It’s hard to think of another contemporary act that could have pulled off what Gorillaz did with Demon Dayz LA this past Saturday at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena grounds. Held at the unique rambling, aging (and dusty) venue–decorated throughout with iconic Gorillaz character imagery–miles outside of Los Angeles proper, the one-day festival had a special feeling from the entry gate to the main stage, with local flourishes and messages of community and positivity echoed throughout the musical sets.

Appropriately, Mexican culture figured prominently across the festival–from the venue itself primarily used for banda concerts and rodeo events, Demon Dayz branded papel picado banners overhead, mariachis serenading at the entrance, a Dia de los Muertos skeleton procession announcing Gorillaz set (not to mention a strong contingent Latino Gorillaz fans among the well varied crowd).

It was particularly heartening to see multi-generational groups of Gorillaz fans—parents and kids, older and younger siblings, many dressed in matching themed outfits for the occasion. This is a band, now 20 years old, that uniquely cuts across demographics and allows fans of many ages to enjoy it on different levels.

There’s no denying that merchandising featuring the iconic band’s characters is a big part of appeal of the Gorillaz experience for a lot of the fans. The on-site “G Store” featuring exclusive items for sale had a long line for admittance for throughout the day, as did the regular merch booths.

Highlights from the lineup were plenty and varied…

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