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Children of the '60s sang along to "Sugar Sugar" by the Archies. In the '70s, kids bopped to Josie and the Pussycats, with long tails and ears for hats. Jumping forward a few decades, our generation's best-known cartoon band has become decidedly less two-dimensional. Created by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and "Tank Girl" artist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz has evolved into a groundbreaking outlet fusing multicultural musical styles and dazzling multimedia.

Early Gorillaz performances found the band performing behind shrouds, suggesting Pink Floyd mastermind Roger Waters' wall between band and fans. At the UIC Pavilion on Saturday, a perpetually fluctuating line-up performed in full view, while animated avatars Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russel mugged, performed and endured life-threatening adventures on an overhead screen.

Rather than starring in all of the onstage action, Albarn often directed from the shadows, serving as a ringleader for his personal pop menagerie. During "Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach," there were 27 active musicians, plus a filmed contribution from Snoop Dogg. Live guests steadily brought surprises, including soul legend Bobby Womack's electrifying vocal during "Stylo" and De La Soul's rowdy romp through "Superfast Jellyfish." "Broken" featured Chicago's Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Even with ticket prices reaching $100, it seems unlikely anyone could have been overpaid.

Other treats were built into the core band, including former Clash bandmates Mick Jones and Paul Simonon. Bassist Simonon deftly anchored dub reggae rhythms for songs like "Last Living Souls." The pair meshed like the old partners they are, rocking blissfully together during transcendent raver "Glitter Freeze." Gorillaz' material, however, has more in common with Jones' Big Audio Dynamite, a forerunner to Albarn's efforts. "Feel Good Inc." was a genre-twisting example Albarn clearly relished, squaring off with De La Soul's Maseo for howls of maniacal laughter.

Hewlett's visual imagery for the "Escape to Plastic Beach" tour emphasized a nautical theme. Most musicians onstage were dressed in sailor garb. Simonon and Jones sported matching skippers' hats and peacoats. Albarn was the anomaly, with his jeans slung so low that the half-moon of his bright red underwear was clearly visible. As he pogoed gleefully during "O Green World," the effect suggested a baboon more than any gorilla.

Crowd favorites included "Clint Eastwood" and the bratty blast of "Punk." The latter was as close to Blur territory as Gorillaz got. "White Flag" burst to life as an Arab-American sextet blended their traditional instruments with Gorillaz' excellent string septet. Guest MCs Bashy and Kano joined the mix and kicked the party to another level entirely, while Albarn offered a huge white flag to a fan near the front. Unfortunately, the fan couldn't keep the emblem unfurled while waving it. Where's Bono when you need him-

Jeff Elbel is a local freelance writer.