The band was Muse, the venue, ‘The O2’, the anticipation, sky high. Fortunately they lived up to it. Before that though the slowly gathering masses were treated to a performance by The Big Pink who hit like a wall of noise and made the crowd erupt every time they mentioned Muse, (good tactic), and succeeded in the first sing-along of the night with their recent hit Dominoes.
As the lights went up again and the stage was cleared for what was surely going to be a spectacular show, you could actually feel the anticipation. What songs would they play? What would the stage show be like? Will I get blinded by the light show and also, how awesome will Muse be?
The arena suddenly went pitch black before the three superstructures on stage began to light up. Suddenly, three figures appear inside these structures and the opening bass groove of uprising sends the crowd into rapture. This recent hit is followed, (as it is on their new album), by Resistance which just continues to build the anticipation as the audience tries to decide if it can get much better than this. Surprisingly, it can.
The columns descend as the opening piano of set mainstay New Born begins and by the time that epic riff has rung out one final time the crowd and the pit in particular is in a frenzy. Without a pause the band rip into Map of the Problematique a live favourite from the Black Holes and Revelations tour that has made it into their set for The Resistance tour as well. Continuing the BH&R theme they rip into Supermassive Black Hole causing even those in the seats at the back to get up and dance.
It’s then time for the band to show us a new track with MK Ultra, (one of my personal favourites from the new album), and by the end of the song if you didn’t already know it. You wont be able to stop singing it now. My friend turns to me as the song ends and goes, “I really hope they play Hysteria… I love that song”. Well his luck was in as the very next song the guys play is his favourite and although on any other night the sight of one of my friends dancing and singing like a fool would only provoke laughter, tonight I go ahead and join him.
The end of the song flows effortlessly into a drum and bass break as Dom Howard and Chris Wolstenholme show us what they can do. Where Matt Bellamy is in all this only becomes clear as they end and the spine tingling piano of United States of Eurasia rings out. By the time the Queen style histrionics have drawn to a close the crowd needs a boost and for old school fans like myself, there was a huge boost around the corner. Of all the songs I expected Muse to play that night, Cave off of debut album Showbiz, was probably not one of them. But if they hadn’t played the song in a long time it didn’t show and although I felt not many of the crowd knew the song, (which is pretty likely as Muse gained an extraordinary amount of fans after BH&R), they still reacted like they were welcoming a friend home from a holiday. A welcome return to the set for a classic song.
For a band with so many classic songs it was great to see that they didn’t shy away from the new material as Guiding Light came next followed by another drum and bass break whilst Matt got himself some kind of synthesiser guitar to play their new single, from their new album, Undisclosed Desires. The final ripple of screams and cheers die away only to be replaced by more screams and cheers as the band starts up again with top 15 hit Starlight and then top 15 hit Plug in Baby, yes, the song with quite possibly the best opening riff you’ll ever hear and closing off this run of sing a long songs with top 10 hit Time is Running Out. With this many hits it’s surprising they’re not bruised, (I’m sorry I won’t try jokes again).
The show seems to end with The Resistance’s most rocking track Unnatural Selection and in fact as the last notes reverberate around the room some fans shockingly begin to leave. All around me people are asking, “That can’t be it… what about Knights of Cydonia?”, “How come they didn’t play Stockholm Syndrome?”, and other very good questions. Fortunately as the chants for go up another level calling for the bands return, (one in particular quite memorably “You rock my socks”), the band return to the opening strains of Exogenesis pt 1, the beginning of their three part symphony and probably the best to transfer to a live arena.
The sound dies down again before the feedback rises from Matt Bellamy’s guitar and they launch into live favourite Stockholm Syndrome, one of the heaviest Muse songs and one of the most spellbinding as well. It’s nothing compared to the infamous harmonica led intro to Knights of Cydonia and then that opening riff is followed by that verse and then that build up to that final riff and that mind-blowing song wraps up an amazing evening all round from a band named Best Band in the World by Q magazine.
Good thing I’m going to see them again next September. Roll on Friday the 10th 2010.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Like a post it note... but on the interwebz
Yeah so the review of the muse gig is on its way and if all goes to plan (i.e. my homework gets finished), it could go up tonight. Thanks for the patience.
