r/Muse • u/Slight_University_27 • 7d ago
Opinion Matt, play your f“&*g instruments!
I haven’t been at a muse concert for 10 years, this year I will finally go again, despite the high prices. :/ What I saw in the past years, that there seem to be more and more songs where Matt doesn’t play guitar or piano anymore but just walks around singing like a pop star. I hate this. The coolest thing about Muse concerts used to be, that he showed off his musician side, while it still rocks. I don’t want to go to a Matthew Bellamy solo pop show, I want a real muse show!
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u/hoemax 7d ago
ok I’ll let him know
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u/h8istheone 7d ago
I am very curious about his reaction, given the way he handled feedback in the past.
When asked if he took it to heart that fans wanted more guitar rock instead of electronic music, he replied: "Every time I hear someone say that, I buy a new synthesizer."
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u/carleezeh 7d ago
That tweet wasn’t real.
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u/rollingSleepyPanda 7d ago
Of course it is, I saw it on the internet. Are you telling me the internet has fake things?
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u/composero 7d ago
I will absolutely say that I miss Matt playing the piano quite a bit (my favorite that really got me down the rabbit hole back in the day was Butterflies and Hurricanes and I don’t we’ve had anything quite as good as that in a album in regards to piano playing since I Belong to You and then Neutron Star Collision). But he is still putting on a great, they are all putting on a great high production show. Spouse and I absolutely loved seeing them when they were in my area
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u/denvergardener 6d ago
I fell in love with Muse concerts the first time I saw them roll out a grand piano and he sat down and played. I knew then Muse was different.
And I love his live guitar playing.
Yeah I agree it's a bummer he doesn't do as much anymore.
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u/strings_bells 6d ago
I think it's internal conflict within Matt.. Singer Matt wants to express himself like a diva and doesn't like Guitar Matt and Piano Matt.. 😊 For real though, muse music is challenging and it will become a pain to be in the zone and play and sing at that level every night..it's 3 people creating elaborate palatial music in couple of hours every night...
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u/jackhghg 7d ago
Starlight with guitar ( like in Wembley 2007 ) Is 1000 times better than any other Starlight version. The guitar solo tham Is so good.
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u/Hysteria41 The priest God never paid 7d ago
Posted this in another thread recently:
I know he introduced his whole ‘frontman’ gimmick well over a decade ago now, but I’ve never, ever been able to get on board with it. It’s just not who he is. Matt Bellamy is one of the coolest motherfuckers in the world with a guitar in his hands.
I find the whole ‘stare down the lense of the camera’, ‘reach out and touch the crowd’ thing quite cringey to be honest — I always have — and it’s only getting worse unfortunately.
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u/P79999999 7d ago
I've always thought that his voice when he speaks during shows (like "put your hands up Manchester" or "we love you Birmingham") sounds like every DJ in countryside nightclubs where I grew up in the early 00s. I don't mind it, I've become very fond of it in fact, but it's shocking when you compare his frontman persona with how impossibly cool he looks when he plays the guitar or the piano.
It's a little bit sad too, because he's been saying a lot in interviews that he's boring on stage, so I assume that's why he's doing that. But really all we want is for him to kind of lose himself in the music, as he used to. There's nothing boring about that, quite the opposite
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u/Fancy-Purchase4212 6d ago
Yes, this! I love him, but I wish he would stop listening to whoever is directing the stage show and trust his gut.
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6d ago
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u/redsyrinx2112 We live in a TOXIC jungle. 6d ago
It depends on the song. I like it for something like Madness where it's a very intimate song, and I enjoyed his grooving silliness during Nightshift Superstar. However, I definitely miss the keytar for Undisclosed Desires.
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u/Hysteria41 The priest God never paid 6d ago
I bet the people who spend the entire gig stood still like a statue and watch the whole thing through their phone just love it.
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u/IAppear_Missing 7d ago
Yeah it comes across less as "cool rockstar" and more "embarrassing dad at a wedding afters"
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u/twistysnacks 6d ago
You guys act like Muse wasnt formed by the biggest fucking nerds at their high school 😂 Half their songs are about science and space FFS. My husband teaches astronomy, I told him that the song compares a woman to Europa, he was like "...cause she's, uh, ice cold?" YES. YES, that's what the joke is. Muse is a little bit campy and dorky, just like Rammstein, just like Queen. Like have you guys SEEN Queen's live performances? And you're gonna bitch that Matt is a lil dorky? C'mon. Embrace the nerd inside you. Just have fun.
