Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images – Damon Albarn of Gorillaz performs onstage at the 2018 Demon Dayz Festival at Pico Rivera Sports Arena on Oct. 20, 2018 in Pico Rivera, Calif.
Gorillaz rocked their headlining Demon Dayz festival appearance in Los Angeles on Saturday (Oct. 20) with an electrifying 30-song set that included Blur’s classic “Song 2” as well as appearances by legendary jazz guitarist George Benson and other guests.
A handful of songs in, Benson joined Gorillaz to groove to “Humility,” his collaboration with the band off this year’s The Now Now record. It was the first time the 75-year-old jazz musician performed the synth-filled jam live alongside the band.
Original Blur bandmate guitarist Graham Coxon later joined Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn for the band’s signature 1997 hit “Song 2.” “We’re going to try a bit of cross pollination now,” said Albarn prior to Coxon getting in on the action mid-song.
A fan-shot video of the event shows the duo jamming alongside the rest of the band on a stage filled with flashing blue lights. The crowd jumps and screams with uncontrollable energy. Other featured special guests throughout the night included De La Soul, D.R.A.M., Little Simz and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Performers who opened the show included Erykah Badu, The Internet, D.R.A.M. and Kilo Kish.
Watch Benson’s contribution to “Humility” as well as Albarn and Coxon’s take on “Song 2” below.
