Photo Credit Kyle Mcloughlin
On a rainy evening in Glasgow, fans flocked to the OVO Hydro for the Gorillaz’s Mountain Tour. With outstanding reviews pouring in on social media, it was finally Glasgow’s moment to experience this highly praised tour.
The anticipation was electric as fans gathered outside, eager to enter, proudly sporting the band’s tour t-shirts. Some had even donned costumes resembling the band’s animated characters, creating a vibrant spectacle in front of the venue.
Tonight’s supporting act is the fantastic hip-hop group Trueno from Argentina. They certainly knew how to put on a show. Despite their limited English, their music effectively conveyed their story. The dynamic band filled the stage and captivated the Glasgow audience with a memorable performance. As they wrapped up their set, they requested the house lights to be raised so they could capture a photo with the crowd. The audience responded enthusiastically, ensuring it would be a night they would cherish for years to come. When the band exited the stage, the house lights remained off, leaving only a strong red glow from the stage lights to illuminate the venue.
The moment had finally arrived to welcome Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s iconic virtual band, Gorillaz, to the stage. Excitement rippled through the crowd as the band’s name lit up in bold, dazzling letters across the massive side screens, signalling the start of an unforgettable night. As anticipation reached its peak, Gorillaz launched straight into the title track from their latest album, The Mountain. The opening instrumental gradually built up, layering sounds with masterful precision to craft an atmospheric introduction that immediately drew the audience in.
All the while, the giant LED screens came alive with vibrant, hypnotic animations, seamlessly blending the band’s signature visuals with the live music to create an immersive audio-visual experience. Although the setlist leaned heavily on songs from The Mountain, Gorillaz made sure to journey through their rich discography, performing fan favourites from each of their previous albums. This thoughtfully curated selection ensured that both longtime devotees and newcomers alike were treated to the full spectrum of the band’s innovative sound and visual artistry, making for a truly memorable performance.
Early highlights of the performance included the outstanding “Tomorrow Comes Today,” followed by the fantastic “19-2000,” which had the Glasgow audience singing along while the impressive LED screens displayed captivating visuals. The classic tracks blended effortlessly into the set, giving the impression that they belonged there all along. Damon invited Joe Talbot onto the stage to join in on the vocals for “The God of Lying.
This evening was extraordinary; the musicians delivered an outstanding performance, and the sound was impeccably balanced and clear. Everything was just right. Damon playfully engaged the audience by standing on the stairs, giving the impression he might come down to greet them, but for now, he held back. Perhaps he would make his way down later.
The middle of the performance captivated the Glasgow audience with “On Melancholy Hill,” “Delirium,” “Stylo,” and the breathtaking “Damascus.” The crowd was mesmerised not only by the music but also by the stunning visuals that accompanied it. As the set approached its climax, the energy intensified with the arrival of fan favourites, including “Dirty Harry,” featuring Bootie Brown, which had everyone dancing and singing along. The audience then enjoyed “The Shadowy Light” before the set concluded with the brilliant “The Sad God” from The Mountain album. They received a warm send-off as they exited the stage, building anticipation for the encores.
As the band returned to the stage, they were poised to elevate Glasgow’s experience, kicking off with “The Hardest Things.” This was swiftly followed by the outstanding “Orange Country,” featuring Kara Jackson. With nearly two hours of music, they delivered a masterclass in both sound and stunning visuals. The tour debut of a beautiful track, “The Manifesto,” featuring support from Trueno, left the audience in awe. A massive cheer erupted when the iconic opening of “Feel Good Inc.” began, as the crowd sang and danced along, energised by the brilliant Posdnuos.
It was time for one final song, the moment we had all been anticipating. The incredible Clint Eastwood brought the show full circle, returning to where it all began. The crowd in Glasgow was in high spirits, singing and dancing along with the band. As the song concluded, the band bid farewell to Glasgow, while the audience erupted in cheers, raising the roof as they exited the stage.
This evening was an extraordinary musical experience. Damon’s singing was exceptional, and the visual effects were truly spectacular. We enjoyed nearly two hours of outstanding music from a world-class band. If you have the opportunity to catch this tour, don’t hesitate – missing this incredible night would be a mistake.
Review by James Edmond
