Wrapping up its tour in support of its breakthrough album "Black Holes and Revelations," Muse seduced the crowd at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine on Sept. 21 almost effortlessly with its larger-than-life sound. As the thunderous galloping of the hit single "Knights of Cydonia" enveloped the cheers, there was a sense of urgency in the crowd, yet the people in attendance were lethargic in conveying their appreciation of Muse's theatrical, well-crafted songs.
Lead singer/guitarist Matt Bellamy gave a brief hello and proceeded to roll right down the set list in an order that was well-thought out and schematically synchronized with the looming rain clouds in the sky. The beauty of sincerity emanated through Muse's newest single "Map of the Problematique," which possesses an electronically ethereal mystique yet rocks with an all-consuming force. Bellamy's improvised guitar solos brought new light to songs such as "Supermassive Black Hole," which featured "Transformers"-like robots marching in uniformity on the video screen as a representation of the mindlessness that this song condemns.
The song "City of Delusion" got people dancing with its Latin-infused bass line even though the dark-natured song calls for the destruction of a city caught under the lies of its government. Bellamy is an ardent believer in conspiracy theories and isn't ashamed to admit it. Still, no matter how hard Muse rocked, the audience wasn't responding like they did last April at the Forum in Inglewood.
They seemed indifferent to all of Muse's hits, including its biggest-selling single to date, "Starlight," which encompasses the majestic prose of a song written for a queen. "Take a Bow," a direct and blatant aural attack on President Bush, struck home with its powerfully evocative lyric "You'll burn in hell for your sins against the Earth" and exploded with its Pink Floyd-esque guitar taunt. Neglecting the prospect of a second encore, Muse ended the show with a bang.
"Stockholm Syndrome," a raw rock song with teeth-grindingly distorted staccato notes, went right into a jam that closed the evening and left many wanting more, which means Muse fans will have to go to Las Vegas to watch their heroes play at the Vegoose music festival on Oct. 28 to get their fix. All in all, Muse proved once again that it is a force not to be mistaken for just another rock band that plays radical riffs.
With the help of Bellamy's virtuosic piano playing, Chris Wolstenholme's flawless bass and Dominic Howard's humble and precise drumming, the guys in Muse have definitely made it apparent that no one is going to take them alive.
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