All through a lot of the Nineties I took be aware of just about each band or artist that appeared on the duvet of the NME or Melody Maker music publications within the UK. If I wasn’t conscious of them already then I’d normally be concerned with listening to them however as we moved into a brand new century I step by step misplaced a little bit of curiosity in such promotion of recent acts, and one of many first bands I didn’t take an excessive amount of discover of was a rock trio from Devon often known as Muse!
Quick ahead about 5 years and I realised I appreciated fairly just a few of their songs and form of started to remorse not taking extra discover of them from the beginning. By the point their fourth album ‘Black Holes & Revelations‘ got here out in 2006, I used to be fairly the fan and for the following six years or so I listened to a good quantity of their materials, significantly the reside album ‘HAARP‘ from after they have been one of many first bands to play on the new, redeveloped Wembley Stadium in 2008. Certainly, I usually watch just a few tracks from that live performance within the current. It was an period after they have been successful many awards for his or her reside performances and established themselves as a preferred international stadium band.
Over the previous couple of years I’ve received increasingly again into listening to music after a decade of just about podcast-listening solely. After I was focused on Instagram just a few months in the past with an advert for a Muse reside present at Okay-Enviornment Yokohama I immediately clicked on the hyperlink and had secured a ticket inside a few minutes.
Admittedly, I had by no means heard of Okay-Enviornment till then however that’s in all probability as a result of it solely opened two years in the past!
With a capability of 20,000 it is likely one of the world’s largest arenas devoted to music. Indeeed it was a formidable sight and I received to admire it from varied angles as I arrived there fairly early forward of doorways opening at 5:30 pm.
It didn’t take too lengthy for the place to replenish, and there have been in all probability extra band t-shirts being worn than I might’ve anticipated.
One of many extra well-liked t-shirts was a fairly arty black and yellow effort with “We’re f***ing f***ed” written on it which was the ultimate monitor on their final album in 2022. As a local English speaker I don’t suppose I might put on such a high however it’s high quality in Japan the place the f-word generally options in film trailers or could be heard in songs enjoying in retailers!
It was solely simply earlier than coming into that I even seen my seat was on the seventh flooring! In my thoughts I suppose I used to be simply anticipating a two tier venue as that’s what I’m principally used to. Okay-Enviornment was extra much like the one in Ariake the place my spouse and I noticed Kylie earlier this yr. There was even a cool bar within the concourse on the seventh stage with some great views searching over the port.
Distant, the stage is much away!
Because the beginning time neared it appeared obvious that it was not a sold-out present and there have been in all probability nonetheless one or two thousand empty seats. The Japanese usually sit down clutching their baggage which is okay and thoughtful for public transportation however I do nonetheless discover it bizarre after they do likewise at a sports activities match or live performance. The 2 folks sat both aspect of me each did that and I used to be fearful they’d stay in that pose for the entire evening. The businessman on my left fortunately put it down and stood up after the primary track however the girl to my proper didn’t let go of hers and remained sat down for the entire present!!
As anticipated the band blasted by their songs with little or no talking between the tunes. Flames blasting off all through the entire set was one thing of a theme together with their customary props and visuals.
Bellamy has an unbelievable vocal vary and understandably a few of his extra high-pitched singing is just not appreciated by everybody. There’s additionally a good quantity of screaming on high of that in addition to many indecipherable lyrics too however the mixture of electronica, steel, pop, rock, classical and rock-opera works nicely for me.
Muse’s 9 studio albums, in addition to Bellamy’s solo work, have been all represented of their second present in Japan (they performed in Osaka two days earlier), and I knew the overwhelming majority of them. As ever there have been just a few I used to be unaware of however I used to be high quality with that as I didn’t go full-on with my preparation this time.
After I first noticed Muse at Summer season Sonic 2006 I assumed frontman Bellamy appeared slightly shy as he didn’t actually handle the viewers with the drummer Dominic Howard doing that as an alternative which is slightly uncommon. He’s nonetheless not a lot of a talker onstage however simply lets his musicianship (and dazzling jackets!) do the speaking. There have been shades of Marty McFly relating to a few of his guitar enjoying, and it additionally appeared like he was much more of a showman as he simply sang on the catwalk a part of the stage at occasions moderately than all the time being behind a guitar or piano like prior to now.
With its Physician Who theme-inspired opening and homage to ‘Name Me‘ by Blondie, ‘Rebellion‘ is certainly one of my favorite Muse songs and it really did make the hairs on my arms stand on finish as the gang sang alongside loudly with the “they won’t pressure us” refrain strains. ‘Knights of Cydonia‘ adopted that and was additionally completely superb to witness.
It was unhappy to not hear the likes of ‘Butterflies & Hurricanes‘ and ‘Map of the Problematique‘ however you may’t anticipate to listen to all of your favourites from a band with such an unlimited again catalogue of songs to their identify. There have been nonetheless loads of bangers within the 24 track setlist, and this efficiency confirmed that in relation to placing on an ideal reside efficiency they’ve positively nonetheless received it.
Setlist: 1. Unravelling; 2. Interlude; 3. Hysteria; 4. Will of the Folks; 5. Simulation Concept Theme/[JFK]; 6. Received’t Stand Down; 7. Thought Contagion; 8. [Drill Sergeant]; 9. Psycho; 10. Kill Or Be Killed; 11. Compliance; 12. Insanity; 13. Plug In Child; 14. Unintended; 15. United States of Eurasia; 16. Hanging In Victory Sq.; 17. Time Is Operating Out; 18. Supermassive Black Gap; 19. Rebellion; 20. Knights of Cydonia; 21. The 2nd Legislation: Remoted System; 22. Undisclosed Wishes; 23. Prelude; 24. Starlight.
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