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ACL: Muse review
As Meg White was resting somewhere far, far away from the dust and allergens of Zilker Park, nursing her anxiety (we hope), English modern rock band Muse was holding its own in the Saturday evening headlining spot that the White Stripes dropped out of just days ago.
Beginning their 8:30 p.m., AT&T stage performance with melodic feedback and waves of white noise squall, Muse — vocalist/guitarist/pianist Matthew Bellamy, bassist/vocalist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard — wasted no time winning new fans and making the crowd forget that the White Stripes were a no-show.
The band played fantastically spot-on versions of their rock radio friendly hits from the 2006 album, “Black Holes and Revelations,” as well as a healthy sampling from their entire four-album discography. Bellamy’s guitar and piano virtuosity provided some of the most entertaining moments of this year’s ACL Fest. He seamlessly switched between shredding his guitar with tone that would make 1960s guitar legends green with envy to playing a grand piano on stage left like only a classically trained musician can. All the while Wolstenholm and Howard were holding down the low end with equal skill and proficiency.
And there was no doubt that the audience was satiated. I witnessed one young woman doing the centipede to Muse’s prog-rock-meets-metal-meets-alternative rock anthem, “Knights Of Cydonia.” People don’t do the centipede on worn down, beer-soaked grass unless the music is very inspirational.
The band also played a devastatingly cool version of “Map of the Problematique,” displaying their penchant for creating epic music that is grandiose in scale without being pretentious.
Muse’s set included several of the coolest stage moments of ACL 2007 witnessed thus far: best use of the video screens, coolest drum riser (it was more than six feet tall) and the best use of time absent from the stage before an encore. The band re-emerged after they played an archival John F. Kennedy speech about freedom and government that uses secrets to spread tyranny; the moment drew as much applause as the music. It was one of the only politically potent polemic deviations during this year’s fest.
The band lost a bit of momentum about midway through their set with a couple of arty ballads. But they pulled everyone right back in with their radio hit, “Starlight.” During the melodically thunderous song, a woman who appeared to be in her late 50s danced ecstatically as if she were a teenager again. Witnessing simple moments of unadulterated musical bliss — like that one woman feeling so free — makes all the dust, odd smells, allergens and claustrophobia-inducing crowds feel worth the trouble.
(Photo by Lauren Winterfeld FOR AUSTIN360)
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Permalink | Comments (26) | Categories: ACL Festival
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By Jonathan
September 16, 2007 12:09 AM | Link to this
Just saw Muse here in Seattle last Sunday, it was the 3rd time seeing them and they most certianly deserve the Award they received for Best Live Band in the World they recently received. Matthew Bellamy composes and plays like a reincarnated Mozart and no live performance I have ever been to compares with Muse’s excellence. It’s great to see them finally get the recognition here in the US that they have received in Europe for years.
By Barney Gumbel
September 16, 2007 1:00 AM | Link to this
Best show I’ve seen in a solid dozen years.
By will
September 16, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this
i don’t see why this band gets so little praise here in the states. muse stages one of the best all-around acts i have ever seen…
By luck
September 16, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
so i was lucky enough to be on the sidestage during muse’s show. they’re really talented and special. i take exception with their hypocritical nature. the JFK speech they displayed was about freedom for man but Muse mandated that no one be allowed to leave to take a piss or get a beer b/c what they had to say had so much importance. please. even the security guards thought it was pretentious.
By Joe Ben Clark
September 16, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
Meg who? I am White Stripes’ biggest fan. Now they have to compete with Muse for my iPod time. Best “show” of the night for me, but no one could beat Stephen’s musical resurrection of Bob.
joeben
By Chris
September 16, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this
Unbelievable show! Might’ve been the best live show I’ve ever seen. It certainly ranks right up there.
The band was so tight and my friends couldn’t believe that the band got better and better as time went on. It was a treat to see.
By nat
September 16, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
I cried.
By Jason
September 16, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
What an epic show by Muse last night. Muse is the best live band right now, no doubt about it.
By Liz
September 16, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
That had to have been one of the most amazing shows Ive seen in a long time. The people in the crowd were so nice, a complete stranger offering to put me on his shoulders to see over the crowd since I was so far back. The effects were so amazing, and Im definitely coming to all their shows in austin. The White Stripes who?