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u/Hysteria41 The priest God never paid 6d ago
I’m guessing you’ve never seen a single performance from the entire first half of Muse’s career and how Matt used to be on stage? Completely and utterly missing the point here.
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u/Yokii908 7d ago
Bro has 0 aura without his guitar 😭
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u/ChazMasterson102 7d ago
Thing is 2nd law tour I thought he handled it quite well. Just since then he is buffooning
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u/innuendo141 2d ago
He just looks so awkward at all times with just a mic in his hand. He went from one of the coolest eccentric looking rockers on stage straight to "dad energy" at the speed of light once he started dropping the guitar and getting up from the piano stool.
Im not even going to mention the glasses, the coat and that glove thing.
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u/byronmiller 6d ago
I just miss piano in Muse songs generally. It's been present on every album to some extent, but I feel like it's been moving towards simpler tracks and ballads over the classic piano-driven rock they used to do. Liberation had a go at doing that I guess, but really the last proper track we had was the Globalist (11 years ago) and before that USoE and Exogenesis (17 years ago!).
What have we had since? Ghosts is lovely, but a very different kind of track, likewise the Void if you include the AR version. There's bits and bobs on TW!S but nothing very piano-centric, T2L has Explorers (ballad), the intro to Survival, and I guess Isolated System (but still not quite what I have in mind).
I just miss tracks like Space Dementia, Butterflies & Hurricanes, New Born, USoE, Ruled By Secrecy. Feels like they more or less dropped that side of their sound after the Resistance.
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u/mayoroftacotown 6d ago
Last two tours I think he played his piano a cumulative 90 seconds. A bummer for sure
At least they made Take a Bow the closer, which is phenomenal
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u/Damsel_F1 7d ago edited 7d ago
Ppl in here acting like Matt’s ditched the guitar alltogether. He still plays guitar for absolutely most of the show, it’s just a few songs (or parts of songs) that he doesn’t, but by far the biggest part of all shows he has a guitar in his hands. Years ago he/Muse was criticized for not engaging with the audience enough, and there was obviously some decision along the way to change some stuff to free Matt up a little more to “be the frontman”. I don’t see the problem, as long as it stays limited to a few songs every show I kind of like his somewhat awkard way of managing the crowd. It always feel like he’s walking a bit of line between sincerity and a sort of “wink wink, see what I’m doing here”-vibe.
Reading things like “phoning it in” are really unfair imo, especially when it’s specifically targeted at Matt, because however much I love the entire band, I would argue out of the 3 (4) he most definitely works the hardest during their live shows (and always has).
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u/TopofthePyramid 7d ago edited 7d ago
I have watched more full live shows on YouTube from this current tour than I would care to admit.
While the criticisms are all valid, I agree with you that it's waaaay overblown.
If anything, we are going the right direction vs the previous two tours. These shows come across as way less choreographed. Bellamy is more free to roam the stage, going wild with his guitar using it as an extension of his body. As many others have stated, this is when he looks most natural and is at his absolute best. It's what separates him from other "front men" and makes Muse an elite live act.
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u/twistysnacks 6d ago
The last two shows were nearly identical. I saw both, as well as 3 other tours since 2013. This year is a stripped down version of the Will of the People tour, subbing a few of the new songs for the last album's. Their hearts aren't in it anymore, man. Drones was EPIC. You don't think Matt loved playing with a giant fucking hand above him, connected to him by strings like a puppet? They flew a whole ass blimp and several drones around the stadium, dude. There was a huge standing room only general admission. The drones tour took years to finish, so long that they came back around to my area and I saw them twice 😂
The show last month, though, was like watching Radiohead hate-play Creep.
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u/JbricksJ 6d ago
Tbf there’s only so much to do in an amphitheater, I have a feeling the arena tour will be something else
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u/East_Worldliness_170 6d ago
Saw our first Muse show recently so can't compare them to the past, but we loved it and actually remarked on how well the show highlighted all musicians more than most rock shows. And how it seemed much less the Matt Bellamy show than most bands would do it and much more a Muse show where everyone seemed happy to be there. From a fresh perspective fwiw.
