{"id":405889,"date":"2026-09-21T03:49:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T03:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/405889\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T03:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T03:49:10","slug":"review-gorillaz-kick-off-us-tour-at-orlandos-kia-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/405889\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Gorillaz kick off US tour at Orlando’s Kia Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gorillaz<\/a> may be a \u201cvirtual band\u201d but there were more than a dozen humans on stage during the group\u2019s Orlando concert, rallying the crowd for hits from across the band\u2019s nearly 30-year career.<\/p>\n

Founded in the late \u201990s as a critique of the manufactured pop music<\/a> on MTV at the time, Gorillaz have engaged in satire, social commentary and politics from the start, and the Orlando show was no exception.<\/p>\n

While Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn<\/a> commanded the stage with multiple percussionists, backing singers and keyboardists, the fictional animated band members 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs<\/a> sang and danced on the giant screen behind the sprawling ensemble. Throughout the night, the group also showed their versatility by combining elements of alternative rock, hip-hop, electronica, reggae and world music.<\/p>\n

At Orlando\u2019s Kia Center<\/a>, Gorillaz kicked off the U.S. leg of \u201cThe Mountain<\/a>\u201d tour, in support of their latest album, which draws inspiration from the sounds of India. The band\u2019s ninth album reflects on life, death and grief in a journey of mourning that was deeply personal for Gorillaz co-creators Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, who lost their fathers within 10 days of each other.<\/p>\n

The show began its journey with the sweet, melodic sounds of bansuri, a bamboo flute, sitar and percussion instruments from India in \u201cThe Mountain,\u201d the opening track to the band\u2019s latest album. The music quickly turned to politics in the second song, \u201cThe Happy Dictator,\u201d which comments on authoritarian leaders projecting positive realities while suppressing bad news and distracting people with consumption.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe band Gorillaz, including frontman Damon Albarn, performs at Kia Center in Orlando to kick off the U.S. leg of “The Mountain” on Thursday night. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Like a mountain, the performance had its own peaks and valleys between energetic hits and moments of stripped-down reflection. Tracks like \u201cLast Living Souls,\u201d from the 2005 breakout album \u201cDemon Days,\u201d and the 2001 track \u201cTomorrow Comes Today\u201d both sounded apocalyptic sonically and commented on the hollowness of modern society brought on by the onslaught of technology and media.<\/p>\n

Throughout the set, the band\u2019s fictional members appeared in music videos and on-screen animations that delved into the group\u2019s lore and backstory.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe band Gorillaz performs at Kia Center in Orlando to kick off the U.S. leg of “The Mountain” tour on Thursday night. The “virtual band” has real musicians and fictional animated characters 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs who make up the group. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

In \u201cOrange County,\u201d one of Gorillaz\u2019s newest tracks, the lyrics convey a message of grief juxtaposed with an optimistic whistling melody. \u201cThe hardest thing is to say goodbye to someone you love,\u201d sang Albarn with guest singer Kara Jackson.<\/p>\n

Between songs, Albarn made his support for Palestine clear as he held up the country\u2019s flag and urged fans to vote in the midterm election.<\/p>\n

The band brought up the energy with back-to-back rockers \u201cSound Check (Gravity)\u201d from their debut album and \u201cDelirium,\u201d another track from \u201cThe Mountain.\u201d The energy continued as guest rapper Little Simz, one of the night\u2019s opening acts, joined the group on stage for \u201cGarage Palace\u201d shortly before rapper Bootie Brown came up for \u201cNew Gold\u201d and \u201cStylo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GorillazGorillaz performs at Kia Center in Orlando to kick off the U.S. leg of “The Mountain” tour on Thursday night. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

The grungy \u201cKids With Guns,\u201d which riffs on the rising tide of violence and aggression in youth culture, took on an added power with guest singer Michelle Ndegwa belting out soaring vocals as the band rocked out behind her.<\/p>\n

The set took a brief detour back to India with \u201cThe Shadowy Light\u201d featuring the late singer and actress Asha Bhosle before playing one of the night\u2019s most popular singalongs, \u201cFeel Good Inc.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GorillazGorillaz frontman Damon Albarn performs with guitarist Jeff Wootton at Kia Center in Orlando to kick off the U.S. leg of “The Mountain” tour on Thursday night. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Gorillaz made sure to save some of their biggest hits for the end, bringing out Brown for \u201cDirty Harry,\u201d a 2005 protest against the Iraq War, and rapper Del the Funky Homosapien for 2001 party track \u201cRock the House.\u201d The band saved \u201cClint Eastwood\u201d for the very end, giving the audience one more hit to sing along with after opening the song with a back-and-forth exchange between Albarn\u2019s melodica and the bansuri flute.<\/p>\n

While the Gorillaz may be rooted in the group\u2019s virtual presence and fictional band members, they proved throughout the night they had very real issues to comment on and statements to make.<\/p>\n

Find me\u00a0@PConnPie on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0or send me an email:\u00a0pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at\u00a0orlandosentinel.com\/newsletters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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