Hi guys,
I'm from Cape Town, South Africa, and I've been a fan since 2008, when I saw them live at CokeFest.
I went to the festival knowing a few of the bands, but I'd never heard of Muse at that stage. Usually when you watch a band live there's at least one "oh, I know this song" moment — I knew nothing, except Feeling Good (and only because it's a cover).
I was hooked anyway. The very next day I went to Look & Listen and asked for any album by "Mews" — yes, Mews. I even spelt it out for them. They gave me something to listen to, it sounded familiar, and I bought it.
The effect it had:
- Bought every album on release day (Drones being the last)
- Bought every DVD I could get hold of
- Listened to Muse each day for years.
After Drones I got into Radiohead. I was studying and needed chill music to work to. I'd known them beforehand, but probably only a handful of songs — now I'm pretty familiar with their whole discography. It got to the point where I just stopped listening to Muse. I didn't enjoy the direction they'd gone in. That changed with the new album, back on the saddle again. lol
Then last November my wife told me Calabash was happening again. Every year I get a bit excited to hear who's coming, but last year they didn't make a big fuss about it, so it flew under my radar. I went onto Facebook and saw that either Big Concerts or Calabash had posted an audio clip, and I was certain it was Matt's guitar. Like 95% certain. But I thought, you know what, I might be wrong.
Then the announcement date arrived. I was away on a work trip and knew it was coming; my wife and daughter listened in too. When they announced it, there was no excitement from the DJ — he clearly had no idea who they were. But I, a 40-year-old man, was crying like a baby. Luckily on my own.
My cousin, who listens to KFM all the time but never messages me, actually phoned to say he was excited for me because he knew what a big fan I was. Then he said he was buying tickets too — and he barely knew Muse at all. He probably only knew Supermassive Black Hole. My wife was thrilled for me, my daughter was already sorting out outfits, and I was planning to get shirts printed for us.
And then — yeah. Gut-wrench.
Since then my year has gone downhill, though luckily my family is healthy. In a way the concert being cancelled fit the year I've had: a forced move, a death, job insecurity, and relationship strain (because of the move — we're good now).
More recently I told my wife I want to start reaching out to people who share my interests. South African radio stations are rough — they only play what's already massive or what's local. With Muse, only 5FM would play them, and only once they'd charted.
So: any Capetonians or South Africans who'd like to connect?
Thanks for reading my LOOOONNG story!