Amidst a flurry of electronic intro music, curtains dropped from around on-stage pillars to reveal three futuristic columns of metal and lights. Standing in the middle of each column, on large platforms, were Matt Bellamy, Dom Howard and Chris Wolstenholme, a trio known collectively to fans around the world as Muse.
Opening explosively with Uprising, the band started as they intended to go on, filling a career-spanning set of just under two hours with old favourites and brand new tracks. Although, unfortunately, there were no songs from debut album Showbiz, the band showcased material from Origin of Symmetry right through to their recently released fifth studio effort, The Resistance.
As the twinkly introduction to New Born played, the giant plinths sunk into the stage, allowing Matt and Chris to step forward to rapturous applause. Bellamy was excitable and energetic as usual, and ran and slid around the stage much like a small child at a wedding disco.
Full of the energy and drama we have come to expect from Muse, the band stormed though renditions of recent hits United States of Eurasia and Undisclosed Desires, however the loudest cheers were reserved for older tracks like Plug in Baby and Time is Running Out.
Mid-set, the stage went dark, and a spotlight lit a lone piper. Soon he was joined by Howard and Wolstenholme on a rotating drum riser to play a rock-flavoured Scottish instrumental piece, doing what the Red Hot Chilli Pipers do – but better! At this, the crowd went wild, and it was clear to see the band had pulled out all the stops to please their only Scottish audience of the tour.
Throughout the set, the band extended songs and included small instrumental segments that showcased the harder side of the band, no more so than during a particularly Lightning Bolt-inspired explosion of noise which saw Bellamy power-sliding to the front of the stage!
Returning to the stage for their encore with Exogenesis Symphony: Part One (Overture), Stockholm Syndrome and ending with Knights of Cydonia, Muse put on a stunning and entertaining show from start to finish. It’s at gigs like these that Muse prove to the world just why they are consistently voted Best Live Band on the Planet.
Muse played:
Uprising
Resistance
New Born
Map of the Problematique
Supermassive Black Hole
Guiding Light
Hysteria
United States of Eurasia
Feeling Good
Undisclosed Desires
Starlight
Plug In Baby
Time Is Running Out
Unnatural Selection
Exogenesis Symphony: Part One (Overture)
Stockholm Syndrome
Knights of Cydonia
More info on Muse is available at http://www.muse.mu/
A version of this article also appears in the 17th November issue of The Gaudie.
ES
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