BRITGIRL's gig report

Entertain Me!

Gorillaz' "Demon Days Live" in Manchester, England.

November 1st through 5th, 2005

March 2006

damon is our Kurt Weill. Jamie is our Salvador Dali. Such was the conclusion arrived at by BRITGIRL as she walked out of the Manchester Opera on the Opening Night of "Demon Days." To be witness to a grand work of art, musically and graphically, was an exquisite privilege. Everything was beautifully put together in such a way as to create a completely resplendent work in its humanity and purity that one could not help but become one with the performers as one's Ego slipped away and the nothingness that remained gave way to a synthesis of all the souls that had gathered that night.

The beauty of the venue was a sight to behold. It looked simple and understated on the outside, but lushly classic on the inside. It was the perfect venue for such an event. As I sat myself down on the cozy and comfortable seat in the right hand side of the orchestra I could not help but grin to myself when I heard the theme from Hitchcock's "Psycho" playing in the Opera House. Perfect selection!

There is a "safety curtain" draped across the stage with "safety curtain" written in gold lettering enclosed in a white rectangular box with forest green bordering around it. I cannot help but wonder whether that is the Opera House's usual curtain or a curtain set up for the purposes of this performance.. It heightens the sense of suspense and makes me wonder whether there lies danger behind the curtain.

The audience is an equal mix of men and women. The audience range in age from the single digits to the middle-aged. Although the capacity is 2,000, the setting feels intimate. The audience signs a release form assenting to being filmed for a video recording. The use of personal recording devices, though, are strictly forbidden and several people who flagrantly go against this rule are chastised. Though, as usual, some skillful and observant audience members manage to get a few shots.

The 2D and Murdoch puppets were perfectly created and very lifelike on the right hand side balcony. At around 8:45 pm 2-D yells to a dozing Murdoch, "wake up!" That causes many audience members to jump to attention and gaze upwards toward the balcony where the two members of the Gorillaz sit. At 9:00 pm the Opera House darkens and the spotlight falls on the two who banter back and forth about 2D needing a catch phrase. It ends with a "what's up, Doc" and sure enough, we are treated to a Merrie Melodies1951 cartoon short entitled "Drip Along Daffy" ( a play on Hop-Along Cassidy)

After a lot of cheering and hollering from the audience the Intro from "Demon Days" fills the air and the darkness gives way to light and the "Demon Days Live" begins. Images projected on the screen are the horrific images of war, death and destruction which sets the stage for the message that these are indeed Demon Days that we live in.

Now I could go on to give you a play by play of each of the songs and how they were performed each night and I might very well do that sometime in the future in this section on a night by night basis, but would rather save that experience for all who have yet to see the dvd and experience it themselves. It will be fascinating to watch the dvd to see if it is a compilation of all five nights with snippets from all nights or only footage of the Opening Night. If it is a compilation it would be fun to see if I would be able to identify the performances correctly based on the half-filled pages of my Madeline journal that traveled with me to Manchester.

For me, the entire evening, every night, transported me to a place beyond time and space. It was a transcendent experience akin to the moments of sheer bliss experienced when one forgets one is meditating. I still ponder about what I had experienced those five nights as there is still much that is unknowable, as Kant would put it. Perhaps it is even not fully known to damon and Jamie (and I don't mean this in any negative sense).

When damon came out to the stage, front and center, and stood next to the Chinese Zither player and blurry footage of Hong Kong projected onscreen I felt much the same way I feel when I watch Wong Kar-Wai's movies. The fluidity of damon albarn as an artist was breathtaking. To be able to create a work of art that is not preachy, but that still expresses the artist's beliefs is a god-given gift, especially when it succeeds to move the ones experiencing and interpreting the art for themselves.

BRITGIRL

KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE?

Enter the dragon...Say What?!

dear damon

Name that tune!

Educate Me!

Ravenous for "Ravenous?"

The archives c'est arrive'!

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