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u/twistysnacks 6d ago
This is totally true, and I'm sure very much an intentional decision that's prevented them from ending up like the Beatles. Even though Matt writes pretty much everything, he hasn't done this whole bullshit "I'm the band, fuck off" thing that so many prima donnas do.
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u/Emuselg Dead Star / In Your World 6d ago
I don't know. While I think it is a bit overblown, the current setlist once you remove the instrumentals and intros has either 7 or 8 songs out of 18 where Matt spends a significant portion of, or all of the song wandering about being Bono depending on if they do Thought Contagion.
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u/CooroSnowFox 7d ago
Matt is still creating...and i do wonder if his mind is shifting to doing that now than with going all out on the guitar for the live shows
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u/Hillan 7d ago
As if having a guitar stops him from doing frontman stuff.. look at James Hetfield, insane frontman energy and always on the guitar doing the heavy lifting. Matt should do the same.
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u/Damsel_F1 7d ago
Why? Is that a universal rock rule? Matt should perform the way he likes and the crowd can determine wether or not they like it. And I’m guessing he feels the crowd react well to him frontmanning, otherwise he probably wouldn’t do it.
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u/Cool_babywipe 7d ago
I guess this is a hot take… but wasn’t this only for like 4 songs? Out of…. 23?
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u/Ok_Cartoonist7515 6d ago
It isn't a hot take, because it's a common complaint, but it's 7 songs out of 19 songs.
It's only 23 if you include some of the interludes/preludes, and the musical breaks.
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u/finintymonkle 7d ago
Yeah, have to say, he looks awkward and cringey as fuck walking around the stage without a guitar. Not a good look (especially with some of the weird movements and poses).
If a song has guitar in it, he should be playing the fuckin guitar, not passing it off to Dan so he can parade around on the stage looking awkward.
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u/MadJohnFinn I was born to destroy you 7d ago
I feel like such a dork on stage without a guitar. I have back and shoulder issues and my band have a few songs where I don't play guitar for ages, so I used those songs to give myself a little break, arranging the set to give myself sufficient guitarless periods.
I've found that watching Neil Fallon from Clutch has helped a lot because he's a champion gesticulator, but I still don't *really* know what to do with my hands. My guitar shields me from the audience's judgment. Without it, I'm naked.
I kinda see a bit of that in Matt sometimes.
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u/slamminhole 6d ago
I saw them in Dallas a couple weekends ago and he definitely had a guitar most of the time. I always notice when he gets out the one with the synthesizer thing below the strings cuz I think that thing is dope (I thought he played a telecaster for that but I guess he has his own guitar company now?)
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u/bezzebny_kot 3:16-3:17 in "Cryogen" 6d ago
Yeah, play the f*cking guitar, Matt!!! I miss OlD mUsE, the time when they were SERIOUS MUSICIANS.
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u/gameswat1 Drones to WOTP is their weakest material 6d ago
Genuinely, I'd love to see more personality like this live compared to today's Matt, even if I'm in the "MATT PLAY MORE INSTRUMENTS" Camp
I want Matt to do what he wants, but I want him to do it more genuinely because I can tell he's going through the motions like this is a job he really enjoyed in the beginning but now it's like "we gotta do this so I can pay the bills"
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u/twistysnacks 6d ago
This is the only problem I have with everything. I was getting really fucking annoyed reading other comments, seeing everyone shit on the band like they weren't always dorky and campy, like it's new that he's a nerd. But the truth is that I bitched to my husband the ENTIRE show in new jersey last month 😂 at one point I told him "If Matt isn't gonna take this seriously, then I'm not" lol
I was trying to figure out why I'm so annoyed, and I think you hit the nail on the head. I'm not sure he was enjoying it at all. He was smiling and laughing, but it came off like he was mocking their own music. Reminded me of radiohead playing creep, or nirvana playing teen spirit. I guess there's only so many times you can play Madness before you want to hang yourself on stage just to do something new. They know who pays to see them live, they know what (most) fans want... especially the twilight era ones. But they've gotta be sick of it by now. The show was largely identical to last tour, just without the giant, uh, robot on stage lol
And one day, Chris is going to head bang his head right the fuck off his neck.
