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André Paine's rating
Best live band find their Muse at new Wembley
By
André Paine
18 Jun 2007
After initially being derided as Radiohead copyists several years ago, the West Country trio Muse are now routinely described as Britain's best live band.
The old Wembley's inferior acoustics might have tested that reputation, and some George Michael fans complained about the new venue last week.
But Muse's brainy heavy metal and prog-pop was effectively realised in a spectacular 68,000-capacity performance last night.
The first half of Muse's second Wembley show was mildly disappointing, though, not least because an 8pm start meant it was staged in daylight for an hour. That almost killed the atmosphere, as did the announcement that, despite the early finish, we could expect travel chaos on the way home anyway with the closure of the Metropolitan line.
Amid a storm of glitter and cheers, Muse emerged into the middle of the crowd and made their way awkwardly across a walkway to the stage.
They opened with Knights of Cydonia, a combination of spaghetti western music, futuristic electro-rock and end of days imagery.
While it sounded impressive, their stiffness on that walkway seemed to linger in their performance - although at least singer Matt Bellamy's bright red suit meant he was always visible.
Several songs in, though, there was a palpable excitement when Bellamy played the opening notes to their familiar cover of Nina Simone's Feeling Good on his glass-topped piano. "It's a great pleasure to be playing in this beautiful new venue," he said, and the band started to loosen up.
By Invincible - a stadium rock moment equal to U2 - they were hitting their stride.
The stage, sandwiched by giant screens, came to life during the superb Starlight, with a shower of sparks and massive, swivelling satellite dishes that trained spotlights on the audience.
But they topped that with a pair of acrobats attached to huge white balloons that drifted over the audience during Blackout.
Incredibly, the acrobats were able to rotate in midair and descend to within several feet of the crowd.
"You're sensational," Bellamy told the fans, who moshed heartily during Plug In Baby. And for an hour at least, so was he.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (25)
I've seen Muse 3 times now (twice last weekend, 4/2/10), and they are THE best band I've ever seen, and I've seen Depeche Mode, Bruce Springsteen, Robin Trower, Emerson Lake & Palmer, and Stevie Ray Vaughan to name a few. And Muse stands out. The music is *spectacular* and Bellamy's voice is like an angel's. I eagerly await their next album and tour.
- Mandy, seattle, wa, 06/04/2010 05:42
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Muse are a bloody amazing band live. I've seen them twice already and look forward to seeing them again November 5th of this year!
The crowd get into it so much, and Dom's drumming, Chris's God like bass playing(Hysteria is enough to make most people's fingers drop off I think) and Matt Bellamy with his voice that's able to reach G#, his guitaring utterly amazing and when he plays piano he looks peaceful and amazing.
I've seen several bands live, they are by far the best.
And it's possible you lack in musical knowledge and apprectiation if you don't love them live
- Keely, Nottingham, UK, 10/08/2009 16:08
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Muse put on a brilliant show with breathtaking lights.
They came out from the centre and swaggered down to the stage with huge smiles on their faces along with a group of men in yellow boiler suits walking beside them.
They then roared into Knights of Cydonia and the fans weren't let down for the rest of the set. Muse included the masterpiece of butterflies and hurricanes and the epic Citizen Erased for the lucky people on the saturday.
I have seen Muse before but this was just amazing.
Muse make other bands that are meant to be good live to shame.
Well done Muse!
P.S the sound was perfect at the front where I was.
- Jonny, Bedford UK, 28/06/2007 11:20
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Muse were fantastic both nights, the crowd were completely into it from the word go (I have pics of the entire standing section and almost all of the 'seated' blocks rocking out to Knights of Cydonia) right up until thousands of voices were singing 'You'll burn in hell for your sins'. The quieter songs such as Blackout and Unintended were met with cheers, reverence, the occasional tear, then thunderous applause. The stageshow, like the music, was shamelessly over the top with the huge back and side screens giving good value for the people at the back and smoke, fireworks, balloons, tinsel and a sheet of flame adding to the fun.
Wembley's acoustics were fairly horrible, with the reverb getting worse the further from the stage you were. Of the support acts, Biffy Clyro were the stand outs for me. I agree that Wembley need to sort out their Club Wembley seating - prime locations that couldn't be resold - and the food was really nasty.
- Tracy, Oxfordshire, England, 21/06/2007 18:01
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Muse were absolutely brilliant. Plug in baby was the ultimate highlight. Perhaps the roof should have been closed to improve the acoustics and atmosphere. However the show and lighting was brilliant. Shame about the support acts, My chemical romance were appalling and the sound was awful, Gerard Way sounded like a chipmunk!
- Karen, Kent, 19/06/2007 14:03
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Have seen Muse a number of times over the last 6 years and every time they have been amazing, from the Academy in Birmingham to Wembley in that time ! Oh and the acoustics in the stadium were appalling, what a waste of money, should have built a decent stadium in the Midlands.
- Zach, Halesowen UK, 18/06/2007 21:20
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Saw Muse at Edinburgh Fringe last year and they were amazing! Wembley in my opinion is too big although lapped up the atmosphere for what it was and seeing everyone enjoying it proves the fan base Muse have.
- Karla, Kent, 18/06/2007 20:47
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I can't write anything technical but I will say that the gig was awesome. Worth the travel from the sticks and the wait. Planning next big event already, totally fired up credit cards at the ready!
