After months of growing anticipation, the date that around 50,000 Muse fans were waiting for, was finally here. It hailed the return of the band to the UK for their much hyped European Stadium tour, Glastonbury and T in the Park, notwithstanding.
Although to be honest, if the televised Glasto and T in the Park, were anything to go by, fans would be up for a treat of some of Muse’s greatest hits, and much loved live songs.
Finally, at 8.15 precisely, the music in the cricket ground is turned off. The assembled Musers take a deep breath, and are greeted by a troupe of hooded flag bearers. Slogans such as; ‘They will not force us!’ and; ‘We’re not droplets in the ocean!’ are borne triumphantly for all to see. A flash of light from the opulent giant triangular stage, and the opening chords of Uprising, are drowned out by hysterical screams and cheers.
Matt Bellamy struts around the stage, in a silver suit, with his usual aplomb. From knee slides to high jumps, to those perfect ballerina spins. Dom Howard, is dressed in a very tight, wet look, black spiderman – thing, and Chris Wolfenstholme is resplendent in a black and white stripy suit.
A long wail from the Manson generates another ear splitting roar from the adulating crowd, as Supermasive Black Hole is announced, and the crowd, already ready for a party after waiting 10 months from the sale of the tickets, begin to bounce proper. Or should that be pwoppa?
Morgan Nicholls’ tinkering on the keys announces the next song, New Born, a staggering amount of hands with wiggling fingers appear in the air, as Matt saunters to the front to begin to bash out the heavy guitar riff on his beloved red glittery scream maker.
Map of the Problamatique , and Butterflies and Hurricanes follow next, ensuring the craziness in the crowd continue, before allowing them a brief respite during Guiding Light. Dramatically, however, Matt and Chris move slightly away from their microphones as a huge streamer and glitter filled canon goes off, and covers both the sound tower, and Dom.
The band then provide a rest for Matt’s vocals as they proceed into live favourite jam, Interlude. It doesn’t last long though, as they launch into Hysteria, again, amongst much moshing from the audience.
Finally, Matt deems it appropriate to address the gathered masses (Dom has already spent a while informing, that it has been too long), announcing a change of the website.
‘So we’ve got to change our website, I think, from muse.mu (big pause) to CitizenErazed.com.’ This song was voted for by fans following a poll on the muse.mu website, hence the pun from Bellamy, and the resonant pogo’ing.
The instrumental Nishe, was next up, providing a wedge of time for the piano to be prepared for United States of Eurasia, and Feeling Good. For some reason, mass moshing took place during the piano centric Eurasia, and more appropriately, mass swaying and heartfelt bellowing for the Nina Simone cover.
Next, sees the opportunity for Dom to stretch his legs, as he joins Chris on a spaceship style platform, which rises above the crowd. They bash out MK Jam, while Matt mysteriously prowls around towards to the left of the stage before joining them, with a glow in the dark keytar for Undisclosed Desires. Dom’s drums light up, each time he bashes them, as the platform rises higher and higher.
It’s back to the main stage for Resistance, complete with Matt playing a double 12-string guitar, before the crowd pleasing and clappy Starlight.
House of the Rising Sun provides karaoke enmasse, before the thumping bass line introduction of Time is Running Out. Unfortunately, Matt doesn’t treat the Manchester faithful to his infamous shuffle. A perfectly timed circle done to the songs middle eight.
Unnatural Selection provides the end of the main set, as the band trundle off stage to chants of ‘more, more!’ Ever eager to please, the trio return to play Part One of Exegenesis: Symphony (Overture), and the never ending Stockholm Syndrome, before pretending that was it for the night. Hardcore Muse fans, however, knew that there was more to come, with at least two of the live favourites left out.
True to form, they return onto the stage, after giving Matt time for a costume change. Yes, that’s right, a costume change. Not into a flowing ball gown (although that probably wouldn’t have surprised many people, knowing Bellamy’s eccentric ways), but into a video suit, that flashed red and blue.
He embarks onto the spaceship platform for a rendition of Take a Bow, and hangs around for a few moments as he plays the distinctive riff for Plug in Baby. As ever, flawlessly performed, even with the spins. Unfortunately no knee slides, but maybe he was banned from doing them because of the suit. The giant balloons join the bedlam, as tradition, for the second chorus.
Finally, the dying notes leave the mournful sound of Chris playing his harmonica. Matt, still flashing, plays around with a box. Dom has a breather. Then the howling mid west riff and feverent arm saluting welcomes the last song of the night Knights of Cydonia. The last chords simmer in the warm air, as Matt thanks the crowd, Dom informs, again, that it’s been far too long. Chris wanders up to the microphones, hesitates, gives a big double armed wave, and then wanders off, to tweet: ‘Wow, that was pretty fucking amazing. You mancs are nuts.’
So? A good gig? As Chris put it, ‘it was pretty fucking amazing.’ You Devon geeks are nuts.
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