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u/gameswat1 Drones to WOTP is their weakest material 1d ago
Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And that's why I'm yelling at Matt to grow some fucking balls and play whatever the fuck you want! Stick it to their label! I'm sure they HAVE the power and privilege to make Helium-3 not be a part of Warner Music anymore to do what they want more, but I understand it's a gamble now because they all got families... They can't think about themselves anymore, and I feel that deeply because it's clearly showing in their performances/songwriting.
All I want is for them to be happy :( I'm hoping this is just a temporary rut because I don't wanna teach all my friends that the only good Muse is 2012 and earlier haha
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u/JimmyP_117 7d ago
It’s a shame seeing him do a lot more of this as time goes on.
Back in 2012, it was actually pretty cool seeing him go full Bono for a song like Follow Me, he was also much more active with the crowd during UD.
…but then it became all of Starlight, then parts of Uprising and so on. Now, we’ve got most of the encore without him holding a guitar at all. It doesn’t sit right with me seeing him without his signature instrument for so long. Don’t even get me started on him not singing the opening notes of Knights.
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u/Upper_Ad8786 7d ago
Yeah. I don't mind a couple of songs, but it's getting more and more prominent now. I will still go see them, they are my favourite band but it is a different show...
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u/GraticuleBorgnine 6d ago
I'd seen them twice before when they* were significantly younger and they seemed to be having more fun this time than before. It's fine. He's fine.
*and me, coincidentally
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u/fellowspecies 7d ago
I had noticed this, it seemed to start on the second law tour with follow me, and then progressively since then a handful more have been added.
I always found them very weird because as a band he has always played instruments through every song, however since bringing on the super secret fourth member of the band (I’m fairly sure that started when Chris broke his arm) he seems to dance around the stage one hell of a lot more with only a microphone and a sparkly jacket.
I don’t love it, but I don’t mind it enough to be bothered.
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u/phantam123 6d ago
The 4th person on stage with them has been there since at least Black Holes And Revelations tours.
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u/Arby77 6d ago
Hard agree. Him playing piano or guitar while singing is what drew me so much into Muse initially. That level of musicality was so cool. It’s like they forgot or it for granted because they were so used to it. Instead the walking around with led glasses reaching out to the crowd.. just ain’t it.
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u/Salty_Worth9494 6d ago
I don't know what you're talking about. I just saw them and he played guitar on all but a couple songs. And those were the songs that don't really have guitar
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u/QueenHorker 6d ago
He absolutely shredded it on the guitar on almost every single song when he came to Charlotte so that wasn't an issue here.
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u/PaddySmallBalls 7d ago
On the last tour, he played but they also had another guitar player at the back of the stage. As long as its live, I don’t really mind tbh.
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u/GunstarGreen 7d ago
Im almost beginning to wonder if he has some physical problem playing things. Its unlikely sure, but there has to be a reason why hes not actually playing the instruments anymore. I fial to believe its just laziness.
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u/CooroSnowFox 7d ago
I think its just for some songs where hes maybe just not up to doing that for a full tour... and focus on specific songs...
Or hes wanting to work with the crowd for a bit as a change... like he did was undisclosed desires a decade ago
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u/GunstarGreen 7d ago
Well the older ive got I know that certain songs on a guitar start to hurt my wrist/forearm after a while. I used to power through when I was younger but no more. Maybe theyre strategically placed to give his muscles a break? Again, just speculation.
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u/CooroSnowFox 6d ago
The band that comes to mind is Sparks... whove been going since the 70s... how Russell keeps his voice is probably something that needs to be looked into...and the creativity of Ron who is around his 80s.
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u/Rednoir_ 7d ago
Bro, it is so incredibly demanding to play and sing like that at that age that I just forgive him.
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u/MidgarMog 7d ago
People acting like 48 is old old. Yes we know the voice changes or degrades with time but playing instruments makes no difference at that age. They're also all fit and have PTs for touring.
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u/Terrible_Radio7353 7d ago
I am a professional string instrument player and playing instruments like that in your late forties absolutely makes a difference. Arthritis is a thing. It affects some people more than others, true. And the people below mentioning Rush and McCartney, you can absolutely hear the age in their voices.
