Muse @ Birmingham NIA - 10.11.2009

My first memories of Muse stem back to around 2001 or 2002, being stunned by the video for Bliss and having bought and enjoyed Origin of Symmetry at a young age. Unfortunately, I went through many phases during my childhood and teens, but I did get the Time is Running Out single (one of my now least favourites), but it was only in the last couple of years I got back into them. I downloaded their discography, and then bought them all. I had previously turned down an opportunity to see them live before, due to no money, and regretted it since. There was a huge build-up to this. First, waiting for a tour announcement, then waiting for dates, then waiting for tickets to go on sale, then getting tickets, then waiting for the actual days, and trying to swap tickets for better places (successfully) and then of course waiting for them to come on stage. I think my expectations were a little high.

Having spent a lot of money on tickets, travel, accomodation, the early morning to catch a train to Birmingham was unpleasant, yet refreshing to be so excited about something. The Jury's Inn Hotel was brilliant, and closer to the venue than the map let on. We queued for hours, from just after midday I think, which was and is the longest I've queued for anything.
I won't go into it, but it was quite unpleasant, as a physical experience. The people I was with got onto the barrier, but I was stuck just behind, so my friend grabbed hold of my arm throughout so I didn't get lost. Unfortunately, while it may have saved my bones, it made for an extremely uncomfortable and painful experience, most of my energy and thoughts gone to standing upright, keeping my footing, not breaking my arm on the barrier, and trying to protect my camera. THEN watching the performance.

The support act didn't go down well. I was dreading them (The Big Pink) based on their song, Dominoes, featured on many TV adverts at the time. The rest of their set wasn't memorable at all. I found the covered up towers behind them more interesting.

It was exciting seeing something so different, these three massive towers in the arena. The opening, We Are The Universe, was chilling. It went on for a few minutes with glorious synth arpeggios and a repetitive drum beat that wasn't obvious, but shook your core.

I didn't really feel anything when the covers came down to reveal the band members on their individual towers, jumping into Uprising, especially considering how I'd felt about them for so long. I'd never been right at the front before, and aim never to again. By the end of it, I was pretty pissed off and was welcomed by my good friend, depression. I felt, and still do, disappointed. But that's what happens when I break my rule of never getting my hopes up.

For one of the "Best Live Bands on The Planet", I can see why, but wouldn't necessarily agree. I would easily say Placebo are arguably a better live band, but then, Muse do all the fancy stuff and people tend to glorify that. Sure the stage design was impressive, the visuals beautiful, the sound great, at least to the untrained ear. After this initial depression, I doubted the next two lined up, but I went, and they were even better. By the end of third, I wanted more. But to this day, something has been lost in me.

Nevertheless, having the first ever playing of the much-demanded MK Ultra was amazing. Really was. The first few notes and I was grinning. We got it! First Muse gig, and I get the song everyone wants! Exogenesis Overture was also enchantingly beautiful. Everything else drowns out while they perform that. It flows. The platforms rise and lower, with perfect watery-spacey visuals, and those perfect vocals.

It was an experience I had to have, and I learned enough from the bad parts of this one to be able to fully enjoy the next one, two days later.

Duran Duran @ Lovebox Festival - 18.07.2009

I'd never heard of Lovebox, so had no idea of the size of Victoria Park. The park is quite big, but much of it was filled with food stalls etc. I'll get the mention of the abysmal portaloos out the way, and the typical British Summer Rain, and the terrible tube station, as it turned out to be very very good. I turned up during N*E*R*D, and wasn't in the best of moods, as this was my first concert since Michael Jackson passed away and I was in debate as to whether or not to go.

N*E*R*D weren't as hard to endure as I had anticipated. Much of the crowd were there for them, and they were very involved. Have to say, the group have good on-stage presence. They even did a little tribute to MJ in the form of "Wanna Be Startin Something", and to my astonishment and amusement, managed to get most of the female audience up on stage with them. This was a perfect opportunity to snag a closer spot, as it minimized the crowd in front of me. Furthermore, once N*E*R*D finished their set, more people left. I ended up incredibly close to the stage, perhaps 5-7 rows.



