Voodoo Fest, New Orleans 29/10/10

[madjackmcmad]

 

It can be difficult for the uninitiated to find the proper approach for appreciating Muse. Even after witnessing the trio shut down Voodoo Fest's opening night with an hour-and-20-minute spectacle on the main stage, I still can’t conjure the proper context for faux-revolutionary glam-rock.

The knowledge that Muse fills stadiums in its native England while, until recently, remaining relatively unknown state-side – Friday was the apparently the first-ever New Orleans concert in the band’s 15 year history – is disconcerting.

Singer/guitarist Matthew Bellamy and his unflappable rhythm section of bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard, augmented by auxiliary keyboardist Morgan Nicholls, raised a mighty racket. Muse is not an arena rock band in the traditional sense; electronic club beats intruded too frequently. Yet neither are they a techno band; Bellamy bulldozed through enormous, metallic riffs. His guitar heroics included the national anthem (America’s, not England’s), detouring into the signature riffage of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and teasing epic bouts of feedback.

 

 

His tenor and falsetto voices, when sustained, recalled Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. Also like Yorke, Bellamy isn’t much of a talker onstage. But where Radiohead paints abstractions in muted hues, Muse prefers bold strokes in primary colors. With lyrics about an “Uprising,” about surviving and not being taken alive, Bellamy and company come across with all the subtlety of a cavalry charge. They trafficked in anthems, but only a couple stuck in my head.

So it went for Muse at Voodoo, against a dazzling backdrop of lights, video, lasers and smoke. Bellamy eventually ditched his blue window-shade glasses and sparkling silver jacket, but stuck with the musical dramatics. At a grand piano with a clear top, he traversed “Feeling Good,” previously covered by the likes of Nina Simone, Sammy Davis Jr., Bobby Darin and Michael Buble. Muse found swinging heart of the song, even while pumping it up.

Tellingly, this most memorable song of the night was written by someone else. I respect the spectacle, but despite all its precise firepower, Muse ultimately left me cold.

 

 

 

Radiohead fanboy right there!

 

'faux-revolutionary glam-rock' lulz

[MattMelRach]

Citizen - lame crowd but a festival I guess. Saddens me that they didn't play it at arenas for people who would really appreciate it but did to a crowd of lemons for the most part

 

lHUgqd74ry8

 

Argh! I can't believe that crowd (seen here) didn't go bat-shit crazy! I can't get over the chick at 1:27 taking a drink when the chorus is getting ready to start. Come on, lady, this is when you jump and scream along, not quench your thirst.

[Irreligious]

it makes me a little sad that I heard talking on the CE recording at Voodoo.

:[

[JoshH]

just woke up from voodoo fest. It was one of the best shows I've been too. We snuck into the VIP area so we go to get some pretty good spots.... we could see the Bliss poster

 

The crowd seemed a little older in the VIP section and they didn't like me and my friend jumping around going crazy the whole time. Got some bad looks and people telling us we were in the way.

 

But ended up getting two set lists and two of chris's picks. If anyone saw guy in yellow pants and muse shirt that was me.

 

And yall saying we didn't deserve CE I politely say eat shit

[Buxomflirter Queef]

Tellingly, this most memorable song of the night was written by someone else.

 

 

I lol'ed

[DizzyAZ]

Hi everyone,

 

Sorry I didn't keep up with my reputation of being a responsible tweeter last night. My 3g wasn't working most of the time.

 

So, I saw Muse 18 (I think) times during the resistance tour. Post-Muse-depression has set in...hard. just realizing that I don't have ANYTHING to put in my upcoming shows section of my siggy is sad.

 

Good show last night. I didn't see the whole thing, but could hear it.

 

Sad Dizzy is very sad.

[MoodyJ]

I took 130 pictures last night at Voodoo. WOW. Here are a few of them.

 

I love your pics, especially the one of Matt with the guitar behind his head.