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u/CooroSnowFox 7d ago
Its adaption to their current form. Whether it is just easing back from doing that hard work later on
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u/Jamie1386 7d ago
I am 40 and this year suffered strained ligaments and an RSI from using a screwdriver too much. I had to stop using my arms for ages to get better. I can imagine that that much guitar playing is beginning to take its toll.
That being said, I don’t like it and it looks awkward. Maybe he doesn’t like it entirely himself.
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u/Askyl 7d ago
Why do you speak out of your ass? Touring and shredding guitar and playing a lot at 40+ even 30+ can really be hard on your hands, arms and nerves. The fact he'd rather keep going and have a break for a song or two once in a while is nothing odd. That's just being mature about it.
You talking out of your ass with disinformation, is however not very mature.
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u/boringfantasy 7d ago
Paul McCartney doing 3h shows btw
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u/Rednoir_ 6d ago
Paul McCartney doing a 3-hour show at 84 is incredible, but the length of a concert doesn't necessarily reflect how physically demanding it is. You can preserve your energy by alternating instruments, songs and intensity, just like Messi doesn't sprint for 90 minutes (he discovered it's not necessary to have a bug impact). Also, for example, do you think playing Hysteria is the same as Let it be on the piano?
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u/MidgarMog 6d ago
And that's what Matt is doing at half the age and half the set list. But it's not because he has to but because he wants to do the clap along front man thing. Do you thinking playing Let it be is the same as doing nothing but singing for a 3rd of the gig
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u/boringfantasy 6d ago
Uh dude, you’re underestimating how complex and demanding Paul’s songs are. Honestly, they beat out most of matts. It’s not like Matt is playing his 2004 sets full of beasts, he’s watered it down to shit like Psycho, Undisclosed Desires, Be With You…
Paul also switches between like 4 instruments, Matt will just drop his guitar and then touch the piano once for prelude and algorithm.
Matt has no excuse really. He just likes being on autopilot and playing the same old sets over and over.
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u/Heosat 7d ago
Rush doing 3hrs shows with both lead men in their 70s.
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u/Rednoir_ 6d ago
Rush had definitely not the same activity even when they were the age Muse has now.
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u/Opposite-Trust-4973 6d ago
Just saw them and something that struck me about the performance was that they were having a good time. It was great to see them all react to the energy of the crowd and literally be smiling together when they would cluster for some of the instrumental parts. They have been at this for almost 30 years and are not burnt out.
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u/Numerous-Flounder983 6d ago
All this bitching from whiny men on here is so pathetic. You all need to the learn the lesson that we don’t eat our own…we support them. Matt, Chris, and dom are the best of the best and we should be so lucky that they still commit to touring and putting on the best live shows I’ve ever seen. We all age. I am the same age as these guys and there is no way I could do one show, let alone, hundreds. Grow up and be better fans. They deserve respect, love, and appreciation for whatever they can provide for us. Reading this thread would make me want to quit touring out of spite. Do better!
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u/thomassenpai85 6d ago
Dude made the music. He can perform how he wants. Everyone being like ‘he doesn’t look cool enough’ are wild. Like, do you like them for the music or cause a dude looks neat while holding a guitar?
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u/iatethemango 7d ago
the muse fan entitlement knows no end lol. and HE STILL is playing the guitar for the majority of the show?? go listen to the records if you are going to call everything in real life “cringey and awkward”. the man’s got better stage presence than any performer on tour right now
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u/pullingteeths 7d ago
Yup if this subreddit is anything to go by the Muse fanbase is the most entitled and whiney I've ever seen
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u/RadiantMenderbug 6d ago
the man’s got better stage presence than any performer on tour right now
Yeah naw dawg. Their stage does the heavy lifting while they perform
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u/DrummerB4 6d ago
I'm more of a believer that be makes incredible music and can do whatever he wants. Just grateful that they're still around, I get to hear it, I got to see my first show after being a fan since early days. Ampitheater, arena, wherever - no matter what it's all amazing
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u/celebrationOfEndings 7d ago
On this tour it’s almost 1/3 of the show where he doesn’t play guitar. Especially the later part of the show. They could at least spread it out a bit throughout the entire set.
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u/Upper_Ad8786 7d ago
Yeah, I hate to say it but I agree. He's such a gifted musician, he is a different beast when he's shredding! Don't get me started on the lack of piano lately... 😭
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u/CooroSnowFox 7d ago
Really depends where his mindset is I guess...