I have only been to 2 outdoor concerts in the past - Keane at the Eden Project, back at the beginning of my concert-going, and the O2 Wireless Festival, headlined by James Blunt. Both were also Summer, but had much warmer and brighter weather.

I was incredibly lucky to see Duran Duran (WITH ex-guitarist Andy Taylor, to my extreme appreciation and gratitude) at Earls Court in 2005. This was also one of my first concerts, and had a naff little camera, all pictures now lost. It was amazing, and I didn't think this would be as good, having lost a member, gained a new stage-guitarist, and based on the not-too-good last album, but I am so glad I went in the end.

Was comforting seeing them come out. Still hurting from the loss of MJ, all thoughts almost vanished completely for their set. Simon LeBon came out in usual entertaining fashion, intentionally or not, and Nick Rhode's infectious smile broadened my grin, as John Taylors. I noticed Nick Rhodes whip his camera out to take pictures of the crowd, and I felt a kin to him with my big camera. (Also like how he likes to make pointless lists)

Whereas the Earls Court concert was 2 and a half hours of hits, favourites, and a John Lennon cover, this festival headlining set had plenty of variation, playing songs I didn't expect to hear live, such as White Lines, Hold Back The Rain, and, unbelievably, to my extreme happiness, ELECTION DAY.

They have an incredible talent for making me smile. They were one of the first bands, if not the first, that I developed a real fondness for. The members, the music, the videos, I really loved them during the last half of high school, and have recently paid for membership to their fan community (never done that before..). The absence of Andy Taylor was saddening and their set definitely lacked his presence and energy, however, they give a great show. Really great. They also had a beautiful contraption at the back of the stage, in the centre, that cast lasers out towards the crowd. Many a time I gazed up at the sheet of lasers flowing over my head. They also had a nice touch of projecting white lines of lights/lasers during the song White Lines.

Really enjoyable and uplifting, providing memories of that first Duran Duran concert 4 years previously, and memories of my growing love for them. I just hope it won't be long until I get to see them again. If not, I've seen them in two very different environments. And I got my wish of getting some great pictures, at the sacrifice of an important fifth member, though I am very pleased they're as good without him, if that must be.

Placebo @ Bournemouth Opera House/Shepherd's Bush Empire - 10.05.2009/12.05.2009

It was not long after these that everything started to go wrong (and indeed, nothing has been the same since) but I am incredibly greatful to Placebo for giving me a taste of the truly good in life. I didn't expect it. Sure, I was prepared to travel outside London for a gig for the first time, but I didn't expect my eyes to stream with tears during Follow The Cops Back Home, having Molko glance at me several times, probably wondering why the hell that girl is crying, nor did I expect the indescribable feeling that resulted from this concert, above all others. The Bournemouth Opera House was BEAUTIFUL. It still stands as my favourite venue in terms of interior design. Even the corridor into the place is lit with glorious little lights and walls covered in mirrors. The sound was impeccable, the performance was enchanting, the vocals intoxicating. It's hard to take your eyes off the stage.

Afterwards, I was alone and had a hotel (for the first time) so time was no limit. I wandered around, and found a girl who eventually led me to the tour bus - if we'd turned the other way outside the venue, we'd have found it quicker. Unfortunately they were on a tight schedule, needing to be in London, but Steve Hewitt, the new drummer, came out and spent a few minutes with the small group of fans. He was lovely, with his casual American accent and his big grin. I didn't technically meet him, but as he was about to leave, I managed to say, please one more, and he signed my book. That was enough to send me back to the hotel glowing, and it wasn't until the next morning, on the coach back to London, that I found out I was going to the London date too! (I'd initially tried for tickets for that date, submitted my card details 3 times during the presale, but the website - guess which one - failed me. Yet again.)

Shepherd's Bush Empire is another exquisite venue. I always thought it was a seedy, dirty, grimy old place in London, but, gosh, was I wrong. We stood up on a balcony, but were still incredibly close. It was nice, after the travelling, and from what I remember, a day or two of work in between, to just relax, lean against a balcony and watch another amazing show with no one in the way.

Camera's were prohibited, at the band's request, but Brian Molko gave up and called a camera amnesty in the middle, and thanks to my old phone (which was stolen at a more recent Placebo concert) I snapped a few reasonable pictures.

