30th September 2006 Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, USA

False Flags/Rising Son/Black Milk/Man Next Door/Butterfly Caught/Hymn of the Big Wheel/Mezzanine/Teardrop/Angel/Future Proof/Safe From Harm/Inertia Creeps/Unfinished Sympathy/Group Four

This was the greatest show I have ever been to. Now that we've got that settled, this was my first trip to the Tower Theater. The theater is a gorgeous venue, unlike any I have ever been in my life. The architecture and the sound were simply magnificent. I arrived to the venue early, simply because the anticipation was so great. This is Massive Attack's first tour of the US in eight years, and let's just say eight years ago I was in an "awkward stage."
The evening kicked off with a DJ set from two young gentlemen which, given the circumstances, did hold my attention for awhile, but finally at just about 9 the lights dimmed and I saw people moving- it was time. The band played behind these massive rows of lights and at the front of the stage were these screens. Before the gig really started there was a hilarious information session on Philadelphia. The opening chords of the track "False Flags" played and we went a little crazy. The live rendition of the track was mind blowing. The song getting the full band's attention was full and rich, very enjoyable in the live setting. Also, it's a nice, fitting start to the evening given the wonderful context of the lyrics. "Risingson" made an early showing and given the lack of Daddy G, Robert held up the song well on his own. A true classic song in any shape it comes in. One of the true highlights of the night was when Horace Andy came out and did "Hymn Of The Big Wheel." As the closing song on "Blue Lines", the song has a special place in all our hearts. But the way they did it tonight, simply set chills down my back. Horace is a legend if there ever was one. As well, this evening we got showings of a few numbers from the "100th Window" LP. I must say the version of "Futureproof" was absolutely a blister, with the lights and that beat and Robert's great dancing. Basically, every song Liz Frazer song tonight was just breathtaking. She hit us with "Blackmilk." To top the night off they came back for an encore and played "Inertia Creeps" and "Group Four', two of my all time favorite songs. "Safe From Harm" and "Unfinished Sympathy" were played tonight as well. I can sit here and talk about how tonight was like no other night I will ever experience in my life. These songs have followed me and have grown up with me. To see them in this live setting and done so well was a true joy. Also, seeing Horace Andy and Liz Frazer sing on stage will be something I never forget.
Massive Attack have always been a favorite band of mine, and to get to see them live will be a moment in my life that will always stick with me. The band put on such a remarkable show. The tour is not over yet so check the dates and find a way to go- you will never forgive yourself if you miss this.
by John Siwicki
http://www.comfortcomes.com/?page=reviews&type=concerts&id=36

A Masssive Attack indeed
For an electronic ensemble renowned for a cool, hermetically sealed sound, Massive Attack - Bristol, Britain's, reigning kings of trip-hop - nearly broke a sweat when they tore up the Tower Theater Saturday night. Crunching bolts of guitar, double-drummed thunder - these rawk signatures were as integral an aspect of Massive Attack's densely layered atmosphere as its rippling dub bass lines and subtle string washes. Add crawling LED banners and a dazzling wall of violets, blinding whites and such, and it was like a Pink Floyd gig, only tasteful, funky, and without floating pigs. For all its boisterousness, distortion and bin-rumbling, Massive Attack was never loud. Noir-ish moments in the slinky 'Rising Son' and the diabolically downbeat 'False Flags' were rapturously tense, never overawing the audience with volume. Massive Attack's true magic was displayed through moody repetitious melodies ('Butterfly Caught'), synthetic squiggles and burps (best on the fluttering 'Mezzanine'), and the wondrous weaving of vocalists through its brooding tapestry. Band leader Robert del Naja used his dry British sing-speak to scissor-slice coolly through each moment. Inebriated with grouchy electronic ambience, the softly galloping drums in 'Future Proof' and the cascading guitars of 'Inertia Creeps' gave del Naja's deadpan room to orate drolly. Del Naja left the most tuneful vocalizing to Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser and reggae great Horace Andy. Andy used his ragged croon to lift the spacey 'Man Next Door' and the cluttered 'Hymn of the Big Wheel' into shockingly sunny epiphanies. While Fraser slunk through the heavy-breathing synthesizers of 'Black Milk' as if leaving the scene of a crime, she, too, turned the heartbeat folk of 'Teardrop' into something shimmering yet sinister. Angelic in tone without wafting into the ethereal, both used their voices as if adding but another texture to the lava-lamp bubbling mix. Gorgeous.
http://www.topix.net/content/kri/2213563656405457082107689631832524954952

