I shouldn't be surprised, some people will never get Gorillaz

I don't know if it's my immense impartiality toward anything vaguely connected with Damon Albarn, but I'm getting really miffed at all the idiots out there complaining about the Gorillaz Coachella show. The main complaint is that they played as themselves and didn't use "puppets", or cartoons or holograms or whatever. Really? Was the giant freaking screen with amazing visuals not enough? Were you put off by the presence of TWO BLOODY MEMBERS OF THE CLASH!? Did you not want to see that? "Oh for god's sake you can do anything, but PLEASE don't show me TWO LIVING LEGENDS in person." Well, really it's three living legends if you count Damon, and I certainly do.

I've ranted on twitter about this the past few days, but I felt like writing a stern telling off on my blog. The comments section on Entertainment Weekly's review is what really set me off, one astute "music lover" Bob wrote:

"[T]his guy has to be the biggest moron ever. that gorillaz performance was absolute trash. a fake band that decides not to be a fake band for the coachella closing performance? it was terrible. i have seen gorillaz in concert before, with actual animation, and it was amazing. this performance was uninspired and poorly executed. people left early in droves because it was so bad."

So, "Bob" would prefer to see a fake band, screw who the actual musicians are! "If I don't have some cartoons to make this K-Hole more psychedelic I'm going back to my tent." The thing is, Gorillaz never were a fake band. Anyone with an internet connection, or a brain could've figured out that one of the biggest music stars was behind it. Where was the music coming from? I think Bob has just blown my mind, did I imagine it all, have I been listening to silence and inserting my own made-up music in my head?

The Coachella message board is another place where Gorillaz dissenters have posted their grievances (dissenters is too nice, I should say wankers). The comments range from disrespect towards the wonderful Bobby Womack, anger at the lack of DARE, and also disappointment that they chose to end with the MOST PERFECT CLOSING SONG EVER "Cloud Of Unknowing". Come on, that song was made for closing a festival. One of the worst comments comes from music genius and casual racist Dogvolta:

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed Bobby W. was off of his fucking rocker the whole god damned time. Did anyone else noticed he had to be pulled off stage after Stylo?
And Rhinestone Eyes, the first note when the colored women were to sing "thats electrictrictrictric" they missed HORRIBLY. The 2nd time that part came up Damon straight up shouted those lyrics, as if it was a "FUCK YOU LADIES AND SING THIS SHIT NOW"
So pissed I left Plastkiman man for this mess, but so happy I left early, if I heard them end on Cloud of Unknowing I would have taken a shit right on the grass."

Um, colored women? REALLY? Way to go Dogvolta, racial epithets really help your argument. Bobby Womack is old, and this was probably one of the first times in many, many years that he had performed for a huge crowd. Also, Damon did not look mad, in fact he was more excited and animated than I've ever seen him.

I used to cringe a bit when I'd hear Damon say things about having to dumb things down for Americans, living in the US now, I had a bit of a defensive attitude towards it. However, now I really see his point. People, Gorillaz aren't a fake band, they aren't ACTUAL CARTOONS. Damon Albarn takes great pains to gather some of the best musicians in the world to make these albums. Sorry, it's not Murdoc.

Ever since Demon Days they've performed as a real live band, visible to the public. If all these so called "fans" would've taken it upon themselves to actually find out about Gorillaz before the show, maybe the lack of "puppets" wouldn't have come as such a shock and they wouldn't have needed those smelling salts back at the tent. The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Mos Def, Bashy, Kano, and Shaun Ryder all couldn't make it because of the Icelandic volcano. Did you hear Damon making excuses? No, because it didn't matter. He knew it was going to be an epic show no-matter what

As for the visual aspect, I thought the giant letters spelling out Gorillaz, and the video screen made for a really sharp and cool presentation, definitely the most impressive thing I saw at this years' Coachella.

Anyway, since it's my blog I get to have these little fan-girl rants, and now I feel better. It truly was one of the greatest shows I've ever seen.

AMERICA, THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS.

My Coachella Pictures: Gorillazcentric...

Was Gorillaz at Coachella the best show I've ever seen? Quite probably.

O.K. It's 12:59AM I just got back into Chicago from LA, I'm exhausted! Sadly, I just realized that I don't have a USB chord for the fancy pants camera I borrowed to take all my Gorillaz pictures, so there's gonna be a wait for the pictures and videos I took. Luckily, there's a ton on youtube which are probably better than mine would be anyway...so check those out.
It was amazing. Damon Albarn looked so excited, and relieved that it all went off without a problem. He was hugging people left and right, kissing people...it was nice to see him being fun and giddy. Last time I saw him at Coachella he was with The Good The Bad and The Queen and was in serious musician mode.