I could predict the set-list, and was glad to hear them all again. A divine couple of nights.



And then of course, we met them all.

We waited outside in the cold for some time, unsure as to whether they would come out, and myself anxious about our pre-booked taxi. Steve waved at us from a window, and not long after, they came out, one by one. It was quite quick, and I didn't spend much time with any of them, so as to give other people a chance. Steve was his usual grinning self, and I got a picture with him, although someone shoved something at him so he looked down as the shutter went. Stefan was eating an apple but was nice enough to give me a moment of his time before leaving. Brian came out later and looked taken aback by the people that hoarded around the door, the poor man. He signed autographs as we all followed him over to the car, but I didn't get a look in . Everything stopped for a second, he was somehow right in front of me, and i just automatically held out a letter for him, which he took, and then asked me if he could sign my book - as I didn't have the words. Not only am I grateful for the feelings they unexpectedly stirred in me, but I'm greatful for their giving me a moment of their time.

McFly @ Hammersmith Apollo - 01.05.2009

First time I saw McFly, they were supporting Busted at Wembley Arena. Over time they have grown and matured (just about!) and their music has improved. Second time I saw them headlining Wembley Arena, but I still wanted to see them closer up. Third time was the charm, and I got a few rows from the front of a small and beautiful venue.

I will refrain from complaining about the fans, because that's a given. Even the thought of them gives me a headache. I must have been one of the oldest people there, at least in the standing area. The band have always made me laugh. That's one of the reasons I wanted to see them, because as individuals, they're amazing (as proven when they ordered a pizza to see how fast it would get there.. you had to be there!)

Alas, I still haven't had the joy of hearing my favourite song live: The Heart Never Lies. They made up for it with several from the album Radio:Active, and even in performing older songs, they do so with such energy and they seem to really enjoy it. They also had a scaled down version of the set they had at Wembley Arena, which was nice. It's always nice to see some colour in a set, instead of just the same two light filters.

Everybody Knows and One For The Radio are lively show-openers, and the rest of the set is filled with the well known popular hits and a few from the latest album. The only thing lacking was the cover of Black or White that we were treated to at Wembley.

To date, the photos I took at this event are some of my best. The whole gig was perfect for pictures.

And you know what? I'd go again. They can work big venues as much as they can smaller ones.

An Cafe @ Islington Academy - 24.03.2009

With the exception of Polysics, my only Japanese gigs have been pretty... morose. That just comes with the bands. But An Cafe have something about them that radiates from every song, every picture and every video. And that was evident from the second before they came on stage.

An energetic blasting of sounds bombard our ears as each member comes on stage, most memorably Yuuki, who is now a legend to me! Many of the fans are female, many are under 16. Most are decked in colours. All are in a good mood.

Now, I'm not much of an active person. I tend to observe, enjoy silently and take pictures. I only had my older camera for this, based on past J-Gig experiences. (Unfortunately, I could have taken my better one, but nevermind). But the energy on-stage infects EVERYONE. Even me. I think I must have been smiling all the way through, the only lapses when I was grinning instead. Even when I was knocked over, I was smiling, and someone even helped me up.

I didn't know most of the songs, especially with the new line-up. I have to say, despite being sad Bou left the band, during the performance, Yuuki alone compensated. Takuya was quiet in comparison, but clad in stylish Visual Kei, he made a lovely picture.

Miku. Well. He has these big brown eyes that warm you from the inside, when you make eye-contact, he isn't looking down at you, he's enjoying the moment with you. His vocals, his energy, his interaction, every single thing he does, warms you from the outside, making you smile with your eyes and your mouth. Antics including bringing toy Paddington Bears and Donald Ducks onstage, to hitting front-row fans on the head with an inflatable mallet, to filling his mouth with water and spraying it at anyone and everyone he could (even me!), and even speaking to us in some English, he didn't fail to entertain for even a second.

Needless to say, I, and everyone else, walked out of that place with a daft smile on the face. It was quite short, from what I recall, but it was quality over quantity.

A truly wonderful experience that surpassed any expectations. I hope they return to our shores.

Snow Patrol @ O2 Arena - 15.03.2009

One of the most relaxed concerts I have ever been to, after perhaps, Keane at The Eden Project years ago. I arrived late (after the first support act) and yet still managed to stroll up the side to a decent spot near enough the front, thanks to the wonderful venue that is the O2 Arena.

