Muse and playing that album

Were Muse right

To take the risk?

It was a risk to take, but were Bellamy and co right in taking it. Their headline slot at Leeds and Reading festivals was theirs for the taking it, but half the time was playing Origins of Symmetry in its entirety. Was this a good move or not?  Some people feel that this was a waste of a slot, that some of the people who attend the festival may not be sure on Muse to start with, so playing the album there in full was a way of alienating people from a show that could have turned their opinions of the band. But, on the other hand they were celebrating 10 years since the release of the album, so why shouldn’t they have done it in style.

It is a widely known fact that Muse are marmite you love them or hate them. There is no in between for this band. So obviously when it was heard what they had planned for their own set, people were very quick to shout out there opinions. I can understand fully with people who only wanted a mixed set, and not something that not everyone is going to no. But on the opposing side you can understand the people who wanted this album to be played. Origins of Symmetry is one of the timeless albums you should have in you CD collection. So to the fans it was only right that it should be played.

Whatever your opinion was on the matter the real question is, did they manage to pull it off? As I was at Leeds festival, I thought the set was pretty good. But you could sense that the atmosphere was not at its best whilst the album was played in full. This album is what their first album should have been and where best to do it, than at Reading and Leeds. The atmosphere was definitely dull, and could tell that the fans were mainly ones that have jumped onto the bandwagon, from the previous two albums. Yes they may have known the hits such as “Plug in baby” and “Feeling Good”, yes these songs were amazing. Bellamy powering though the riffs like a jack-hammer to concrete, but the rest of the album will have gone unappreciated by them. The little atmosphere that was there was indeed from the fans that realised and appreciated one of the best albums of all time being played.

This being said the set was still out standing. They still managed to make the show one to remember, even if you were one of the entry-level fans who didn’t know many songs, they can still play to a crowd and wow them. So the playing “Origins of Symmetry” was not a crowd pleaser and was not an entire success, it was a risk why shouldn’t they take them. The greatest hits part of the show allowed them to win the new fans back. “Uprising” was first to be heard and met with cheers, bouncing and singing along. This part of the set was a safety net knowing they would get all the adulation that they knew and deserved.

Overall the set was everything that Muse is and that is Marmite. I loved it and thought it was a risk worth taking. I enjoyed hearing the album played live, just as much as I heard all the hits being played live too. Muse will always be up there for me in the live stakes.

Leeds fest 2011 a short review

hello people,

I have now recovered from Leeds festival and felt the need to allow you guys into who made it for me.

Another year has gone by, I have now just recovered from Leeds scraped off the 4 inches of mud and put them away for next year (well until winter hits us again). What a festival it was, the only weather we did not experience was snow. We had glorious sun (yes my fair skin got burnt now I have a wonderful tan); we had horrendous rain, which turned the mud into the best workout you could get. Then finally on the Sunday when most of the mud had gone we had wind that would take you off your feet. Both me and my friend were one of the loyal Leeds festival goers that stuck it out for the whole weekend. Yes we may have complained and moaned like it was the end of the world but these aspects only make the experience a better one.

One of the first epic moments of this festival was The Streets. This was epic for a number of reasons, for one it was going to be first and last ever time that I would see them, because they were going to be no more in a few months time. Whilst waiting in the tent you could sense the atmosphere was electric. Mike Skinner was on form that night delivering the goods to each dedicated fan that had crushed into that tent. Storming through his classic hits of blinded by the lights, don’t mug yourself and of course you’re fit but you know it. All this gelled with Leo the lion brought together a fantastic show. Sweat, beer thrown and aching legs from dancing, and to top it off Skinner managed to get the biggest circle pit of the festival going.

As Muse had not made any secret of the fact that they were doing to play, Origins of Symmetry in its entirety, I was looking forward to it the most. I have always said that Muse of the marmite of the music world, but I still love them. Origins of symmetry was out of this world and proved that the album has stood the test over 10 years and is just as amazing on the first listen as it was live. Once the once in a lifetime opportunity had been finished, they then launched into the hits. “Stockholm Syndrome” was a pinnacle moment of the festival for me, as whenever I do hear that son, I get Goosebumps all over. Bellamy and the boys did not give us festival goers a disappointing show, they blew it away. Although I must say that a festival show is never the same as a personal one.

So after trekking through all the mud and earning quads like a body builder the first day was out of this world. Yes we did see other people but I could go on for days, how awesome they all were, or how crap they were, and even how they shouldn’t have made it to a main stage. But that would mean about 100 pages that nobody would actually ever read. One thing that I was disappointed in was the fact that I actually didn’t get to see anyone on the BBC introducing stage. This was through no fault of my own I might add. This was because of all the clashes that were happening on other stages. It is a very hard decision for a music fan to decide who to see over another band.

So Saturday comes legs are hurting and only just adjusting to sleeping in a tent, but all the people to see are in the radio one tent (result). As I have been making people aware Miles Kane’s debut album I was looking forward to this performance. He stormed through his set with the adulation from all the fans that tent. Sometimes with albums, you can love listening to them over and over again, but when it comes to the live version, it can be a let down. Not with this one, if anything it brought the album to life even more, with the dark tones that run through and Miles managing, to get his unique 60’s psychedelic riffs to become more powerful and reachable.

Mona was a band I was bit dubious about, this was mainly because the album is good and I would recommend it, but wasn’t sure how it would come across live. Now they were good but nothing I would shout about like previous bands I have seen. They seemed to lack enthusiasm on the stage and the songs sounded just like the album. Festivals are all about giving your current fans a good show but also making new fans too. Mona are probably amazing in there own space and show but I feel a smaller tent may have done them a little bit more justice.

