Massive Attack @ Brisbane Convention Centre
Massive Attack @ Brisbane Convention Centre (16/03/03)
Reported on Monday, Mar 17, 2003 by custaro
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Massive Attack's Brisbane appearance on their 1999 Mezzanine tour is one of those shows always recalled in a hushed voice, as if talking about it too loudly will somehow lessen the memory of the experience. I wasn't lucky enough to make it to that near-legendary performance, so I jumped at the chance to catch them twice on this tour, firstly in Melbourne (the first stop on their 100th Window world tour, and their first show in some 3 years) and also in Brisbane, in the lush surrounds of the Convention Centre.
A few words on the venue are warranted, as it was all class, and made the night that little bit more memorable. What more could you ask for than a fully air-conditioned venue, no smoking, the worlds most comfortable chairs in a large venue (perhaps a little too comfortable for a lazy Sunday night!) and a definite amount of atmosphere, far more than the sterile clime of the BEC. With any luck, more acts of the calibre of Massive Attack will take the opportunity to use this venue to its full effect.
But on to the show! Koolism was a well-chosen support act, mixing up a fine selection covering a wide variety of hip hop, and finishing in fine style with Grandmaster Flash's The Message. Just past 9pm, the lights were dimmed, the smoke machine turned on and the Massive Attack live outfit - drummer, guitarist, bassist and effects, ambled on to stage, followed by the man himself, Robert del Naja, aka 3D. Proceedings started relatively low key, with just 3D and the live musicians belting out 100th Window's Future Proof. But come the second track, the scale of the Massive Attack show became apparent - huge intelligent lighting rigs came to life, along with a gigantic full-colour flat screen in the background dwarfing those one stage.
The visuals on the screen were minimal to begin with - our current latitude and longitude, Australia's population, the distance between Bristol and Brisbane. Gradually they became more rapid, more varied and topical to the subject of the song Ð virus strains, the periodic table and the weight and half-life of elements. It became obvious that much of the visuals must have been prepared that day and customised for the show - the day's news, centred mainly around the imminent war, financial news and stock prices, and the latest Symantec security update.
Many of the guest vocalists from Massive Attack's 4 albums were along for the ride, and all put in unforgettable performances. Horace Andy on Angel, Safe From Harm and Hymn of the Big Wheel, a voice both calming and uplifting at the same time, pure magic. Dot Allison filled in ably for Liz Fraser on Teardrop, while Daddy G made several appearances, most memorably on Risingson. But it was Shara Nelson who stole the show, even though she only got to perform on a couple of tracks - and the second encore grand finale of Unfinished Sympathy proved she could hit the high notes live as well as on any recording.
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