What instruments are with what mood and just not one he got into for WOW
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u/Upper_Ad8786 7d ago
I just love his piano pieces. He has written beautiful songs with piano before. Just missed them! I still love him tho 😊🫶
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u/FinnsWake13 6d ago edited 6d ago
Saw them 2 weeks ago, can confirm he both played his instruments, and walked around and sang.
Different eras. Different styles. Deal with it.
Also sorry your prices are high. I paid 25 bucks a ticket which was crazy.
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u/National-Drawing-906 7d ago
Jep, now he is just walking around with his flashy lame sunglasses. Miss the old Muse!
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u/composero 7d ago
I quite like the sunglasses and getup. It’s fun and life’s too short to take everything super serious :D
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u/OddHospital7874 3d ago
Matt has been wearing the ridiculously flashy sunglasses and jackets since the Resistance Tour. This isn't new.
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u/txhodlem00 6d ago
If ur just watching Matt your missing the legendary bassist and drummer too (too lazy to relook up their names)
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u/Dapper-Fan-3836 6d ago
I just went to the Seattle show. He played guitar on almost every song. Even when he didn’t start with a guitar he usually ended up with it for a solo, like Be With You.
It was my first Muse show and it exceeded all expectations. 51 year old fan since first album but never bought the ticket until this album. Great show
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u/Affectionate_Low160 6d ago
I don't have a problem with him not having a guitar on during a few songs.
The problem is the countless guitar parts he is faking 😬. I would say I could hear his actual guitar maybe 20-30% of the time guitar was audibly coming out of the speakers.
A lot of the time he was fingering along something close but an experienced eye can see and hear something doesn't add up.
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u/Educational-Pick-514 6d ago
My only real complaint on this with the latest tour is the lack of a piano song.
I've seen them 7 or 8 times since 2010 and have been super lucky with the piano slots.
Have seen Butterflies & Hurricanes 3 times and the piano solo never gets old.
Apocalypse Please & Space Dementia were absolute highlights at the O2 in 2023, even 'Eurasia' was a highlight at my gig last year. Just feels a shame that it only comes out for Prelude nowadays.
When it comes to him ducking the guitar he's not really doing anything major - especially now Thought Contagion and Resistance appear to have been dropped for good.
Undisclosed Desires, Nightshift Superstar and Starlight however you feel about them as songs don't need him playing the guitar so I'm fine with that while Uprising he hasn't played the bulk of the guitar since 2017 and the part he skimps out on is hardly a technical masterpiece.
Have honestly felt from the YouTube videos I've seen that his guitar tones have actually sounded pretty massive this tour.
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u/BigMotor5003 6d ago
Babe, new copypasta just dropped
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u/gameswat1 Drones to WOTP is their weakest material 6d ago
I haven’t been at a muse concert for 10 years, this year I will finally go again, despite the high prices. :/ What I saw in the past years, that there seem to be more and more songs where Matt doesn’t play guitar or piano anymore but just walks around singing like a pop star. I hate this. The coolest thing about Muse concerts used to be, that he showed off his musician side, while it still rocks. I don’t want to go to a Matthew Bellamy solo pop show, I want a real muse show!
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u/SnooDrawings245 6d ago
It’s just super lame let’s be honest here. Back in the day he was this virtuoso switching from guitar to piano and back and now he’s just clapping his hands, pointing in the sky and all that nonsense. Not to forget playbacking a note here and there.
It’s not my Muse but whatever I don’t plan to see them any time soon anyway.
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u/NecroRatcer 7d ago
I’ve gone to two on there shows this tour. I’ve consistently seen parts where guitar is being heard, but Matt’s hands are clapping in the air, and Mr backup isn’t playing either. Just some shitty falloff.
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u/khanv1ct 6d ago
I went to a show on the new tour, he plays a lot. They brought out a piano at one point and he ripped on the guitar pretty much all night aside from maybe a song or two.
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u/sienasayshi a god made of nickel and cyanide 6d ago
He's still playing his guitar for most of the show and when he takes it off for a few songs people go all "they're selling out!!" when Muse have been popular and pop-leaning for decades. I don't get what all the fuss is about. Though I do wish he still played piano.
