The virtual band Gorillaz made their debut as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend, delivering performances of both a classic hit and a track from their latest album. The group captivated audiences with renditions of “Clint Eastwood,” the lead single from their self-titled 2001 album, and “The Moon Cave,” a song from 2024’s The Mountain.
Opening the show, Gorillaz launched into “Clint Eastwood,” a track that reached number 38 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 best songs of the 2000s. The song’s distinctive sound draws inspiration from the theme music of the 1966 film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, starring Clint Eastwood. Notably, Del the Funky Homosapien, who provides the rap verses on the original recording, joined the group onstage for the performance.
Their second performance featured “The Moon Cave” from The Mountain, a follow-up to 2023’s Cracker Island. This performance showcased a diverse range of collaborators, including singer-songwriter Asha Puthli, rapper Black Thought, and sitar player Anoushka Shankar. The song itself is rich with collaboration, featuring contributions from the late guitarist and singer Bobby Womack and Dave Jolicoeur of De La Soul.
The collaborative spirit of The Mountain extends throughout the fifteen-track album, with each song incorporating at least one collaborator. Damon Albarn, co-creator of Gorillaz alongside Jamie Hewlett, explained the inclusion of posthumous contributions, stating, “I just thought, if we’re going to talk about the subject of death, I demand some people who are dead to help me talk about it,” according to a recent interview with Rolling Stone.
The Making of ‘The Mountain’
The creation of The Mountain was deeply influenced by personal losses experienced by the band members, as well as a formative trip to India. The album incorporates Indian classical instrumentation and features lyrics sung in multiple languages, including Hindi. Other tracks on the album include “The Manifesto” and “Damascus.”
Gorillaz are set to embark on ‘The Mountain Tour’ later this month, beginning in the United Kingdom. The band is similarly slated to headline Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival in June and Atlanta’s Shaky Knees festival in September, according to AOL.com.
The band’s appearance on Saturday Night Live, hosted by Ryan Gosling, generated considerable buzz. Gosling himself playfully alluded to the performance, stating, “It’s a secret” when asked about Gorillaz’s feelings about their debut, as reported by Billboard.
As Gorillaz continue to push creative boundaries with The Mountain and their upcoming tour, fans can anticipate a unique blend of musical styles and collaborative energy. The tour promises to bring the album’s diverse soundscapes to life on stage, building on the momentum generated by their recent SNL appearance.
What are your thoughts on Gorillaz’s SNL performance and their novel album, The Mountain? Share your opinions in the comments below.
