Massive Attack Portishead 19th February 2005 Academy, Bristol, England

This certainly was an evening to remember - Robert Plant rocked and Massive Attack/ Portishead took me back to the summer of 95.

Arrived to see Patrick Duff & Alex Lee, formally of Strangelove perform a couple of good tunes and then we made our way to the bar to get in the mood.

Glanced at both Fuzz Against Junk (would have been better placed in a festival field) and The Coral (just didn't do it for me).

Robert Plant reprised his excellent performance at the Ashton Court festival last summer with a cracking selection of the old and new. The Arabic tinged opener was spellbounding and with the bluesy half step version of Black Dog, he had the capacity crowd in teh palm of his hand. After a couple of new numbers he wrapped up with the storming Whole Lotta Love.

I was under the impression we were goign to get two short performances from the headliners but they actually played together as one band!

Opening with the appropriate Portishead Experience take on Karmacoma, this temporary Massive Attack/Portishead band seemed like a tight cohesive unit, which even included one Neil Davidge - the probable mastermind behind most of Massive Attack's post Blue Lines output. Liz Fasier appeared for a run through the original version of Black Milk, before delighting the crowd with Teardrop. Mr Del Naja reappeared for the Redux version of Future Proof before the band struck up THE Bristol sample that is Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap III" and he chanted through the lyrics from Risingson. This then took its enivitable path into Glory Box and the familiar silouette of Beth Gibbons meandered onto the stage to raptuous applause. Following with Wandering Star, Sour Times and Mysterons, I remembered why this band were so good ten years ago - they still have got it and I look forward to the new recordings with interest.

Highlight of the night, without a doubt was the Rising Son/Glory Box move. The lightshow was so much more than was expected, it being a mini version of the Massive Attack LED vibe. This was by no means a toned down unplugged gig, that had been hinted at and will be remembered with a smile for a very long time

http://www.red-lines.co.uk/live/200205.htm