Damon Albarn played a GovBall afterparty at Irving Plaza; Vic Mensa joined him for “Clint Eastwood” (pics, video, setlist)

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin; words by Bill Pearis

Damon Albarn @ Irving Plaza 6/8/2012

"I've played here before, back in... 1994?," Damon Albarn told the crowd at Irving Plaza, talking about an early Blur tour some 20 years ago. "I think I climbed up that scaffolding." There was no climbing last night, though Albarn did get down into the crowd for a song or two. This was an official afterparty for Governors Ball, which Albarn had played on Friday (6/6) and this was probably the smallest place he'd played since that Blur tour. "As you may know, my new album [Everyday Robots] is a little somber, which makes it difficult to play at big festivals," Albarn admitted, though a chance to get up and close with some very adoring fans (some who'd driven from Canada to be there) clearly had him in a good mood. "I'm really enjoying this, I must say" he later said. The crowd did too.

While most of the set was Everyday Robots songs -- plus some of the more reflective songs from his many musical endeavors -- Albarn did work in a few party pleasers, playing Gorillaz's "Kids with Guns" and bringing out Chicago's Vic Mensa for the rap on "Clint Eastwood" (video below) and a chorus for the final two songs. I thought for sure with the choir they'd do "Tender," but no dice. (Also no dice on "This is a Low," which was on the written setlist but went unplayed.) Albarn was at his most affecting, however, playing a solo piano rendition of Blur's 2003 single "Out of Time." Usually playing the straight frontman role in Blur and Gorillaz, this show was a nice chance to see what a good musician Albarn is, too. Setlist is in this post.

Damon Albarn has a few more dates this week before his Bonnaroo appearance this weekend. Check out more pics from Irving Plaza, plus the setlist, below...

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Damon Albarn and Vic Mensa - "Clint Eastwood" at Irving Plaza

SETLIST: Damon Albarn @ Irving Plaza 6/6/2014
Lonely Press Play
Everyday Robots
Tomorrow Comes Today (Gorillaz)
Hostiles
Slow Country (Gorillaz)
Kids With Guns (Gorillaz)
Three Changes (The Good, the Bad & the Queen)
You and Me
Photographs (You Are Taking Now)
Poison (Rocket Juice & the Moon)
El Mañana (Gorillaz)
Kingdom of Doom (The Good, the Bad & the Queen)
The History of a Cheating Heart
Out of Time (Blur)
All Your Life (Blur)

Encore:
Last Living Souls (Gorillaz)
Clint Eastwood (Gorillaz)
Mr. Tembo
Heavy Seas of Love