#musefail

[gemsybobsy]

Every Muse gig I've been to has been special for a different reason. I've seen them 10 times, because when you're there you really get a feeling that each show is a REAL moment in history. This is the only show on Earth! They are fantastic live. I don't go on about them all the time for no reason. But, if you haven't already skipped past this post with a mumble of, 'Oh God, Gemsy's babbling about that ridiculous Queen band again', then you've probably heard about the setlist beef...

Bands get bigger stage shows as their catalogue of work and fanbase gets bigger. Well, duh! More money, more scope for mad ideas, crazier outfits, more drugs and less rock 'n' roll. Of course, it gets harder to please everybody. There's new fans, and there's the old ones who talk of 'glory days'. All bands get it, and they carry on rolling in dosh, either giving a toss about what the fans think or not. A lot of Muse's fans aren't happy. I don't think the band have stopped giving a toss, but it sounds like they've got complacent. The setlist is short. I joked the other day that they're playing all the songs I normally skip! Even though I love all their songs, and watching Muse is always going to be the best way to spend an evening (even if it's £60 for 1 song) they just seem a bit lazy these days. Teignmouth felt quite lazy. We were excited to hear the new songs for the first time, but they didn't sound that exciting (Unnatural Selection excluded!) My mates and I were a bit disappointed after the gig, truth be told (the awful crowd probably had a lot to do with that!) We actually booed when the Feeling Good megaphone came out. I have to admit, hearing the singles and crowd-pleasers every time... it gets a bit dull. But we discussed it thus, "Yeah but it's a homecoming gig, they're gonna play hits rather than album tracks and fan favourites." And the curfew was early. And the sound levels had to be low. But, even though they played Cave (!) there was something else lacking. It's hard to explain, but it's a vibe, maaan. In Teignmouth I had the depressing thought that maybe I just didn't like them anymore, but my love for The Resistance certainly put the kybosh on that idea. Yeah, there's definitely just a weird vibe with the live show. I didn't think that vibe would continue on the tour, but by all accounts, it is.

Tonight's Liverpool gig was over at 10pm. Crazy. I remember running for trains after Muse gigs, because their last jam would go on until 11:06, 11:10... then they'd come back and say thanks again, throw champagne around, dive into the drumkit and smash everything up. Maybe they feel like they don't need to work hard anymore? It's like they can't be arsed. Maybe they've realised that they could stroll in and play Feeling Good three times and just the verse of Starlight and then go home, and they'd still get a 'best live band' award. It definitely feels like they've lost it a bit. It's a bit like when the Manics alienated a lot of old fans by only playing songs from Everything Must Go and This Is My Truth... They came back with a bang, so hopefully Muse will too. Just seems weird that this 'slow' vibe is appearing at the height of their career. Matt admitted that they've had no time to rehearse, which I found a bit shocking. No rehearsals for a world tour, touring a number 1 album? Really? And the stories are getting worse, 18 songs, then 17, then 16... rumours of pre-recorded vocals... tonight people were even discussing the possibility that the band could be ill!

So, the argument keeps going in circles. Most people are still thrilled and excited to be seeing them, myself included, which is brilliant. Some people are whinging, myself included, which is disappointing. Haha. Most people are coming back from the gigs full of yay, but some people are shaking their heads and wondering why they bothered. Of course there's no way they can please everyone and there's nothing we can do about it - no amount of moaning and harrassing the band on Twitter is going to change anything. We didn't get Escape added to the setlist, and we didn't get our Bobbleheads (boo!) Really, I think the show is still amazing (it's the lads on a stage playing some instruments ffs, how can they really be bad?!) and this is really just a case of old fans being the worst critics. They always are, the miserable bastards. Of course I want Dead Star and Glorious and Space Dementia and Ruled by Secrecy and The Small Print and Hyper Music (the last one isn't that much of a far-out request! It was a single!) As I keep saying, 'short' doesn't necessarily mean 'shit'. I think this time next week I'll be just as pumped as I normally am when I've been to a Muse gig. Plus, by the sounds of it we'll still be able to catch last orders! :)

SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER IS LYNZI DAY!

Comments

[maxnot.livejournal.com]

The setlist is my only real issue with these Muse gigs. It's far too safe.

Basically, if Muse don't play 90 minutes or more next week, then it's a fail on a big scale.

[maxnot.livejournal.com]

I mean, I accept that Muse will play Starshite and that jazz because it's a popular song but the fact that the setlists offer nearly nothing of interest to fans that have been with them for years seems a tad annoying.

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Safe is a good word! I'm also wondering if there's anything more to this venue curfew thing. So many gigs I've been to lately have been finishing at 10pm.

[maxnot.livejournal.com]

Might just be bad luck on your part. The Royksopp gig I went to tonight ended at 10:45pm as did The Cribs a few weeks before.

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

AHHH ROYKSOPP. I love them so much.

[getmilesaway.livejournal.com]

I honestly think Bellamy's voice has gone. Whether he's got a virus of some kind or his vocal chords are tight or whatever, he just can't hit the same high notes he used to. Maybe that's why they're dropping a lot of the high-vocal-intense songs in favour of the lower-key stuff. Maybe that's why they won't play Escape, or Hyper Music, or suchlike. I just want them to be good again, and rediscover that spark. Maybe being in love isn't good for being in the music industry!

