Still, one thing artists can do is put their money where their mouth is—and Massive Attack is doing just that. Much has been made of their effort to reduce the carbon footprint of this tour. The exact logistics of how they’ll offset the unavoidable emissions of a production this size remain a little murky, but if the model proves viable, it could help set a new standard in an industry notorious for its environmental toll.
But ecology is only part of the mission. This show, like much of Massive Attack’s output, carried a wider activist message—most pointedly around Gaza. Before the music even started, two representatives from Doctors Without Borders took the stage to testify about the crisis and urge awareness. Throughout the concert, screens lit up with messages referencing not just Palestine, but also Ukraine, tax havens, celebrity culture, AI, and social media. More of a running commentary than a traditional backdrop.
Musically, core members Grant "Daddy G" Marshall and Banksy Robert "3D" Del Naja and were joined by two drummers, two guitarists, a bassist, and a keyboardist. The group rotated between vocals, samplers, and synths, giving ample space to their legendary collaborators: reggae icon Horace Andy and the ethereal Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil. While the set leaned heavily on Mezzanine, it offered a broad sweep of their catalog, including classics like "Karmacoma" and "Unfinished Sympathy."
Maybe a concert can’t change the world—or even change a single mind. Maybe it’s not supposed to. But if it gets people to think, to question, to feel even a flicker of discomfort—well, that’s already half the work done.