- Jo And Nick., Norfolk, 18/06/2007 19:00
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I don't know where Squidboy was but there was never any silence and at times we couldn't hear Matt singing as the crowd were singing, dancing constantly and were always on their feet. This gig was the best gig I've ever seen in over 20 years of gigs - well done Muse - you are simply the best!
- Kath, Leeds, UK, 18/06/2007 17:10
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Well worth it - brilliant! Muse would outdo George Michael in terms of entertainment anyday.
- Charlie Allen, London, 18/06/2007 16:40
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Muse were the best I've ever seen them, playing a storming set. So they started with a song that could easily play them out at the end - isn't this what's so good about them, that they continually surprise us? Granted, Wembley Stadium's acoustics were rubbish, but Muse handled it well, being the best live band on the planet.
- Sarah, London, 18/06/2007 16:02
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I was at the Muse gig on Saturday night and after 20 years of 'gig going' I have to say that it was one of the best I have ever been to. The atmosphere was great - although I won't go back to Wembley for a gig again (too much hassle with travel and smoking!).
Muse got everyone on their feet and it was a joy to see - the guitar and keyboard playing was superb and the light show fantastic.
Muse well deserve the best live band crown!
- Zoe, London, UK, 18/06/2007 14:37
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I thought Muse made Wembley feel compact and almost intimate. I went on Saturday and the crowd were full-on and loud and vibrant. One thing Wembley need to address is the corporate and Club Wembley side as the majority of 'debenture holders' didn't turn up which left the best seats in the house unused - why not allow local schools and associations use these if they are unwanted. As for Muse - it was the standard programme but with more lavishness, more panache, more show, more gizmos and, fittingly, more Queen-like.
I can see them becoming a Wembley institution.
- Robert, Stratford upon Avon, 18/06/2007 14:26
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Muse were incredible on Saturday, they blew the place apart. They completely sold out Wembley on Saturday, although I don't know about Sunday. To say that Muse are merely an arena band is a ridiculous comment.
They have officially confirmed themselves as the best live band around, Knights of Cydonia was sensational.
- Tom, Reading, Berkshire, 18/06/2007 14:06
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The concert was amazing, Muse is so great really. I have seen them 4 times, and they never disappoint and Wembley was the pinnacle, great show.
- Adam, London, 18/06/2007 13:57
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My impression is that Muse took a step longer than the leg and lost balance. Inviting George Michael to open the venue last week was a smart decision.
- David, Antwerp, 18/06/2007 13:52
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Squidboy,
you must have been a a different gig. No songs ended to near silence the stage show and set were very well put together. They were a little slow to start but once they got going after a couple of songs everyone was well up for it.
- Jonathan Campbell, UK, 18/06/2007 13:46
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I don't understand the comment about them being stiff in their performance. Knights of Cydonia was the best way to start the gig and it completely captured the crowd. Wembley was a great venue and the accoustics were great. Saturday night Muse came on stage at 9pm so the light was just about okay. Sunday's early start may have been down to local issues - perhaps they should have closed the roof for that. The performance through the night was high in energy, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up at every track. It's not always about how somebody looks on stage - it's the music that you are there to listen to and nobody does it better live than Muse.
- Peter, Cambridge, UK, 18/06/2007 13:31
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Muse were quite plainly the best thing I've ever seen. The whole spectacle of the show, Matt Bellamy's performance, the fireworks, the acrobats suspended by those balloons, and the real star of the show - Dom Howard's trousers. And I don't know what gig Squidboy was watching, because the crowd were on their feet and were loving everything Muse did.
- Stevie, London, England, 18/06/2007 13:20
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I have seen many bands live at many different gigs, festivals and arenas; Muse was by far the best band I have seen for a long time (Radiohead, Underworld and Oasis in 96 on par)! It was an excellent performance, getting the crowd going, looking and sounding fantastic, it was a genuinely fantastic show! Thank you Muse for an amazing weekend!
- Michelle Hall, Norwich, 18/06/2007 13:18
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What an absolutely amazing gig! Comments by Squidboy from Herts are rubbish! None of the songs were met with silence, just absolute gratifying applause and cheers. I've seen them many times and this was definitely the best. Wembley is definately a great venue to hear one of the Best British Bands of our time! Keep it up Muse, we love ya!
- Dawn, Sidcup , Kent, 18/06/2007 12:43
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Was a great show, only dampened by the facts that yes, we were waiting for 3.5 hours for them to come on and on then had to go early due to the travel issue!
Light show was the best I've seen!
- Kirsty, Poole, UK, 18/06/2007 12:30
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I thought that Muse were great, but they weren't the best band I've seen live, I have to say that that crown goes to Basement Jaxx.
- Laura, London, 18/06/2007 12:17
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Muse hopelessly overstretched themselves here - they are an arena band at best and they really struggled to fill the stadium (from both a musical and capacity point of view), on several occasions songs ended to near silence. The stage-show itself was also excrutiatingly embarrassing and would put Spinal Tap to shame, I watched most of the performance through my fingers. The only good thing I have to say relates to the venue - it's far better than the old one for music and could easily host some magical nights (Radiohead would blow the place apart).
- Squidboy, Herts, UK, 18/06/2007 12:09
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Muse are by far the best thing since sliced bread. They had the crowd on fire, totally amazing.
- Ian, London, 18/06/2007 12:08
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