
I'll admit, I wouldn't consider myself an avid Gorillaz fan. I was familiar with their music, but I wasn't someone who knew every song or could recognize every collaboration. In fact, I only know one song by them. However, seeing them perform live gave me an entirely different appreciation for their artistry. The live instrumentation, stage presence and energy from the crowd brought something out of the music that I hadn't experienced before.
One performance that particularly stood out to me was “She's My Collar,” featuring Kali Uchis, from the group's 2017 album Humanz. Also the only song I know. Although Uchis wasn't physically present, visuals of the singer appeared on the screens alongside the band throughout the performance. It's one thing to listen to a collaboration through your headphones, but seeing how Gorillaz incorporated Uchis into the live performance made the song feel like an entirely different experience.
Between the instrumentation and the visuals, I found myself appreciating the track in a way I hadn't before. Even without Uchis onstage, the performance still managed to capture the collaboration that made the original song so enjoyable.
And while the music and visuals were impressive, what stood out to me most was the sense of community throughout the night.
At one point during the show, Damon Albarn spoke about the family that Gorillaz has created over the years, not only among the musicians and collaborators but with the fans as well. Since the group's debut in 2001, Gorillaz has spent more than two decades bringing together artists from different backgrounds, genres and generations.
Throughout the night, several longtime collaborators joined Albarn onstage, many of whom have been part of the group's musical journey for years. Watching them perform together made his comments about family feel even more meaningful. The chemistry between the musicians was evident as it carried into the performances.
Everything felt loud, raw and full of passion. There was something beautiful about watching artists who have spent years creating music together share that same excitement with an audience that has continued to grow alongside them.
And looking around the venue, it was easy to understand what Albarn meant. There were fans who had likely been listening to Gorillaz since the early 2000s, alongside people who discovered their music much later. Regardless of when anyone became a fan, everyone was there to celebrate the same thing. Likewise, my best friend had inheritedthe love for the group from her mom.
I think that's what I enjoyed most about the concert. I didn't need to know every lyric or recognize every song to feel like I belonged there. The performances were enough to pull me in, and by the end of the night, I found myself wanting to explore more of their discography.
It's one thing to enjoy an artist's music through your headphones, but it's another to see that music come to life in front of you. Gorillaz managed to turn one song I was only somewhat familiar with into performances I genuinely didn't want to end.
I walked out the concert as a casual listener and left with a newfound appreciation for the group and the community they've built over the last 25 years.