There were a few mishaps in the beginning, mostly being almost crushed to death by some crazy seventeen year olds on ecstasy. They kept pushing closer and closer to the front forcing a bit of a scary situation...after a couple songs we moved to the middle to have some breathing room. The distance we were from the stage could be gauged by the comments of people around us. At the front we heard "I can't believe I'm going to see Gorillaz, this is a chance in a lifetime!", in the middle: "Is that the guy from Blur?", "yes", "really?", "I think so, he's their singer at least, I don't know who does the music", "so what do the cartoons do?" FAIL. I was a bit miffed to be relegated to the "crowd of unknowing". Luckily, the show was so epic that Gorillaz must do a huge tour and soon everyone will know the genius of Damon Albarn. I'm so glad he's decided to be front and center these days!

Here is a video from the show, sadly Bashy and Kano got stuck in the UK by the mountain called monkey in Iceland. Luckily it didn't matter as it was done brilliantly. So that's my 1AM rambling first post of many on the GREATEST SHOW OF OUR TIME.

Off I Go To Coachella...

Ok, So I'm off to California for Coachella 2010. It's all about Gorillaz this year. Stay tuned for my recaps when I get back (there might be a delay since I don't get back to Chicago until Tuesday).
What will Gorillaz' Sunday night set be like? Who knows? They pretty much have the whole festival to themselves that night so everyone will be at the main stage. I've heard that their set up is so extensive that the main stage will be set up for Gorillaz all weekend and the other headliners will just play on it with the Gorillaz stuff covered up. They also have a long set up time, an hour and a half after Pavement. Expectations are very high, but of course they'll bring it. Get ready for severe face melt Coachella!

Barring technical glitches, I'll post wee updates of things here on my twitter twitter.com/victorianhorror.

To get properly excited, here are some Gorillaz live videos in their various incarnations; holograms, cartoons, etc...

One Week Until Coachella (Gorillaz stalkathon 2010)

In a week I'll be jetting off to sunny SoCal for Coachella 2010. The last time I went was in 2007 for The Good The Bad And The Queen stalkathon, where I took the photo at the left. I should just be honest and say I'm stalking Damon Albarn, but you know, stalking a band is slightly less creepy and/or illegal (I kid, I kid.) I'm extremely excited for Gorillaz this year, it looks like I won't make it to the rehearsal in LA on Friday night, but I shouldn't be greedy, I am going to see them headline on Sunday. I got pretty darn close to the front for The Good The Bad and The Queen, I'm hoping to have the same luck with Gorillaz. I might need to sharpen my elbows and stop drinking liquids now to prepare.
So it's been established that Gorillaz are the main event, but there are so many great acts this year: Echo And The Bunnymen, Pavement, The Specials, Bad Lieutenant, to name a few.
Here's the lineup, if you've got any tips on who else I should see let me know!

Murdoc: Gorillaz will "Raze Coachella to the ground"

The Gorillaz Camaro is at full speed, with the album set to drop in less than a week here in magic America. It's a special treat for us Gorillaz fans in the US, be it pasty British ex-pats like myself, or actual brilliant Americans. We were painfully shunned by Blur last year. This year we get our Damon Albarn fueled comeuppance; we get to see Murdoc, "Noodle", 2D (and Russel?) FIRST! Yeah, firsties. Suck it Europe and Japan.
In an interview with The Independent Murdoc Niccals; erstwhile metalhead, Gorillaz leader, and badass bass player, hints at the mind-blowing Californian show to come...

Actually it's funny because I was just thinking about this big concert I'm planning and all the espionage going on around it.

I'm not really prone to excitement, due to all the medication and everything, but this is really something! Something unbelievable. Something that we may even tour until we're skeletons...

We're doing Coachella, this fantastic festival in Palm Springs, near Los Angeles. Great golfing round there. It's like a big hot car park in the middle of the desert. And we've drafted in a whole slurry of big-name guest-stars, so check check check it out. 19 April. 2010. We're going to raze it to the ground.

(FYI, Gorillaz actually play April 18th.)

[independent]

Gorillaz Plastic Beach mix

This mix is making me have the patience of a five year old. It all sounds so pretty, and very Damon. Think slightly sinister orchestration, beautiful vocal melodies, oh and brilliance.

Not long now...
My God, is Coachella going to be epic or what?

Gorillaz Plastic Beach Mix.

Gorillaz Headlining Coachella on April 18th

And some other bands will be there...but seriously, this is exciting. Of course I'll be there too! This almost makes up for Blur not playing Coachella last year, almost.

It's 2010, time for "Plastic Beach" mania to begin!

