Review - Gorillaz in Damascus

triplew.me’s Adham Ghanem travelled to Syria to be a part of the first performance of a western act (aside from Julio Iglesias) in Syria. His trip and our coverage was made possible by the support we received from the British Council in Syria, we would like to sincerely thank them for their assistance. Read our interview with the band here.

The Gorillaz playing in Damascus was not just a a happy coincidence of touring schedules. On the latest album, the band’s latest and greatest offering to date, Gorillaz musical talisman Damon Albarn collaborated with The Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic music on 'White Flag', one of the album’s many standouts.

The linchpin between the two is London based Syrian rapper Eslam Jawaad. Eslam had introduced Damon to the conductor of the orchestra, Essam Refae. From that point on the relationship flourished between the two, so much so that Damon invited Essam and the Orchestra onto the Gorillaz world tour. Playing in Syria was, as Damon put it in a press conference before the event, a way of “repaying the compliment” for having the orchestra travel with them.

Come gig time, the sun had set and everyone in the venue was primed for what they were about to witness. After all, this wasn’t just a normal concert, nor was it a normal everyday occurrence. It was the first time that a large, mainstream, globally renowned band would play in the city of Damascus. The significance of the event was clearly not lost amongst the mostly-young audience, with people queuing up for more than two whole hours before the event. This is something that the city’s young population was hoping to happen for a very long time, and there really was no better act than the Gorillaz to end their frustration.

Experiencing a Gorillaz concert is like going on an around-the-world trip, it isn’t about visiting one sole destination, it is about traveling to a wide range of places and indulging in the many sights and sounds that envelope us all at once. Damon acted as our friendly tour guide, navigating us through the vast world of the Gorillaz.

Sticking with the theme of the latest album, our mode of transport for the evening would be by sea as we were welcomed on board by its crew all dressed in contemporary sailor attire. After a quick salute to the audience, we left dock and the evening’s entertainment began.

Damon didn’t hold back in trying to entertain those who attended. He, along with all the invited on-stage guests, kept the intensity high throughout, and the energy from them slowly seeped into the crowd.

Early into the set, the band kicked into 'Stylo' and the crowd raised their volume and found their voice as soon as they heard the first few recognizable beats. Bootie Brown provided the verses which were originally sung by Mos Def.  While Bobby Womack slithered onto stage and outshined all as he left the crowd stunned with his seemingly effortless bellowing voice.

The Clash legends Mick Jones and Paul Simonon also left their mark. Mick Jones strutted all night with his chest out like a proud lion looking over his cubs. Paul Simonon waltzed with his bass throughout, shimmying and pulsating with his instrument as he struck every note.

De La Soul bombarded the stage on 'Superfast Jellyfish', like a stealth bomber that just fired a missile. David Jude Jolicoeur (aka Trugoy the Dove) swapped lyrics with his trusted cohort Kelvin Mercer (aka Posdnous) as he pranced all over the stage like he owned it. The crowd seemed glad to be just invited along.

Bootie Brown was then the center of attention on the Demon Days cut 'Dirty Harry'. He was like a man possessed, stirring the crowd into a frenzy with every heartfelt whip of his lyrical prowess.

But no one was enjoying the occasion more than Damon Albarn. When he didn’t have to sit behind his keys or his strings, he constantly moved around the stage. Stomping and stepping in time with the tunes that he crafted, coming to the front of either side stage to reach out and touch those who were lucky to be close enough, fashioning a smile between his verses on 'Stylo' as he stood by Bobby Womack, or simply when he was center stage and bathed in the occasion. Damon was like jubilant child grinning all evening.

He was also savoring the occasion, as was evident when he strummed along to the sweet pop sounds of 'On Melancholy Hill' swaying from side to side with his eyes closed looking as if he just drifted to the world of the latest album in his mind. One standout moment came at the end of the triumphant rendition of 'Dirty Harry'. Once the song ended, the crowd continued to chant the distinctive bass rhythm, stopping Damon in his tracks as held back for a moment before rushing into the next song. Almost in awe, Damon fashioned a smile before, for just a brief moment, he sang along with the crowd in a higher octave. It seemed like had they not had to finish their set, Damon would be chanting along all night.

But they continued and it was time for the most significant song of this particular concert, 'White Flag'. Essam Refae and the Syrian National Orchestra were up next, and it was that clear he and his musicians were overjoyed at the appearance. Waving to fans and smiling before they even struck a chord. Essam conducted his orchestra with vigorous waves of his arms and his musicians obliged. They began by performing a world premier of a distinctly Arabic piece before moving into the first few measures of 'White Flag'. They continued to build the crescendo until MC's Kano and Bashy, the pesky kids of the tour, stormed the stage. They swapped lines with savage intensity from either side of the stage. Incidents on-stage and visuals were plenty during 'White Flag', and it continued when Damon appeared on stage waving an actual giant white flag. The crowd went wild, drawing Damon closer to them as he continued to wave the flag directly over the crowd’s fixated gazes. It was a victorious moment for Damon, the Orchestra, and the other band members, one that surely defined the night.

The crowd at this point was spoiled, but there were still more surprises to come. After a return from the obligatory pre-encore break, the Gorillaz closed the evening with the song that put them on the map in the first place, 'Clint Eastwood'. Everything was about to come full circle as Eslam Jawaad, the linchpin of this occasion, appeared on stage to rap the parts originally sung by Del tha Funkee Homosapien. Not only did he rap the track’s lines, he did them in Arabic. Eslam rapped with venom on the modified version of the song as if this is what he had been hoping to do since he became a famed rapper, to play his brand of music to his home audience.

In the end the crowd separated, immediately chatting about what they had witnessed; a spectacle of grand proportions, which even had its own Syrian touch.

Afterwards, at a popular social spot, talk about the concert still ceased to subside. It seemed like everyone in Damascus had attended the concert, and everyone was still brimming with excitement. This was an occasion which wouldn’t be forgotten soon.

Set List

Orchestral Intro
Welcome To The World (With video of Snoop Dogg rapping his part)
Last Living Souls
O Green World
Stylo (With Bobby Womack and Bootie Brown)
On Melancholy Hill
Rhinestone Eyes
Kids With Guns
Superfast Jellyfish (With De La Soul)
Empire Ants
Dirty Harry (Bootie Brown)
Premiere of new piece by Syrian National Orchestra
White Flag (With Syrian National Orchestra, Kano, and Bashy)
Dare (With Rosie Wilson)
El Manana
Glitter Freeze

ENCORE:

Cloud Of Unknowing (With Bobby Womack and Syrian National Orch.)
Feel Good Inc. (With De La Soul)
Clint Eastwood (With Eslam Jawaad)

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