Evening Standard- Muse: Masters of the Massive

[bunerz]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/review-23877253-muse-masters-of-the-massive.do

 

After a triumphant headline slot at Glastonbury, Muse came to Wembley Stadium on Saturday night for the second of two massive shows here.

 

Before the Teignmouth trio took to the stage, dozens of flag-bearers marched up and down it holding a banner printed with the words “They will not control us”. It felt more like the opening ceremony to the Olympics than the start of a rock concert.

 

The band opened with Uprising, a thrilling hybrid of glam-rock guitars and Blondie’s Call Me backing vocals. Never knowingly understated, frontman Matt Bellamy, now dating Hollywood actress Kate Hudson, sang its lung-busting chorus dressed in a sparkling silver suit, double-necked guitar draped over his shoulder.

 

“Thank you very much, London,” he said. “It’s great to see you again — well, some of you at least.” Never the finest of orators, Bellamy kept the chat to a minimum after that, concentrating instead on wrestling all manner of otherworldly sounds from his guitar on Hysteria.

 

United States of Eurasia, which captured some of the grandiosity of Queen’s We Are The Champions, proved he was equally proficient on the piano, where he stayed seated for a cover of Nina Simone’s Feeling Good.

 

Not to be outdone, bassist Christopher Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard performed solos on a moveable platform out in the crowd. Bellamy joined them, keytar in tow, for Undisclosed Desires as the platform rose skyward. Somehow, this is the kind of theatre we’ve come to expect of Muse.

 

Even by their own theatrical standards, however, the appearance of a UFO during Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture) was extraordinary — even if the steward holding the string alongside it slightly spoiled the illusion.

 

No matter. Complete with two encores, spectacular lighting and peerless musicianship, this is how all super massive shows should be. Breathtaking and brilliant.

[the_invincible_dude]

Thanks for posting this.