Also there are three album reviews in the pipeline: Muse - The Resistance, Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions, and Them Crooked Vultures eponymous debut.
As always comments are much appreciated on all my blogs even this random note thing I've got going on here.
Also there are three album reviews in the pipeline: Muse - The Resistance, Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions, and Them Crooked Vultures eponymous debut.
As always comments are much appreciated on all my blogs even this random note thing I've got going on here.
Saturday, 7 November 2009
The Obligatory X Factor Blog
Everyone's blogging about the X Factor so you know what i'm going to chip in.
Ok... so lets face it, and i'm getting this out of the way right at the beginning to sort things out. The X Factor is not, NOT, the best show ever in the history of the world. Sorry. but do you know what, the auditions are absolutely hilarious. Does this make me nasty because i'm laughing at idiots. No. Especially since Simon Cowell makes millions off the back of it. The show itself can also be pretty entertaining. Sorry but it's true.
Now onto the serious stuff. Facebook. when the X Factor is on, I cant look at my homepage becuae i know it's just going to be, "omg lucie is the bestest" or "who thinks john and edward should go out, plz comment :DDDDDD". Now I can normally cope with this but the show seems to go on for so long now, and I mean that in length of one show and the series, that it's impossible to waste time on facebook anymore. Only joking :D
Finally, because this is one damn short blog, we have to mention John and Edward. They are, whether you like them or not, an actual phenomenon. It probably wont last and once the show's ended what will happen to them. Anyone know what Chico's up to for example.
Well my next blog will be in about a week or so as i'm seeing Muse on the 13th of November and i'm going to do my best to review that.
Stay Beautiful.
Also I'd just like to plug my mates blogs first off is a guy who likes to be know as LD, dunno why because his name is Lewis Blaney and he lives in...
Yeah well anyways here's the link
http://lookforwardsnotbackwards.blogspot.com/
Basically he blogs more times than you go to the toilet but it's definitely worth a look.
The other blog for all of you to look at is by "Adzy Baby the Reevemeister General" apparently but you can call him Adam
http://urlollinmesillydearboy.blogspot.com/
Another blog thats worth a look and i'm not just saying that, i've been reading his blogs for ages and they're always a laugh.
Ok... so lets face it, and i'm getting this out of the way right at the beginning to sort things out. The X Factor is not, NOT, the best show ever in the history of the world. Sorry. but do you know what, the auditions are absolutely hilarious. Does this make me nasty because i'm laughing at idiots. No. Especially since Simon Cowell makes millions off the back of it. The show itself can also be pretty entertaining. Sorry but it's true.
Now onto the serious stuff. Facebook. when the X Factor is on, I cant look at my homepage becuae i know it's just going to be, "omg lucie is the bestest" or "who thinks john and edward should go out, plz comment :DDDDDD". Now I can normally cope with this but the show seems to go on for so long now, and I mean that in length of one show and the series, that it's impossible to waste time on facebook anymore. Only joking :D
Finally, because this is one damn short blog, we have to mention John and Edward. They are, whether you like them or not, an actual phenomenon. It probably wont last and once the show's ended what will happen to them. Anyone know what Chico's up to for example.
Well my next blog will be in about a week or so as i'm seeing Muse on the 13th of November and i'm going to do my best to review that.
Stay Beautiful.
Also I'd just like to plug my mates blogs first off is a guy who likes to be know as LD, dunno why because his name is Lewis Blaney and he lives in...
Yeah well anyways here's the link
http://lookforwardsnotbackwards.blogspot.com/
Basically he blogs more times than you go to the toilet but it's definitely worth a look.
The other blog for all of you to look at is by "Adzy Baby the Reevemeister General" apparently but you can call him Adam
http://urlollinmesillydearboy.blogspot.com/
Another blog thats worth a look and i'm not just saying that, i've been reading his blogs for ages and they're always a laugh.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
The Biffy Clyro Kerrang Exclusive EP
It's a review!!! But it's my first one so be nice.
Last week an article caught my eye in Kerrang saying that one of my favourite bands, (the truly awesome Biffy Clyro), were releasing an acoustic EP in Kerrang. Especially for the lovely readers of Kerrang. I was, to put it mildly, ecstatic about this, but what I hadn't realised was that it was a download and not a physical copy. Shock horror. So there I was coming in from a driving lesson when I panicked after seeing the words, "Limited number of Downloads available". It was first come first serve gosh darn it.
