17th April 2003 - Brixton Academy, London, UK
Having sold out five consecutive nights at Brixton Academy is no surprise for Massive Attack. Their last major tour was back in 1998 when the band produced their darkest album, Mezzanine. Since then the recent album 100th Window has managed to keep fans satisfied with its dark and haunting anthems. The question on the public’s mind however is how many of the band’s part time vocalists such as Sinead O’Connor, Liz Fraser and Sara Jay will be present tonight? As Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja steps on stage complete with a full live band, a huge dot matrix screen in the background lights up and becomes the backdrop for tonight’s show, displaying a series of timetable schedules, messages and slogans based around personal surveillance. Tonight’s show is pulling mainly from Massive Attack’s last two releases, beginning with 100th Window’s grim but energetic opening track, Future Proof, which wakens the audience and prepares them for a mesmerising and intimate evening. The refreshing Everywhen follows, fronted by reggae legend Horace Andy, who’s positive vibes permeate through the cheering audience. Providing vocals on the Liz Fraser sung Black Milk was supporting artist Dot Allison, who brought a fresh lease of life to the track, as well as later filling in for Sinead O’Connor on Special Cases.
The pace then picks up slightly with the eerie Butterfly Caught and Small Time Shot Away as Del Naja marches on the spot while performing. Also present is Daddy G, making brief appearances on the songs Mezzanine and Inertia Creeps. The show builds to intense climax of the groundbreaking Hymn Of The Big Wheel, Safe From Harm and the debut classic Unfinished Sympathy, all with Debbie Miller ably covering vocals. Ending with the swirling and hypnotic Group Four, performed by Allison and Del Naja, Massive Attack prove that even with little crowd interaction, a performance from a group of versatile and unique performers is all that is essential. Only tracks from Protection were completely passed over tonight, and they certainly weren’t missed. Even without them there were plenty of atmospheric songs to make up the ultimate Massive Attack live experience.
Review by Ben Lewis from www.counterculture.co.uk/ dated 18th April 2003
This show was part of a five night residency by Massive Attack in London at Brixton Academy. This fact is quite historic as they were the very first act to sell out Brixton Academy for five nights in a row.
With Sinead O’Connor departing the tour after her very brief stint at the shows in Glasgow and Manchester, the setlist reverted back with the Brixton Academy shows, to one used in Australia and Japan in the previous month, without What Your Soul Sings and A Prayer For England. This setlist is what would become the standard at the majority of the remainder of the 2003 tour.
Dot Allison would provide support for this show in the form of an accoutic guitar performance.
The official site for the Brixton Academy is located here.
These photos were taken by Annabelle Dalby. Some of these images are taken from the other four Brixton dates, as part Massive Attack’s record-breaking five night residency in London. Click on the thumbnails below to view a larger image.
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