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

I see your Manics icon and raise you :)

It would be awful if that's true re: Bells. Mind you he always had trouble hitting notes live sometimes, like Micro Cuts for example, but that never stopped him before! He'd just scream instead. RAWR. BECAUSE THEY WERE MADE OF ROCK. Meh, maybe he's just got man flu. :D

Definitely agree with the last sentiment. Look what happened to Trent!

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

LOL, 'always had trouble... sometimes'

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Hahaha icon sexface win.

I kinda wish I was a newb! I'm glad you said that about the vibe being off; I was beginning to think it was my imagination. I'd love to see a smaller show like the one in the Groove in the States (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzA158Yg3Es) video. THAT'S the Muse I know!

[cottoncandy85.livejournal.com]

I'm happy that I didn't waste my money on a ticket now. Max says I've gone off Muse altogether but that's not it, it's just that I used to love them so much and now I just like them... And mostly I just feel really disappointed with the setlists. Like a mother is disapponted to a child that got a much lower mark from an exam they could've easily aced.

Like someone said, they've just become lazy. I think they now think that they've gone this far, they can stop working as hard as they did... And I suppose they could take longer breaks between tours and albums, but I don't think this is on, when you work you work. They will lose fans over this, or alianate them.

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Definitely. I'm hoping it's just a lull, and that they'll come back BIGGAR AND BETTAR. They were fantastic at V and that was only 18 months ago! And I was miles away. And couldn't see fuck all. And there were too many lights and lazers. But it was amazing.

[hullabalo-o.livejournal.com]

my friend went to the liverpool one last night and had the time of her life and shes an "old" fan so to say i'm glad i'm not going again and again like i did in 2007 (unintended again?! ugggh)
she said she didn't care what anyone says they were brilliant

i know i'm so lucky to be going to one date next week
(heck i was lucky to get to teignmouth! and i'm 30 minutes away from that!)

as i like the shite singles that everyone else don't like i'm werid like that
i'm not expecting anything from them just a good show

x

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Yeah that's what I'm hoping too. I'm sure it'll still be excellent, and like I said - seeing Muse is better than not seeing Muse! Haha.

[hullabalo-o.livejournal.com]

you know it did get me thinking after reading your post but she was unsure before they went and she still had a mind blowing time i've got a feeling that may just happen alot of my "gig going" friends have been to see muse this week and have all been pleased with what they have saw

sooooo who can say YES TO THE SEEING MUSE thank god! my ticket is gold right now

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the negativity about the shows is upsetting. But then people have always complained about what Muse are doing, haha.

[hullabalo-o.livejournal.com]

very true love very true can't do right for doing wrong

also if i can i'll try and make linzi day! doubt it by a long shot as i have only one night booked in a hotel AND i havent yet booked my train ticket ahem x

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

Hope you can come, I'd love to meet you finally! :D

(I need more Muse icons!)

[hullabalo-o.livejournal.com]

i'l see what i can do! i might be seeing some other friends that day timing and i may have to go to exeter BUT i will do what i can aww i really wanna meet you! you is awesome sauce!

and muse icons prootage is yer gal! :D

[smurf-pop.livejournal.com]

I was really underwhelmed by Teignmouth, and being underwhelmed by a gig you've travelled 600 miles for is not a good feeling :( I'm really not fussed about missing out on the O2 gigs - I tried on all three sale days to get tickets via SeeTickets but because of the utter wankness of their system, I couldn't get through until they had sold out. I'm more excited about all the meat to be honest.

[thebarkside.livejournal.com]

I'm still glad I have tickets, but yeah... totally hoping it's gonna be the mission! I know the meat will be :D

[escapedelusion.livejournal.com]

I know us old fans are the worst critics but I think that's because we KNOW Muse can do better. They can do fucking awesome sets, with ace banter, so much energy and be frigging incredible!
They're still amazing and they still play top notch songs and I still really enjoy watching them live but when I saw them the other day something was seriously lacking. It's just sad that I know they used to be so much better. I don't want to think of them getting worse as time flows or as you say (which I think might be more right) them getting lazy or not trying as hard.

Either way though... I'm glad I got to see them at their top and I love rocking out with my Muser friends more then anything XD

[eremite.livejournal.com]

The real pisser for me is that they have published the effing setlist, and that means that we're not getting gigs any more... we're getting a show, like Les Mis or Starlight Express or the BBC Philharmonic doing an evening of Haydn, and the only difference from night to night lies in the mistakes and fuck-ups and whether or not they can be arsed to smile a bit during one of their carefully rehearsed "jams".

Dublin was a great gig, but when you know every move and every intro/outro and you can hear the segue into the next song before it's even started... :(

ETA: we threw a bag up on stage last night containing beermats upon which we'd expressed the setlist fail and the lack of soul right now... and asking where they're hiding MK-Ultra. Pretty sure Dom picked it up as he left the stage.

[christyjaded.livejournal.com]

I was at said Liverpool gig...I couldn't believe that I was leaving so early!! :( It just felt like Muse greatest hits gig....Was a bit gutted really, but it was still good fun. Just wish they had played a couple of more songs that weren't their singles or the new album...Oh well!