Now if you are into your music, you will know that The Vaccines are one of 2011’s most talked about bands. They have only been together for a year and have earned so much. So I was really looking forward to this having read all other reviews, only one thing was stopping me, and this was that Justin the singer’s voice was under strain. They had already pulled out of shows and looked like they will be doing so for more shows. But given that his voice was bad he powered through giving the fans a show that would not be dampened by a broken voice. A packed out tent and a band perfectly formed and sounding like they had been doing this for years is something that you don’t often see or hear.

Beady Eye the headliner of Saturday was again something that I was a bit dubious about, but was something that I though I needed to see. Were they going to be just oasis but with 2 new band members? The answer to this was sort of. Noel was always the leader in oasis deciding what they were to sound like, where as Beady Eye was Liam’s baby. Sounding how he wanted, a much darker take on oasis but still a pretty good show. Maybe he is just more than a one trick pony, but will probably still take a bit more to get into them. Liam is and will always be a front man, and with him in a band there will always be a following.

2 bands that were a must see on the Sunday were Madness and Pulp. Along with all the other bands in the other tents these two were pinnacle for the final day. I grew up with Madness with my dad, and have always been told they are amazing live you need to see them. So here was my opportunity to. One step beyond was the opener and was only a start to an amazing show to come. Suggs and gang bringing the sound of ska to young followers, making them dance and bounce along with even a sing song, to accompany it. Perfect for a windy Sunday afternoon with a pint in hand.

Now all through the 90’s you were either Blur or Oasis, but people often forget about Pulp. Pulp is the posh version of both those bands, with lyrics that are as funny as Morrissey’s, even just as cynical. Jarvis has never been the most normal of front men but he gives the crowd a good show. It is windy and cold but he is leading you on a journey of a date as he wants to call it. Blasting out classics such as, Pencil Skirt, Disco 2000 and not to forget Common people. The band as tight as they were back in the day and Jarvis just if not more, eccentric as he used to be. This band were definitely a good choice to end this festival, he left us all on high craving and wanting more.       

These are only some of the bands that saw, I did see many more but would take forever to write about them. Also I was not there to review I was there to be festival goer and enjoy my yearly experience.

Little bands do matter

Hello everyone,

wow 2 blogs in one day this won't happen that much. this topic is something that I have been thinking of for a while. As my blog is mainly about music this is something that means alot to me. without supporting local bands we will end up with the same music just a different day. So please read and enjoy.

Little bands are

What matter

So with everyone moaning about the line up of Leeds fest, I for one think it is a fantastic one. I love the fact Muse are headlining the Friday night. Although I would prefer them to close it, but hey I am not going to complain, they are playing and that is all that counts. Upon first look at the main stage it is a bit weak but when you delve in to all the other stages you are in for a real treat.

The people who are moaning and complaining clearly have not heard the new and exciting debut album from Mona, the fantastic debut from Frankie and the heartstrings and not to mention the first solo album of Miles Kane, which is out of this world. All of these new albums and bands that are coming out are, our future headline acts at festivals. Muse had to start at the bottom and work their way up, so did Pulp, Coldplay and look how Oasis started out, yes once they were noticed they were catapulted to stardom, but before then little places small stages. All these big bands had to start somewhere, and these are what the smaller tents are for to build these acts up and get them bigger audiences. I will be the first to admit some bands just can’t hack it on the main stages. It is sad to see and even to say they just don’t have the material yet to make it. Notice how I said yet.

You will find that the average music fan does become out of tune with what is new and out in world at the moment. It does cost a lot of money to keep in touch, there is the constant release of new albums, and then there is the tour to follow and then magazines so you can find all of these exciting new things. The one thing that a true music fan will always do (even if they do get out of touch) is go and see the various stages at a festival, or even see the support acts at a gig, of their favorite this band. This way you are getting out there and seeing the new exciting things that are happening, in the music world.

This was evident for me when I recently went to see, The subways at Leeds. We were there just in time to see one of the best support acts I have seen in a while. This band were called Young Aviators, these guys certainly got the crowd going for the main act (who were also amazing). They had a presence on stage that I have not seen in a while from a 3 piece band. They were interacting with the crowd as if they were playing a home crowd, and even brought an onlooker to the stage to become their dancer. It is these attributes of a band that will see these guys go far and accomplish things within the music world, which others will not. Most people that night found that these Irish wonders were an incredible act and couldn’t wait to see more.

So for the people who seem to just sit in the main arena of festivals, to just go see the main headline act, and not experience the full essence of what bands are like before they get to that main stage headlining slot, do not complain about the line up being “crap” or that it’s “same line up again”. If you do not like it then simply do not go. You can not argue that ticket prices are extortionate when you only aim to go to see 3 bands out of the entire weekend, when there are all these little gems hidden away, for you to find and experience. A festival ticket on average costs £200 you break this down over the 3 days and see the little bands you will get your moneys worth. More often than not also the small stages have the better crowds who make the gig even better.

Next time you’re at a gig and you think I will have one more beer, the headline isn’t on until 9, think again and go see the small bands. You will soon see what you are missing out on. These gems are the ones that will be shaping our musical future and the way we listen to music. Don’t get stuck with the old, keep experiencing new things. Music is a wonderful tool that can be appreciated in many ways. These little bands are what are creating the new innovative sounds; you won’t find people like Coldplay changing. They will stick to the Radiohead era for as long as they can (and no I am not slating Radiohead, but they are depressing). Same with the likes of U2 they won’t change, same album time and time again, it gets tiring. So get out there and enjoy your local band, because there will be one rehearsing like mad, just to play that small stage, keep that in mind when you see one of them.