So many rumors, so many questions! Will Gorillaz headline Coachella? (last year I thought Blur might headline...I was wrong). When is the release date? Is it in March? Is this the album's logo? Will there be many US dates or just one big one? Ahhh.
I just read about the logo, the Coachella rumor, and the supposed release date on the Gorillaz-Unofficial livejournal which is packed full of great Gorillaz breaking news. It truly is amazing. If Gorillaz are headlining Coachella I'll be there with bells on!

Morrissey's disdain for Coachella's meat eaters...

According to the NME's LA bureau (they're reporting from the Coachella festival going on this weekend in Indio CA), Morrissey left the stage in the middle of a song because of the smell of grilling meat!
Go Moz.
When he came back out he said that the smell of cooking meat was making him feel sick, and that he hoped to God it was human flesh! Ha!

I'm a vegetarian, and I have been 25 years.

The description of his show seemed fairly identical to the performance at the Aragon on the 4th, so I didn't miss too much not seeing him there.
I'm pretty angry that the weather is so nice there this year though (only in the 80's!) When I went in 2007, it was 107!

No Blur at Coachella

Click on the poster to enlarge.

Given the fact that I've got tickets to Morrissey, Antony and the Johnsons, and Primal Scream...and I saw My Bloody Valentine last September...I think my California trip is off.
I just can't justify it in these hard economic times...yadda, yadda, yadda, and I want a new iPod.

The Killers?

Coachella line up to be announced at the end of the festival

In a novel move, Goldenvoice has decided to announce this year's lineup at the end of the festival weekend. The strategy, called the "Benjamin Button", aims to give festival goers the Coachella experience, only backwards.
Other changes include having headliners perform at 11am.
In the coveted night time slots, bands that won "battle of the bands" radio competitions will perform.

Kidding. But for the love of God announce already. The only things updated on the Coachella website are the message board fueds. I really don't care whose fans take the most drugs. Currently it's between Justice and Roger Waters.

Fake Coachella lineups abound, as I become increasingly nervous that Blur aren't going to be there.

So something went down on Ryan Seacrest's website today. He posted a "lineup" then it got taken down, but not before a million blogs posted it as real. Obviously this fake lineup must have some basis in truth right? Which is why I'm starting to think no Blur, unless they're the act Goldenvoice is waiting for so they can announce...which doesn't seem likely.
There's word that Bowie is still being wooed to headline as Ziggy Stardust, but according to his own website it isn't happening.
Anyway, here's Defamer's post of the "fake" lineup, which seems to be pretty in step with a lot of the confirmed acts. If it is real-ish, then meh. No Damon Albarn contingent? The trip's off!
(Hopefully I'll be proven wrong and Gorillaz will headline Friday, Blur Saturday and Monkey Journey to the West Sunday.)

CoS's Coachella Outlook has nary a Blur mention in sight...

Oh no, I'm getting a stomach ache. All reports indicate a lineup announcement on Monday, January 26th, but Consequence of Sounds' pretty reliable Coachella Outlook has no mention of Blur in either its confirmed or rumored lists.
Now, it's not definitive. They seem to be basing their predictions on the bands' myspace tour dates. If this is true then Blur might still be in, they are totally lax in updating their myspace, which I'm not sure is even official.

Hey Coachella...

I'm Victoria, you know me. Lets go talk to some festivals.

Hey Coachella, how's it hanging? I liked you in 2007. We should do another festival together, only you are taking forever to announce your lineup. DO IT ALREADY.

Say hi to your Mother for me.

Yes, there is a God and he's a Blur fan! Coachella to offer layaway for ticket purchases...

Goldenvoice announced today that tickets for the 2009 Coachella music festival can be put on layaway.
Probably something like $100 a month until April.

Reuters Canada

It's Official, Blur to play Coachella...says the Mirror

The Mirror's website is saying Blur are to play Coachella...should we believe them? Seems pretty legit.
Hmmph, I'd much prefer them to play an indoor show at a smaller venue (nearer to Chicago). We'll see if this pans out, the story is mostly about how the band is in talks with the organizers.

Any chance of a Gorillaz/ Blur Coachella double header?

Probably not, but the people on this thread of the Coachella message board seem to think so.
If there's any hint of either a Blur or Gorillaz apperance, I'm going to have to go...which means I'm going to have to set up that paypal donation site pretty soon. Eh, so I should pay off my debts, but maybe I'll start a little savings account with Damon's name on it.
Gorillaz are reportedly half way through an album for a 2009 release, and well we all know about the Blur reunion so anything could happen really.
Why is Coachella always the go to festival for British reunion acts? Where's the Lollapalooza love? I know Coachella seems to be more of a niche festival, but come on, I would save so much on hotel and airfare.
I propose a new festival, lets call it "Parklife '09". Location? Independence Park (2 blocks from my apartment). Headliners? Friday night: Monkey: Journey To The West, Saturday night: Gorillaz, Sunday night: Blur.