 

Great video. But that crowd makes me so sad. Surely the band had to know how special it was to a lot the people there, and that's why they did it. CUZ it sure couldn't be from the crowd's reaction. Hopefully the hardcore barrier folks' reaction was worth it to them.

 

The crowd does look a little lackluster, unfortunately. I'm sure (hopefully) the people closer to the barrier were more energetic and into the song. I don't know how anyone can stand still during CE, but the guy in front of me at the Newark show actually sat down, which was fine with me because I was able to record the song without having his head on the video.

 

So, I saw Muse 18 (I think) times during the resistance tour. Post-Muse-depression has set in...hard. just realizing that I don't have ANYTHING to put in my upcoming shows section of my siggy is sad.

 

Good show last night. I didn't see the whole thing, but could hear it.

 

Sad Dizzy is very sad.

 

Those of us who don't have upcoming shows will have to seek solace in each other.

[agenthal]

Great video. But that crowd makes me so sad. Surely the band had to know how special it was to a lot the people there, and that's why they did it. CUZ it sure couldn't be from the crowd's reaction. Hopefully the hardcore barrier folks' reaction was worth it to them.

 

At the least I know Chris saw me freak out at the barrier and I screamed Thank You twice after when it got silent, so they had to have heard that

 

Also I checked using my camera, no KHud on the balcony.

[Instant_Ryan]

KH was in the concert.¿?

 

Yeah, just doing a google search and you'll find multiple sites saying she was at the Voodoo concert

[hugenkiss]

If you go back to post # 1534 and look at mjarre's pictures. #13 looks like she is up on the balcony.

[chudenk]

OOJFj4jYuSI

[delita]

Why is the screen behind them all jumpy?

[dead-duck]

it makes me a little sad that I heard talking on the CE recording at Voodoo.

:[

i'm pretty sure you can hear talking on my vid from Wembley too (during the transition to piano, before the vocals start back up)

[a-museing]

 

Well Draco Malfoy enjoyed it.

[funkadelic]

 

Well Draco Malfoy enjoyed it.

 

[deborafraga]

 

Well Draco Malfoy enjoyed it.

[Tofu]

i'm pretty sure you can hear talking on my vid from Wembley too (during the transition to piano, before the vocals start back up)

 

There's also so much talking on my vid from Newark that you can't even hear the band.

[simon.rebeccal]

I was at Voodoo last night too from Atlanta. To those of you who say the crowd didn't deserve citizen erased, you may be right. But let me tell you, I've been to three dates in the states and to Casino de Paris, and have never heard something so beautiful. I was BALLING during Citizen Erased last night so there was one fan in the crowd who has never appreciated something more (not to mention my friend who was headbanging the whole time). It took me until three songs later to stop crying!! We waited around after the show was over and chatted with the crew a little bit. Ended up getting two set lists and a few of Chris's guitar picks. Today our necks are sore from rockin out and we have some spoils....best Muse experience yet.

[wiske]

Ok here is my video of Citizen

 

I hated where I was at I thought I would have a better view of the band but they were further back then I had expected. So my usual side video shots suck haha. Oh well this is like one of the first times I seen muse from the side so not too bad. I'm going to upload the rest of he videos when I get home the internet here is way too slow. Off to day 2 of Voodoo

 

Great video,too bad that the last part is missing,when I listen to it and I close my eyes,it,s 2002 again,thanks for posting.

[dead-duck]

There's also so much talking on my vid from Newark that you can't even hear the band.

Some people just have no respect

[eore227]

Great video,too bad that the last part is missing,when I listen to it and I close my eyes,it,s 2002 again,thanks for posting.

