My Muse Adventure
Suffering for my art? Yesterday I was suffering for someone else’s.
You see, 14 hours were spent yesterday on a much-publicised Muse show, at the recently rebuilt Wembley Stadium (the second show the happen there - the first that was actually sold out). Besides the two-hour journey and the torrential rain that started when we joined the colossal queue and stopped when we got inside, even once we got inside there was a long, long wait for the music to start playing.
Fortunately the rain miraculously dissapeared, and Rodriguo y Gabriela took to the stage. With only two accoustic guitars and no vocals, they were certainly a bizzare choice for a stadium rock show, but there was no denying both the technical talent of the band and general quality ofthe songs. Minimalist and very good.
Dirty Pretty Things may fit into the ‘geneirc indie band’ label so loved by NME, but songs like ‘Deadwood’ put them well ahead of similar bands. Plus, as the only other rock band on show, they get the crowd suitably fired up, especially during set closer ‘Bang Bang You’re Dead’. Its a shame they all seem drunk.
Sadly, the last band on (before Muse) had neither the technical ability nor the rock n’ roll appeal of the first two acts. Why the Streets are playing today is anyone’s guess, and seemed to be more concerned with name-checking other bands than actually attempting a good show. Sure, the annoyingly frequent attempts at singing ‘Radio Ga Ga’ and short snippets of Lily Allen (why would Muse fans appreciate Lily Allen?) may have amused the casual music fans, but to those who had stood in place without food or water for 8 hours in order to get a good view of the headliners it just grates. Once Mike Skinner actually picks up is backing band’s guitar and actually mimes playing it, very few people are left in doubt as to whether this is a lame pop group.
Fortunately, about half an hour later, the lights go down and ochestra music blares out. As everyone expectedly stares towards the stage, craning necks to see when the band emerge, a seemingly inconspicuous platform in the middle of the audience explodes in a shower of confetti, Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dom Howard standing triumphantly in the middle. To deafeningly loud screams, the band made their way down an extended walkway to the stage, and, finally, the real show began.
Starting off with a stadium-filling rendition of Knights of Cydonia, for the rest of the night its incredible song after incredible song after incredible fucking song, whether it be epic slow-burner Invincible or debut 1999 single Sunburn. Matt Bellamy practically screams down the microphone every time he opens his mouth, defying his diminuative appearance and making everyone scratch their head, wondering “How doe such a little squirt make such a massive noise?!”. Meanwhile, drummer Dom Howard nails the drums with piston force and Chris Wolstenholme headbangs like he has a scorpion on his head, never missing a note. In fact, the entire gig passes without a single mishap, the band not only grabbing the huge audience but wrapping them around their fingers. No other encouragement is need when Matt aks the crowd to hold aloft their mobile phones, causing a stunning stadium-wide display of twinklling star-like lights during the mellow Soldier’s Poem. Stage theatrics are not that limited however - the stage itself is decorated with large satellite dishes and glowing orbs, and large, confetti-filled balloons are released and bounced around the crowd during staple hit Plug In Baby - its a testament to the awe-inducing power of that song that half the audience were ignoring the ballons completely. Even bigger balloons are released for Blackout - this time with acrobats dangling from them. Acrobats! After this show, no-one is left in any doubt about Muse’s status as one of - if not the - best live band on the planet.
Finishing with two encores, the vocals being almost completely drowned out by the passionate sing-a-long mentality of the crowd, the band depart, probably already waiting for the exact same thing to happen at tommorow’s gig. the large, cheesy grins on each member’s faces enforce what everyone here is already thinking - there has never been a Muse show, or any music show in history, like this one.
Rain? Pah.
