rantspace.org - Massive Attack

Decay	Massive Attack	[ March 12, 2003 ]
	*************** 100th Window ************* 11/03/2003 21:00 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne. ************* We'll start the review with the disclaimer.... which will just get preconceived ideas out the window, be it the 100th window or not. I'm a fan of Massive Attack, but I'm not hardcore. This isn't going to be a review full of insight to the inner workings of the band and how this is different to their previous tour etc... This was the first time I have seen them live... Seeming though we've now had the disclaimer, let's go for the executive summary.... actually, let's not. The wonderful droidy and I got ourselves to the tennis centre, now named Rod Laver Arena, in plenty of time... in fact it seems we were way too early. At 7:30pm we decided to go into the arena proper. About 30 mins before the ticketed time. Now we realised we were early, but with the stature of droidy, if we wanted to be up the front, we'd have to be up the front. We'd heard that Koolism were going to be support, not that they were pulling us in early, but we could always have a laugh at a local hip hop group. No offense but I find rapping in an Australian accent funny... As we walked in, a DJ/turntablist was spinning some older tunes and we were greated to a big empty space, that is there was only about 100 people there. Combined with the top deck being curtained off, it was rather disconcerting. We got ourselves some sitting space near the barrier and proceeded to do waiting type things that couples do. Which normally involve one person trying to lean against the other will sitting cross legged and the other person trying not to lose feeling down one side of their body. By 8pm, our ticketed start time, there was maybe 500 people waiting patiently. Some roadie movement made me think kooolism (I think the extra o works myself) was going to hit the stage... but alas, it was unnamed-DJ still spinning his vinyl. An hour** later, roadie movement had increased, guitars and various towels,bottles and an ashtray were tuned, testing, placed and generally roadied up. After enjoying our sit and relax, it was time for everyone to suddenly, and without cause stand up and move to the front as much as possible. It happens at every concert, and this time we got screwed. A couple of girls pushed past droidy and I to take the positions on the barrier. Which was really fucking annoying. See droidy and I had this plan, she would go in the front right against the barrier, and I would stand behind her and shield her from a potential crush. I know this is Massive Attack and a crush is unlikely, but we were thinking ahead. So we ended up 1 deep from the barrier, I was fine, I was taller than everyone else for a distance around me, but for droidy, she was at the mercy of gaps between heads, but she was fine, well she kept telling me she was. Just after 9pm the video screen at the back of the set sprung to life. When I say life, I mean they showed the time in the top corner. 21:00:16.00 was the time as it started ticking over... Thoughts of the support band (how many o's was it again?) were gone and finally we had some Massive Attack to look forward to..... after about 5 minutes of watching a clock that is..... ...more soon...

Comments The 'unnamed DJ' you saw was actually D.J. Danielsan from Koolism. Massive Attack requested that there be no M.C. for their support act, and as Koolism is comprised of M.C. Hau, and D.J. Danielsan, the two had to make a choice of either not going on the tour, or just sending a D.J. Danielsan is a world class D.J., but I doubt that his type of party music would go down very well at a Massive Attack concert. Him with Hau, that is another thing... If you ever get the chance to catch them, you will be pleasantly surprised, you will soon start to wonder why Eminem's accent sounds so weird on the radio.... Posted by: Chris on April 16, 2003 01:35 AM I am intrigued what you thought about the concert have you uploaded the rest of your article? I thought the concert was very average,for starters DJ Danieslsan music was far too repetitive and didnt set the mood for the main attraction. I think he actually outstayed his welcome by about an hour. When Massive attack finnaly did come on the accoustics in the tennis centre were quite perthetic which made solid enjoyment for the rest of the concert difficult. Alas Unfinished sympathy was great to hear live, however would have been better with the original singer.I am also a little perplexed as to why they never played Protection.. Look forward to the rest of your posted comments. JK Posted by: JK on June 15, 2003 12:50 PM i am a fan of massive attack, and this concert was the first concert of theirs that i have seen. personally i thought that the show was really good, considering that it was their first concert in 4 years... i agree though that the acoustics within Rod Laver arena and the size of the arena did not really suit the music... however as a whole they put on a very good show and i left quite satisfied thanks CP Posted by: CP on August 4, 2003 02:13 PM Post a comment Name: Email Address: URL: Comments: Remember info?

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