To get the EP I would have to get on to my usually very dodgy computer, my terminally slow Internet and avoid my mind numbing virus protection which would no doubt want to delete the files as soon as they downloaded. All this I did, and instead of being in the final 2,500 that received one track, or even the 1,000 before who would receive two tracks, i was actually in the first 2,000. This meant four tracks. Four tracks of pure Biffy genius.
The first download was a version of 'The Captain' from their new album 'Only Revolutions', (released Monday 9th of November, no problem guys) and the album version is a bombastic, horns blaring crusher of a song. Acoustically however it becomes a song of soaring chorus' and a clever adaptation of the original onto the acoustic guitar which somehow gives it a new edge.
Second song on the download was 'Questions and Answers', the oldest track on the EP it was originally on their second album 'The Vertigo of Bliss'. The album, often hailed as one of their best, is a personal favourite of mine but with the commercial success of last album 'Puzzle' it was a welcome suprise to see a Biffy classic in a new light.
Thirdly there was 'Mountains', a chart success in its own right, the track sounds just as good if not better as a tender acoustic ballad, the guitar sounds heartfelt and warm whilst still retaining an edge that is present in all Biffy Clyro's songs.
'Saturday Superhouse' is the final download on the EP and although i loved the original version of this song on the album 'Puzzle', I feel that the song has taken on a new life acoustically. The rhythm section of Biffy Clyro has always been very important to the band and it's never shown off better than on this song, the heavy guitar and soaring melodies are sent to the back of the class and the bass and drums take pride of place.
More importantly on an acoustic EP is the vocals, and Simon Neil really goes all out reaching for melodies he could never hope to achieve when he's going balls to the wall rocking out. It really shows of quite an impressive range that is best shown before on ' The Atrocity' from album 'Infinity Land'
Overall the EP is mind blowing, giving me an insight and a new view of one of my all time favourite bands.
Last week an article caught my eye in Kerrang saying that one of my favourite bands, (the truly awesome Biffy Clyro), were releasing an acoustic EP in Kerrang. Especially for the lovely readers of Kerrang. I was, to put it mildly, ecstatic about this, but what I hadn't realised was that it was a download and not a physical copy. Shock horror. So there I was coming in from a driving lesson when I panicked after seeing the words, "Limited number of Downloads available". It was first come first serve gosh darn it.
To get the EP I would have to get on to my usually very dodgy computer, my terminally slow Internet and avoid my mind numbing virus protection which would no doubt want to delete the files as soon as they downloaded. All this I did, and instead of being in the final 2,500 that received one track, or even the 1,000 before who would receive two tracks, i was actually in the first 2,000. This meant four tracks. Four tracks of pure Biffy genius.
The first download was a version of 'The Captain' from their new album 'Only Revolutions', (released Monday 9th of November, no problem guys) and the album version is a bombastic, horns blaring crusher of a song. Acoustically however it becomes a song of soaring chorus' and a clever adaptation of the original onto the acoustic guitar which somehow gives it a new edge.
Second song on the download was 'Questions and Answers', the oldest track on the EP it was originally on their second album 'The Vertigo of Bliss'. The album, often hailed as one of their best, is a personal favourite of mine but with the commercial success of last album 'Puzzle' it was a welcome suprise to see a Biffy classic in a new light.
Thirdly there was 'Mountains', a chart success in its own right, the track sounds just as good if not better as a tender acoustic ballad, the guitar sounds heartfelt and warm whilst still retaining an edge that is present in all Biffy Clyro's songs.
'Saturday Superhouse' is the final download on the EP and although i loved the original version of this song on the album 'Puzzle', I feel that the song has taken on a new life acoustically. The rhythm section of Biffy Clyro has always been very important to the band and it's never shown off better than on this song, the heavy guitar and soaring melodies are sent to the back of the class and the bass and drums take pride of place.
More importantly on an acoustic EP is the vocals, and Simon Neil really goes all out reaching for melodies he could never hope to achieve when he's going balls to the wall rocking out. It really shows of quite an impressive range that is best shown before on ' The Atrocity' from album 'Infinity Land'
Overall the EP is mind blowing, giving me an insight and a new view of one of my all time favourite bands.
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