 

crap I just realized my citizen erased video was in two parts and the second part wasn't spliced with the firt I will post that part up now

 

oh yeah just got back from day 2 of voodoo. Another awesome day. I got shit load of video. I will be busy uploading back home. I'll try to get more of my muse up right now

 

ok ending to Citizen Erased now up

 

also supermassive up now

[britnyaw]

hoshit. life complete. i'd never gotten CE before. i lost my mind lol. i was like 1 or 2 people back right in the center, kind of on barrier on the walkway. being freakishly tall i had a great view haha. i do wish we'd gotten house of the rising sun but eh, what can you do? the half riffgasm was awesome too, though not as good as the one i got at LA2. but i really liked having them on stage without the towers. whee. plus footie with chris and hanging out with him in a bar later pretty much made my life. oh voodoo, you've been good to me.

[mjarre]

After seeing Ozzy last night at Voodoo, I had to post again. Matt could learn ALOT about being a front man of a band from Ozzy:LOL: That man knows how to work a crowd. I have always been a big fan of Matt's but after seeing him at Voodoo, I am not that big of a fan:( I still think he is a musical genius (vocally and musically), but as far as a front man, I like the young Matt much better. I guess that is who I expected to see:( Like I said in an earlier post, I don't think he looked at the crowd more than one or two times all night where as Chris and Dom (don't know about Morgan) looked out all night. Dom did ALL of the talking and was very personable. Chris tweets which makes him personable. The only time I thought Matt had fun was during the riffs with Dom. Dom had fun all night. He turned and smiled and waved at me (or at least that's what I think, could have been anyone) at the end of the show right before he thanked New Orleans. I really like the Matt of the early days who interacted with the audience and did crazy stuff on stage. Ozzy is in his sixties and did more crazy stuff on stage than Matt did:LOL: I have some great pics of Ozzy throwing water on the crowd and blasting the crowd with a hose of foam (really funny how he would pick on the security guys and the media cameramen:LOL:) I don't think I can post Ozzy pix here? Matt needs to find his WILD side again! I was expecting something amp sex? falling on the ground and playing? I think the wildest thing he did was play his guitar behind his head and Drake's guitar player did that last night (made it look easy too:rolleyes:) I still love ya Matt, but please find your old self on the next tour:D I WANT SHOWBIZ MATT BACK:LOL:

[eore227]

After seeing Ozzy last night at Voodoo, I had to post again. Matt could learn ALOT about being a front man of a band from Ozzy:LOL: That man knows how to work a crowd. I have always been a big fan of Matt's but after seeing him at Voodoo, I am not that big of a fan:( I still think he is a musical genius (vocally and musically), but as far as a front man, I like the young Matt much better. I guess that is who I expected to see:( Like I said in an earlier post, I don't think he looked at the crowd more than one or two times all night where as Chris and Dom (don't know about Morgan) looked out all night. Dom did ALL of the talking and was very personable. Chris tweets which makes him personable. The only time I thought Matt had fun was during the riffs with Dom. Dom had fun all night. He turned and smiled and waved at me (or at least that's what I think, could have been anyone) at the end of the show right before he thanked New Orleans. I really like the Matt of the early days who interacted with the audience and did crazy stuff on stage. Ozzy is in his sixties and did more crazy stuff on stage than Matt did:LOL: I have some great pics of Ozzy throwing water on the crowd and blasting the crowd with a hose of foam (really funny how he would pick on the security guys and the media cameramen:LOL:) I don't think I can post Ozzy pix here? Matt needs to find his WILD side again! I was expecting something amp sex? falling on the ground and playing? I think the wildest thing he did was play his guitar behind his head and Drake's guitar player did that last night (made it look easy too:rolleyes:) I still love ya Matt, but please find your old self on the next tour:D I WANT SHOWBIZ MATT BACK:LOL:

 

I got the whole Ozzy set last night. One of my videos with more to come sometime I guess

 

oh yeah sucks to be the people who got sprayed with water with nice cameras

[JessicaSarahS]

While I agree about Matt losing some of his front man appeal (and me missing it! ), I think it is done on purpose to share the spotlight with the others, which is really nice. And Matt doesn't talk to the crowd because he doesn't know what to say!