Massive Attack + Nickodemus Roseland Ballroom, NYC - Oct. 4th, 2006
...would sound just as sweet. Unfortunately, this rose has thorns; I was frisked upon entry and my camera battery was confiscated. Bummer. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic evening, with the aforementioned Elizabeth Fraser and Deborah Miller appearing, along with Horace Andy. The setlist was decidedly Mezzanine-centric. All of the tracks were played aside from the "Exchange" interludes and, sadly, "Dissolved Girl," the song Neo's listening to at the beginning of The Matrix.
Liz provided gorgeous vocals for "Black Milk," the finale "Group Four," and of course, "Teardrop." Horace was very soulful on "Angel," "Man Next Door," and an excellent duet with Deborah on "Hymn of the Big Wheel." Deborah herself was stunning with stirring renditions of "Safe From Harm" and "Unfinished Sympathy." The former turned into a blazing marathon, with flashing statistics about the Iraq war. Major kudos to the backing band, which included two drummers.
This brings me to two essential elements from the show: Robert "3D" Del Naja and political activism. 3D was more or less the MC of the show, while occasionally delivering his distinctively sinister rapping. He was quite vocal politically, commendably bringing attention to the Darfur genocide. Massive Attack, despite all of its guests, is now 3D's band, in a role akin to director. At least ideologically, a la "False Flags," I'm satisfied with that setup and can't wait for Weather Underground.
So, how does one compensate for the lack of visuals? Well, there was another band from Bristol that recorded a live album at Roseland that you may have heard of...
Wait For The Next Kuwait: Here
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