Bradford Live is fast becoming the venue for being a launching pad for big tours; a month ago Kaiser Chiefs began their British tour from the venue, and now an even bigger proposition: Gorillaz started their worldwide tour from the former cinema building.

The musical collective led by Damon Albarn have recently celebrated the success of their number one album, The Mountain; on the back of this, the two warm-up gigs were aptly situated in Bradford, with the multicultural line-up of Gorillaz replicating the demographic make-up of the city.

“It is a very great pleasure to come to Bradford," remarked Albarn at the start of a ninety-minute set that visually and musically was a feast for the eyes and ears, respectively. The venue is a perfect fit for any big rock or pop band; it is large enough to accommodate any major touring act yet intimate enough to generate an atmosphere that gets lost in arena-sized sheds.

The new album, unsurprisingly, was the backbone of their compelling set, its lead single The Happy Dictator features Sparks – appearing here visually on the backdrop video screen

Albarn and the rest of Gorillaz really are musical magpies, with influences tonight being heard from a diverse and eclectic range, from classical Indian instrumentation to rock, pop and electronic music.

The new album focuses on death and the afterlife, inspired by the deaths of close family members of Albarn and fellow creator Jamie Hewlett during the making of the album, though tonight was more a celebration of their strong body of work, albeit through a kaleidoscope of ideas and themes.

The thirteen musicians, including the four backing singers, brought the ethos of Gorillaz to the fore, especially on the 2005 hit Feel Good Inc.

The soulful side of the band was nobly demonstrated in Orange County, where Kara Jackson provided an emotional and heartfelt vocal on a song that is lyrically sombre yet paired with the band's ability to sound bright and upbeat.

Likewise, Bootie Brown excelled vocally on Dirty Harry – a reference to the Clint Eastwood film of the same name and also an anti-war song, fitting in precisely with the current events in the world as the track explores the mindset of a young soldier in combat.

Appropriately, Clint Eastwood closed a night when Gorillaz filled every corner of Bradford Live. For a band that began as cartoon characters, tonight had been an animated experience that boded well for anyone lucky enough to have secured a ticket for the rest of the tour.

The tour continues with further dates in the north:
14th March - Bradford Live
20th/21st March - Manchester Co-op Live
25th March - Leeds First Direct Arena
29th March - Liverpool M&S Arena

https://gorillaz.com/tour/