I try to see them on every tour and have done since the start... This was my first time seeing them with my son who has become a massive fan of theirs so I was feeling a bit old when he was asking if I remember when their first album came out as if it was 60 years ago and not "just" 20.
We were standing and given his age we didn't go right down the front, but were off to the right of the B stage. The sound mix was really good to us although occasionally Matt's vocals seemed to drop off. But for the vast majority of the time it was clear and crisp. I quite liked The Etihad, had a bit of a bowl feeling about it and wasn't as cavernous feeling as some other stadiums I've been in.
I know they'd said they couldn't go "bigger" with the stage setting and I loved what they did this time with the stage and the whole show as a spectacle - having the themes from Simulation Theory running through the whole thing was great and worked so well.
Personally, I liked hearing so much of the new album and the songs sit alongside their older stuff really well. I don't find it jarring like you do with some bands who mix old and new stuff. The main thing is their new stuff is really good, so they're way off being one of those heritage bands just touring a greatest hits setlist. There's time for that in another 20 years time!
I feel really lucky to see shows like that as that's what they are - shows. Not just gigs. There's some great bands out there who put on a great gig with very little theatre around it which is fine, but its a very different sort of experience. Its not necessarily better, its just different. Few bands have the money, luxury and imagination to put on a great show like Muse do in a place of that size.
Anyway, main thing was my son absolutely loved it. Every time I looked over he was grinning from ear to ear. They played all his favourite tracks, including Uprising, which I remember him bopping along to in his child seat in the back of the car - now that made me feel old!