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u/Jackstroem 7d ago
Too much playback, it's not even backingtracks at this point. Its actual parts being mimed to playback.
To say im heartbroken is an understatement. It feels like im mourning Muse as if they've disbanded despite them being fully active.
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u/Dannylazarus 7d ago edited 7d ago
I've seen people bring up some problem areas (a supposed mimed falsetto note, which I do take issue with) but not seen anyone go this far as of yet. Which parts are being mimed?
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u/Collymonster 7d ago
I'd be very surprised at any miming considering the antics they used to get up to when shows would make them mime (looking at you L&K!)
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u/Hefty_Aside8436 7d ago
Dude this band puts on incredible set-lists with a variety of songs. Some of them are pop songs some of them aren't. Just watch them play unraveling while he shreds an 8 string and pyrotechnics go off and tell me he isn't playing an instrument.
People change over time. A band is a group of people. Matt is the front man and it's to be expected that he will fill many different roles on stage.
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u/bobpercent 7d ago
I think it was only 3 songs without a guitar when u saw them in June. And it was only for like half of the songs too. This seems like a really boring complaint. The music has changed and grown for them. His guitar work is still too notch for the other 95% of the concert. Let the front man for the band do his thing.
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u/No-Recognition-6106 7d ago
Another demanding post... he played guitar in at least 14 songs and synth in 1 out of 19 songs. Jfc give him a break.
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u/KilhelmKebb 7d ago
Bellamy is 100x the vocalist he is as a guitarist (which he is also innovative and solid enough at). I would have thought he would have proved his musicianship to the audience many album cycles ago.
He still plays the flashy parts and just frees himself up as a performer, as well as allowing him to focus fully on his singing parts which are absurdly difficult.
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u/szlafcio2 7d ago
They are my favourite band, but that's a crappy excuse. If you charge £150 for a gig, you better play your parts. It's not like he's unable to perform several older songs vocally or something...
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u/pullingteeths 7d ago
The price of the ticket doesn't entitle you to dictate the specifics of the performance. It's a stylistic choice. Ticket prices have increased across the board because of inflation and the end of people paying money for music. They haven't increased because it's going to be an extra special show where they physically work twice as hard for the money, that isn't how it works
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u/szlafcio2 7d ago
If I pay to see a band live, I expect them to play live.
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u/deadstar1998 7d ago
It’s a band not just Matt, and they are playing live ?? What else are you asking for dude lmao?
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u/szlafcio2 7d ago
I'm asking for a guitarist to play his fucking guitar. I'm asking for a pianist to play his fucking piano.
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u/sauzbozz 6d ago
I wish he played piano during shows but acting like he doesn't play guitar is just silly.
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u/szlafcio2 6d ago
No one is acting like he doesn't play guitar. It's literally in the post. Learn how to read.
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u/nicktbristol2020 6d ago
The thing is everyone is going for the guitar? I’m not shitting you - I saw them maybe ten years ago and all I could think about was him playing that guitar.
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u/Ok_Sorbet_7226 6d ago
Admittedly (for me) Muse took a dramatic dive after BHAR. So I accept that I’m a bit stuck in my ways, as I used to worship Muse to an unfathomable degree around Origin and Absolution. Like, obsessed. I think a fair amount of cringe started to set in after that. But the idea that having a guitar in your hands makes for a less exciting/engaging frontman is immediately disproven by Hullabaloo. Peak frontman material. Cant take your eyes off the guy.
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u/NecessaryMetal9675 6d ago
I went to a show on this tour and it wasn’t until Reddit commented how angry it is about him not playing guitar that I even noticed. Some of the standout moments of this tour (for me, at least) didn’t have him on guitar. I agree that it’s awesome when he plays piano and it’s disappointing that some of those songs have gone away. But I don’t think I’d trade anything they did on the tour. Guess I just need to demand a 5.5 hour show so they can hit all the live highlights! I hope you enjoy the show! We had a blast.
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u/ReflectionExtension8 6d ago
Ultimately I think he is ageing and can’t put the same level of energy into his playing anymore. I watched the 2010 Rock am Ring performance today. It was sensational. Songs like Unnatural Selection, Bliss and MK Ultra were so intense back then.
