Gorillaz, Little Simz, and a night of contradictions in Miami

We went to Kaseya Center expecting Gorillaz to be the story of the night. By the time we left, Little Simz had nearly stolen the show, Damon Albarn had managed to irritate me and win me back, and I had been reminded that a great concert does not always leave you with one clean reaction.
Photos by Mauricio Viana
We arrived just as Deltron 3030 were taking the stage. It was a great way to start the night, although from our seats the sound never quite worked. The volume felt low, with too much echo and reverb, taking some of the punch away from a performance I otherwise really enjoyed.
Then came Little Simz.
I had seen her at III Points a few years ago and liked her a lot, so I already knew she was good. But this time she caught me completely by surprise.
Her set was commanding. Hip hop sat at the center, but there were shades of R&B and rock, with a darkness underneath that gave the music real weight. Her band was phenomenal, and Simz moved through it all with confidence, sharp delivery and some seriously good rapping. There was also a strong female perspective throughout the performance, direct and engaged without putting the message ahead of the music.
At times she reminded me of The Streets. Not because they sound alike, but because of that distinctly British way of mixing storytelling, attitude, social observation and personality. There was something immediate about it.
She ended up being the big surprise of the night.
Gorillaz, of course, were the reason we were there, and once they took the stage, the entire room changed. This was a much bigger production, with a powerful live band, huge visuals, animation, guests, and Kid Koala behind the turntables. Yet none of it buried the music. There was plenty to watch, but it still felt like a band playing live rather than a giant screen with musicians underneath it.
What also struck me was the audience. It was all over the place in the best possible way. Different ages, different styles, different musical backgrounds. Gorillaz have been around long enough now that several generations have their own relationship with the band, and you could see that throughout the arena. The crowd seemed genuinely grateful to be there.
And then there was Damon Albarn.
He came out dressed in military clothing, with a red beret and what appeared to me to be a Che Guevara pin. I immediately felt some disgust.
Having lived in Miami for more than 25 years, it is difficult for me to look at that symbolism casually. This is a city shaped by generations of Latin Americans whose families have lived through revolutions, authoritarian governments, and political upheaval. I understand Damon’s anti-imperialist position, and I understand that those symbols may mean something different to him. But in Miami, a Che Guevara pin carries a very different weight.
So I found myself in a strange position. I was watching a great Gorillaz show while also being irritated by the guy standing at the center of it.
Then, later in the show, Damon spoke about voting.
He told the audience how important it was to vote. He talked about democracy as something beautiful and about voting as a way of protecting it.
And he got me back.
I still didn’t like the Che pin. That didn’t suddenly disappear. But I respected what he said about democracy, and perhaps that contradiction made the whole experience more interesting. I could disagree strongly with one symbol he chose to wear and, not long after, find myself completely agreeing with something he said.
Maybe we have become too accustomed to thinking that we need to agree with artists on everything in order to connect with them. We don’t.
Gorillaz certainly gave us plenty to connect with musically. The band was tight, Damon was unpredictable and full of energy, and the visual side of the show constantly shifted around the music. Little Simz eventually returned to join them, which felt particularly satisfying after her own set earlier in the night.
But I kept coming back to her performance.
I went to see Gorillaz, and they delivered a great show. I already knew Little Simz and had enjoyed seeing her before. This time she made a much bigger impression.
Between Deltron 3030, Little Simz, Kid Koala, Gorillaz, a crowd spanning generations, and my own imaginary argument with Damon Albarn over politics, it was the kind of night that gave you plenty to talk about afterward.
And those are usually the concerts I remember.