For some years now, I have wanted to see Massive Attack live. My brother got me into their music at a fairly young age, and I remember borrowing Blue Lines and Protection for a fair few years. But they've never actually visited Newcastle before and with the track record of the band, you never know if they're going to produce another album or split up. Thankfully they announced a tour to support a new album (which has now been delayed, and an EP, Splitting the Atom, has instead been released) with a date at the O2 Academy in September. I had even booked tickets in the pre-sale as I was paranoid about them selling fast, which they did.
Now to the gig. It was very much a family affair, Massive Attack being one of those unique bands you can't really categorise attracting many ears. I'm not even going to go into the "trip-hop" conversation! Personally, I was absolutely knackered from fresher's week and was recovering from the worst cold ever. I needed a good night out to cure (or reignite?) it. I went in having no idea what to expect from a live Massive Attack performance. Martina Topley-Bird was the opening act for Massive on this tour, and she has a great voice. Her set was fairly short. By the time she had left the stage the Academy was packed to the brim. Anticipation!
We got close to the front before they came on despite the numerous people with the same idea. The lights went dark and the music started...and the most amazing light show I've ever seen began. Behind the musical kit was a massive screen with various things on it. The photos explain this better! I had an "oh shit" moment when the silhouettes of 3D (Robert Del Naja) and Daddy G (Grant Marshall) appeared on stage. They started with some new tracks which should be on the new album, on one of which Martina Topley-Bird herself sang. The new stuff is quite different to old Massive, but it is a brilliant new direction. The man himself Horace Andy came onstage to sing new track 16 Seeter before the familiar tones of Risingson raised the crowd's spirits. By this time everyone was completely into the performance. On certain songs the screen behind showed various symbols and figures such as local crime rates and other interesting stuff. Massive Attack, if anything, are more than just their music. More classics followed with Future Proof and Teardrop. As for crowd participation, Horace Andy reappeared for a rowsing and heavy version of Angel, the ultimate slow-build-up-release.
Possibly the best song played that night was Safe From Harm from Blue Lines. The female vocalist (whose name I can't recall unfortunately) belted this one out just like the original version, only right at the end Massive Attack's current lead guitarist played the most mind-blowing guitar solo which strangely seemed to fit right in to the song. After this 3D danced his weird dance with his back to the audience as the light show played on to Inertia Creeps. Creeped out indeed.
Massive Attack had saved the best 'til last however. New EP Horace Andy track Splitting the Atom was followed by the almighty Unfinished Sympathy, before rolling into a new epic track called Marakesh. At this point of the performance, my mind was flying high above the clouds, truly in a world of its own. Just when I thought they had finished, the drums kicked in to Karmacoma. Jamaica' aroma.
One of the best if not the best gig. A unique experience.
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