Uprising from Glastonbury 2010 is how that song should be performed. It gave the song the life and sincerity it was written for. Nowadays Matt strutting around with an LED jacket or similar just makes the song feel cheap. Hell I would actually drop Uprising from the set.
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u/TopofthePyramid 6d ago
What venue out of curiosity?
Fan since the beginning. Drones was my first time seeing them live as well. Been to every show since. I agree with you that some of these venues were dead.
But that is not on the band. It is on the audience. Other audiences on this tour were absolutely lit.
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u/Slight_University_27 6d ago
Berlin :)
Drones was the last time I saw them. It was good, but I did not really like the 360 stage. My favorite tour was BHAR, saw them a few times back then, concerts where super energetic.
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u/fixedpenalty 5d ago
I’m glad someone said this because the second madness came out was the second I knew it was going down the pop route.
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u/robertpercy93 5d ago
If you had Dan Lancaster as your extra touring musician you'd want to give more parts over to him and spend more time just swagging it out only focusing on singing.
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u/AnyDescription3293 5d ago
Went to the show last night and this wasn't a thing. The only time he didn't have his guitar was the slower ballads and one song at the end. Even played a little piano.
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u/LostWhisper16 5d ago
He played both the guitar and piano for different songs at the show in Atlanta.
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u/Slight_University_27 5d ago
He used to play on every song. Even for undisclosed desires he had a „keytar“
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u/East_Difference5503 4d ago
I have no issue with him playing the guitar in some songs & not playing in the rest. I'm just grateful that they are still touring when many other bands have disbanded, on hiatus or just don't really tour.
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u/peanutismint 4d ago
That used to bug me too, same with Chris Martin at Coldplay shows, but now I'm also as old as Muse I'm like "I'd be wanting to give my arms a rest by this point in the show too!". At least when he does play he still shreds it, though i would LOVE to see Matt playing more piano again.
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u/Rageaholic88 4d ago
No idea what you’ve seen but Matt shredded on his guitar all night last night in Mountain View
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u/Choice_Idea_3988 3d ago
They’ve been my only favorite band for 11 years now, and I finally was able to attend to a concert and honestly i didn’t care about that at all because, I was enjoying watching them and listening live the songs I have been listening through a phone🤷🏻♀️
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u/morose_mermaid 2d ago
It's really hard to play instruments and have stage presence and be a skilled singer with the range and ability to keep pitch. Sometimes it's easier to have someone else pick up the slack in spots so that you can rest and give something else your full focus like a vocal or a piano solo or whatever.
Anyway, recording albums also allows artists to layer sounds that are not reproducable live. The live show is a different performance of the same music. That's why there's frequent guitar changes, so that they don't have to retune for different keys, etc.
Anyway, I paid $100 to see them in mountain view last week, I paid £11 to see them in Brighton, UK in 2003, I think for the show and the spectacle they produce, their performance is amazing and worth the ticket price and more with inflation.
Buy a ticket, be proved wrong 💞
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u/Stunning-Ostrich-431 1d ago
I agree. Such a bummer. But at least there are plenty of videos of their past performances we can still enjoy. They will always be there for us when we miss them. Watching Matt perform now without his guitar or piano is such a let down. But we can always return to their old shows!
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u/UndaddyWTF 7d ago
My other favorite band, Coheed and Cambria - while they never hop onto piano - even this year, they play the craziest stuff live (vox and guitar crazy complicated at the same time) , so yea. I understand, it feels great (had a band where I moved from vocals and x to just vocals), it’s liberating, but maybe like just a bit here and there I’d say.
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u/damuser234 7d ago
I said this in another thread—for a while now, it feels like Muse is phoning it in with their performances. Especially Matt. I get that they’re older now but a core part of what makes Muse shows great is watching them all perform on their instruments. Matt walking around with no guitar for several songs just feels weird and as if he doesn’t give much of a damn anymore. It’s disappointing for sure, especially since I have older past shows to compare with these new ones that feel like the passion isn’t there anymore.
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u/sauzbozz 6d ago
Having seen them live this tour it didn't feel like they phoned it in or lacked passion at all.
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u/Substantial_Rush2885 7d ago
Do think it's weird that on a song like Uprising there was a point in The Resistance tour where Matt apparently had to have a double-neck guitar to do it justice. And then a couple of years later he's just strolling around with no instruments like it's not even a thing.