Massive, Indeed

Just got back from a super special night in Philadelphia. After a lifetime of wanting, looking and sweating out whether Massive Attack would ever return to the U.S., it took a greatest hits compilation to get them (more like Robert Del Naja) to tour. They've been one of my Top 5 current favorite bands for years and it's been eating at my soul that I've never seen them live. Well, scratch them off the list.
The end result was pure bliss. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. New Yorkers, you are in for a complete experience when they play three nights this week. Although, the first three songs got me worried, because my Philly peoples were not getting into it. All of sudden, people woke up, got up from their seats and submitted themselves to one of the most influential bands in modern music.
I knew going in that it would be impossible for them (or him) to play all of my favorite songs. I realized coming back for the show that it's probably a good thing because some of the songs aren't the same with the original singers and guest vocalists. "Daydreaming" and "Karmacoma" without Tricky doing the rap would be lame. My all-time favorite Massive Attack song is "Protection" and you need Tracey Thorn on it to pull it off. Then again, there were two female vocalists covering parts, and they sounded fantastic in any event. Horace Andy made the trip and provided vocals on "Hymn".
The music by itself would have made for a great show. Let's face it, Massive Attack in it's current form is Robert Del Naja, so he needs a band that could deliver all the beats, guitars and vocals to match the greatness of his music. The sound emitted was massive indeed. Each song breathed with the fullness you'd expected. What surprised me was that the songs from 100th Window came off better live then on CD. I was kind of disappointed with their last studio album because it was too stripped down. Tonight, "Futureproof" and especially "Butterfly Caught" were played with epic grandeur.
In fact, when" Butterfly" was being played, I looked around and saw people starting to stand-up and thought, "It's about time, Philly. You paid $49.50, with $10 parking and $6.75 for a cup of beer, so get off your butt and enjoy yourself." By the end of the song, everyone was standing, then people started to fill up the aisles and move-up front. That was good because I didn't want to be the only person standing (Tower Theatre is a seated venue). I scored a decent 7th row aisle seat so I was comfortable where I was. I was definitely in my happy place during the show, getting my dance on and grooving to every heavy beat. I also got a setlist, so I'm extra special than I already am.
The last song "Group Four" was mind-blowing. It was played for what seemed like 15 minutes building up to an orgasmic climax ... and then it never let up. The guitars would take over towards the end and just take the song to another level.
As for Del Naja as frontman, he's a low key type of guy. He didn't much banter with the audience, just some Thank You's here and there. During some songs, he would do some shadowboxing as his form of dancing. What I found ironic is that he would leave the stage for a song, which is odd since he's the only true Massive Attack member. So it almost became The Songs of Massive Attack with other musicians performing the tunes.
The element of the show that will stick in my head was the stage lighting. It's the best I've ever seen. Around the stage were these message signs that scrolled various stats through out the show. The event began with all these facts about Philadelphia, when it was founded, by whom, the population, the topography, the average temperature, historical facts, racial mixture and that it's know for cheesesteaks (I ate at Pat's before the show, lord have mercy). During "Safe From Harm", the signs displayed disturbing facts about our current conflict with Iraq like number dead, amount of bombs dropped and money being spent daily. During "Butterfly Caught", the signs scrolled stock quotes, intermixed with random organizations. Ones I caught: NSA, NAFTA, MAFIA and SURI. Ta ha! One song's lighting mimics the band's website, which scrolls the current headlines. In another song, the signs scrolls the equation for Pi.
While this is going on, the backdrop lighting is all sorts of freaky and mind bending. You can't tell by my pictures, but you didn't need any narcotics to totally trip out. I'm wondering how the band can concentrate on their music with all this activity going on.
Which leads me to why think Massive Attack is one of the most influential bands of our time. I know that Del Naja doesn't like the term, but they invented Trip Hop. On Blue Lines, they took hip hop, added jazz elements, some dance beats and just slowed it all down. You can have to look at it as a drug trip, the kind that make you mellow out and not hyper. I've never done a narcotic in my life, but I have feeling that it would feel to me like listening to Massive Attack.
The band has a distinct sound, but they pack many moods with each album. They can be contemplative, sexy, dark, hopefully, joyous, somber and angry. What people don't realize is that they have crafted some of the most romantic songs from the 90s. Look at "Safe From Harm," "Teardrop" and "Protection". How can you not grab your honey while listening to these songs?
Anyway, I can now lead a life knowing that I've scene Massive Attack. Now, the new favorite band that I've never seen live is Faithless, and I'm not holding my breath on that one.
On Tuesday, I'll see the first of three New York shows at Roseland. I'm really hoping Roseland doesn't suck the life out of the band or the crowd.
http://www.musicsnobbery.com/2006/10/massive_attack_.html