Although the presence of 2D, Murdoc and Noodle (in her cyborg form) was limited to three “dressing room” video clips before, midway into and after the performance (I guess Russel is still MIA.) and footage from past music videos, their primate precociousness could be felt throughout the live experience from Gorillaz masterminds Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett.

For over two hours, the former Blur frontman Albarn giddily moved from singing center stage to his guitar and piano then back again, as he played ringmaster to a rotating cast of guest musicians, including Lou Reed (“Some Kind of Nature”), Miho Hatori (“19-2000”), Bobby Womack (“Stylo,” “Cloud of Unknowing,” “Demon Days”), De La Soul (“Superfast Jellyfish,” “Feel Good Inc.”) and Little Dragon’s Yukimi Nagano (“Empire Ants,” “To Binge”).

Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of the Clash were part of the Plastic Beach Band, along with the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, a string section comprised of seven women in sailor duds and even Syrian musicians during “White Flag.” The evening was a spectacle, no doubt. But perhaps the best, most touching moment came with Albarn’s fantastic vocals during “Melancholy Hill.”