Being no expert on Snow Patrol, they nevertheless played, I believe, every single song that I loved. That made up about half their set, and the other half, whilst unfamiliar, was just as enjoyable.

This was the first time I had seen The O2 so full. Even the very back of the Upper Tier, at least for an end-stage production. No one seemed to move much, it was very laid back and casual. Frontman Gary Lightbody took plenty of time to talk to the audience, with amusing and entertaining words. Their flawless performance was backed by what can be described as nothing less than beautiful. I knew then, and it still stands, that it was (and is) the most aesthetically pleasing concert I have so far had the pleasure of experiencing. There was an unusual encore, during which there was a fabric screen pulled down infront of the stage upon which was a long projection, which seemed to go on for ages. The crowd seemed as entrances as I was, from the little I saw when I coud tear my eyes away. It was nothing exciting, but just entrancing. Beautifully so. The band then played some music from behind the screen (and from the side, you could see them). I don't remember how long that lasted, but it seemed so unusual.

It was one of my only, if not THE only Sunday gig I've been to, and the tone of Snow Patrol suited that, especially after a day's work. Chilled. Nice end to the week. Really was. I can easily class this as one of the best concerts.

ALBUM: Muse - The Resistance

Having followed the latest news updates for the best part of 2009, it can be said that the build-up for Muse's latest album has been extravagant; USB hunts all over Europe and Asia, a sell-out UK and European tour, as well as supporting Irish titans US in America.

Hopes were high from the start. With Matt Bellamy mentioning space guitar solos and 15-minute symphonies, it was clear before anyone heard a note that the new album would break everything Muse had touched on before. Most recently they proved themselves by bringing their hometown, Teignmouth, to it's knees for two sell-out homecoming concerts.

The successful guessing of one of the song titles, United States of Eurasia, and the announcement of the Terminator-esque album title gave us a tantalising taste of politics, conspiracy, and everything Muse, and especially Bellamy, are known for.

To drop the formality, when these eyes first fell upon the album cover, they were charmed. Previous covers for their debut, Showbiz (1999), and their last studio release, Black Holes and Revelations (2006) were previous favourites, but the latest, cryptic, colourful and equally spacey cover just explodes into the forefront of attention. As if this cover weren't enough, opening the box-set just lit these eyes up with more delight. All artwork for this venture are typically, weirdly Muse, but much more mature.

The Resistance oozes confidence, adventure, maturity and elegance. It is the record of not a band, but a group of musicians. Average Teignmouth lads Matt, Dom and Chris have once again utilised classical sounds, but on a whole new level as previously heard in Origin of Symmetry. Producing the album themselves this time seems an excellent move, and perfectly timed. Having recently received doctorates for their ventures in music, since their last bold album, they are only growing. They are not dabblers in classic. They are not a rock band. They can combine this, along with cinematic epicness and '80s-esque synth with RnB, whilst making it sound galactic, fresh, and, quite simply, out of this world. Listening to it with full attention is one of the most surreal experiences. Very odd, especially in terms of albums.

Stand-out tracks:

Resistance - A chilling (literally) futuristic melody reminiscent of Pet Shop Boys that weaves in with charming chants that don't seem to fit with what the intro gives us, but blends in perfectly.

Undisclosed Desires - A beautifully haunting step away from the Muse most people would know, combining an RnB beat with undertones of the best bits of HIM and Depeche Mode. The most anticipated new song to these ears, the result proves beyond satisfying.

United States of Eurasia - Clearly there are strong similarities to Queen, especially a certain Bohemian Rhapsody, but with delighful humour, present in both listener and musicians. Epic, beautiful, exotic but also very tongue-in-cheek.

Guiding Light - Do you recognize the drum-beat? Ultravox's classic Vienna? I thought so too. That song was hauntingly chilling. But with that guitar and that bass, it's been polished and enhanced into a glorious panoramic masterpiece. A personal favourite.

And of course the stunning and long-awaited Exogenesis symphony. The only nuance of this album comes at the end, where it feels like Part 2 could have transcended into Part 3 a little more smoothly.

But hey, Muse are only human...