Live Review: Damon Albarn, Fraser A Gorman

On support duty, Fraser A Gorman and his fellow guitar playing pal Davey Lane make sweet music, but are an odd choice for support.

After intermission, the scene is set with some electronic goodness, but we’re all craning our necks to clap eyes on the genius who fronts Blur; The Good, The Bad & The Queen; and Gorillaz (vicariously through an animated frontman by the name of 2D). We have been promised material from all of the above this evening as well as Albarn’s stunning solo output of this year. And Albarn sure knows how to pick a band as we now witness. The 46-year-old boy wonder appears wearing a T-shirt under a bright blue long-sleeved shirt that brings out the colour of his eyes, which twinkle as much as his gold tooth, and jeans with the knees ripped out. He may just be the OG wearer of jeans slung so low they skim the buttocks. We’re instantly enamoured.

Albarn performs Everyday Robots while seated at the piano and its mass swoons. He then empties a full bottle of water over the front rows before playing the melodica intro to Tomorrow Comes Today (Gorillaz). (Holy shit! This means there’s potential for Clint Eastwood, which also expertly showcases melodica. Yes, please!) And all in attendance wish they were that melodica mouth piece. Kids With Guns follows and Albarn empties another couple of bottles of water over his fans and there’s a sense of frustration in these actions: ‘COME OOOON!’ is what he’s trying to say. Although punters try to infiltrate the front section, none get past security who demand tickets be produced in order to prove orchestra seating allocation. Albarn still gets incredible air when he executes some Song 2/”Woo-hoo!”-style Blur jumps (although we’re sadly not treated to that song this evening). He gets right in among the “mixed up people” during The Good, The Bad & The Queen’s Three Changes for handshakes and fist-bumps. “You’re fucking awesome!” yells a female punter. “I’m a year late,” Albarn apologises, acknowledging Blur’s last minute Big Day Out cancellation last year. Albarn reckons jetlag robs him of all his “carnal...” (Sorry, missed the rest. Brain clicked over to fantasy mode.)

These musicians are like an international Olympic team and all also possess unteachable stage presence and flair (ok, except for keyboardist Mike Smith – who’s toured with Blur and The Good, Bad & The Queen and is a long-time Albarn collaborator – he’s a tad understated). They are also capable of switching the atmosphere up from tender to tumultuous within a single musical phrase. Lanky, suave guitarist Seye Adelekan (superstar) jogs up and down on the spot to the beat while playing.

The reprise during You And Me – “All goes ‘round again” – makes us feel deliciously woozy. Albarn’s attention to detail sees a trumpeter appear just in time for Hollow Ponds. Performing solo on piano, Albarn exercises our tear ducts during Out Of Time (“And watch the world spinning gently out of time...”). He’s never been in finer voice and plays piano in a pleasingly honkytonk, rough and ready style.

Albarn returns to the stage and kicks off the encore solo on piano, singing End Of A Century complete with penetrating trumpet riff. Our very own REMI is welcomed to the stage after Albarn shares they just met today. He absolutely nails Del The Funky Homosapien’s raps throughout Clint Eastwood while Albarn looks on, nodding his head to the beat in appreciation. This scribe comes dangerously close to heart attack territory, which sorta feels like being winded during this cut. They couldn’t afford to bring a gospel choir with them, Albarn admits, so Tasmania’s Southern Gospel Choir do a commendable job on Mr Tembo.

As Albarn scans the front rows, a disappointed look crosses his face as if there are not enough people singing the song’s chorus lyrics back at him. As we clap along with the Heavy Seas Of Love vocal outro and Albarn tickles the final few ivories, we sway in appreciation of this genius songwriter with an impossibly assured catalogue. It’s tricky to explain, but somehow Albarn makes you wanna be better at life.