Joyful noises: Gorillaz at the Apollo

Gorillaz are in town this week playing five shows at the Apollo in Harlem, or rather "the world famous Apollo Theatre", which is what everyone who works there calls it.

I love this band, including the 'doesn't actually exist' aspect of it. I still play the first record pretty regularly, and it stands up every time. 'Demon Days' has been on medium-heavy rotation since it came out. And ever since I first sang along about having "sunshine in a bag" I'd wondered if I'd ever see them live, and if so, how the hell would that work?

I saw Gorillaz in New York when they came here with the first album (2002-ish?). The whole stage was covered by a multi-panel screen and the musicians, who were backlit, stood behind a goal-shaped white screen at the bottom. The audience never saw Damon's face at all, but I recognised his dancing. Some people around me in the crowd were very "what the hell is this?" but I had a great time, primarily because the songs are so good.

I only found out about the Apollo Demon Days shows nine days ago. Of course it was sold out, but to my surprise and delight I won an ebay auction for tickets last tuesday. So Nyx and I went up to 125th Street tonight to see the show. I had an idea of what to expect because the opening gig on Sunday had been widely reported as a "flop" because the video systems hadn't worked. But this guy went to Monday's show and gave it a rave, so I was ok.

Anyway, in short, it was a good good time. The stage was crowded with 14 musicians and singers, including a sizeable string section and Damon sitting at a piano at the back. De La Soul went crazy during 'Feel Good Inc', Roots Manuva hammed it for his track, the Harlem Gospel Choir was fantastic, and Shaun Ryder was exactly the same as he's always been - which is to say he looked like he was going to fall over at any second. 'Demon Days' the album was performed in sequence, with one new song and that Ibrahim Ferrer track from 'Gorillaz' as a tribute because the old boy popped off last year. I'd hoped Damon might sprinkle a couple of older tracks into the set, but that wasn't the idea. That's ok, he gets to do what he likes; that's the whole point of the band. And the songs really are that good.

So hurrah for Gorillaz and ebay!! All the pics are from my phone (and I got a tap on the shoulder from a world famous Apollo Theatre staff killjoy in the process).