Written and Photographed by Angel Park
Last Saturday marked the unforgettable conclusion of back-to-back performances at The Met in Philadelphia from legendary virtual musical act Gorillaz and hip-hop duo EARTHGANG. Fans from across the city and tri-state area packed both floors that night, excited to experience another round of the group’s first performance in the city in over four years.
Kicking off the evening right at half past seven was EARTHGANG. The duo was formed in ’07 and is composed of founder Olu and WowGr8. Their striking lyrics and bold stage presence took the crowd by storm, elevating the room’s energy levels tenfold. Their “Ghetto Gods” performance had the crowd captivated and chanting along with every word. In addition to their original tracks, the duo incorporated a cover of “Big Love” by Louis The Child and a rendition of “Run it Up” by Snakehips.
All in all, EARTHGANG brought a fantastic experience that had the audience more than prepared for what was to come next.
As the Gorillaz entered the stage, the house lights went down. The cheering crowd greeted frontman Damon Albarn as the first verse of “M1 A1” reverbed throughout the room. “Hello, is anyone there?” his voice called out, quoting the opening line. The crowd grew louder and louder as he continued through the song.
That’s when the stage lights lit up, illuminating an enormous visual spectacle that animated behind Albarn and the rest of the band. The animations featured cameos from each band member’s persona characters, including 2-D, Noodle, Murdoc Niccals, and Russell Hobbs. That mesmerized the audience as they sang along to Albam’s vocals, which shone on newer hit tracks such as ‘Cracker Island’ (Off their upcoming album of the same name) and continued to impress with older songs like “Dirty Harry,” “Stylo,” and well-known fan favorite, “Feel Good, Inc.” 
Overall, both Gorillaz and EARTHGANG put on an amazing performance. The two acts created a unique sound that combined the genres of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music, delighting both old and new fans. Gorillaz will release their latest album, Cracker Island, on February 24th. Digital Orders and Pre-saves can be purchased here.
Both Gorillaz and EARTHGANG are continuing to tour across North America –tickets for upcoming shows are available on their site.
Gorillaz
EARTHGANG
