Gorillaz + Nerd = double spectacular show
by Cherrycherryboomboom on 2010-11-03VIEJAS ARENA AT AZTEC BOWL SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY - San DiegoMe and my boyfriend were seated (mostly stood up and rocked out the whole performance) right of the stage, row 8. The experience started with an up close and personal NERD performance with Pharrell commanding his band, included 2 drummers and 2 fabulous female dancers. Songs from new album Nothing were pumped into Viejas to get the crowd warmed up nicely for Gorillaz. Nice album, plus older songs to finish his set. The song "hypnotize you" got the place groovin and a little hot and steamy. Gorillaz came out in full force not too shortly after, the complete army of sea-faring female sailors on strings and tuba-wielding Chicago Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and of course, Damon conducting the mission of journey to the Plastic Beach. We saw them headline Coachella 2010 earlier this year and their tour show was slightly different from their appearance in Indio (where Coachella outdoor festival was held). Little Dragon, Bobby Womack represented with amazing voices and overall the show was a magnificent combination of entertainment, digital narration (the videos accompanying the songs with Murdoc blowing up the studio by the end of the show), Noodle re-appears, and to top things off, Damon and his bandmates had a blast on stage. Lebanon Orchestra also managed to be on stage with everyone else. Viejas Arena was bumping the whole time, and the fact that they only used half the arena made for a real intimate, personal experience. I felt like they were throwing us a hell of a party on the Plastic Beach. A real positive experience.