By Peter
September 16, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this
39 yrs old seen them four times and this was their best show. Just plain sick! My wife who does not even like their music turned to me midway and said, “Now I get it”. I have seen some amazing musicians in my life, but not sure I have seen any better than Bellamy (pianist, guitarist and vocalist). Enjoy them while we have them.
By Arnie
September 17, 2007 6:49 AM | Link to this
Muse is the highlight and best of ACL 2007 festival. Period.
By myself
September 17, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
Ended up at this performance by luck, chance, fate. Had no idea who they were and it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. They’ve converted a new fan. I felt a little like I’d stumbled into a Who concert without knowing who they were!
By J
September 17, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
This was my favorite set of the whole festival. They absolutely killed and while I was disappointed the White Stripes couldn’t make it, Muse’s set more than made up for it. My wife’s not a big Muse fan but she also thought they rocked big-time. Bellamy’s piano playing was fantastic and the visuals were terrific.
By Crashgrab
September 17, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
Hands down, this was the best show at ACL this year! I cried several times and their version of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” is my new anthem!
By CC
September 17, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
Anyone else see the “UFOs” that flew over the stage during the Muse set. They looked like floating lanterns. I saw them again on Sunday night during Bob Dylan’s set. Nobody could explain what the heck they were, and there were plenty of people who saw them. I got a look at them through binoculars and they looked like globes with a flame inside. Anyone know what these were?
By Adam
September 17, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this
I agree with the rest, Muse was mind blowing. BUT…my friend promises to me that Muse was faking the whole set with lip syncing and even fake druming….i do not agree with him but I just want to hear what people have to say about this.
By Rob
September 17, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this
One the first riff of “Knights of Cydonia” hit I completely forgot that I was pissed that the White Stripes weren’t coming. Muse put on a helluva show. They REALLY need to get more attention. I wasn’t a huge fan before hand, but if they come back to Austin I will be the first person in line.
By Muse Addict
September 17, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this
Never heard of them before in my life, and was astounded with their performance. I actually cried during one of their songs. There’s something beautiful about their music that I can’t begin to describe with words. Here’s hoping they are here to stay!
By Daniel
September 17, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this
Easily the best live show that I have ever seen. These guys completely stole the show. Who could imagine that a band of only three could be so versatile and so skilled. Oh and by the way,I saw that floating light and got it on video.
By Amy
September 17, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this
Erm, no faking it here. There were just a couple of tiny glitches when the rhythm section lost a microbeat to know that they weren’t playing to a recording. I was close enough to see Matt’s fretboard and he definitely was playing. I also could see and hear as he switched through foot pedals. It just so happens that they played one of the best gigs I’ve seen them play.
As to the VIP section not leaving during the performance…. it would be visually distracting to those of us in front able to see and would look like those fans were bored with the performance. If you want to wander around, sit in the back with the folks on chairs and blankets and let a real fan have the treat of seeing them up close.
By Chris
September 18, 2007 12:31 AM | Link to this
Another epic show from Muse. They were having a great time on stage. Highlight of ACL for me.
Adam, was your friend drunk? lol To say they were lipsyncing or Dom faking his drumming is ludicrous.
By john
September 18, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
Lip syncing? I’ve been to see them at least 10 times, and they play each song slightly differently every time, and each time it sounds amazing. Did you hear all of the intros/outros and jams that aren’t on the album? Did you hear the “come ons” and “yippees” before he started another awesome riff? I guess they just sound so good that people have to accuse them of cheating. These guys are the real deal and headline almost every festival in Europe because they bust ***.
By paul
September 18, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
best show of the weekend! the lsd might have made things seem a little more amazing but still hands down my favorite band that played. what was with the flaming lanterns that flew over the stage during their set?
By jamesdc
September 19, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Re the “UFOs”, they were actually balaos - small hot air baloons used in Brazil during the Sao Joao festival celebrations. They are actually very dangerous - they can start some serious fires if they go down before burning out. P.S. Muse concert was great.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HKHd1LTjGtM
By Amy
September 19, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this
Post the video of the floating light!
By Joshua
September 20, 2007 5:16 PM | Link to this
Pretentious American music critics/elitist fans still don’t get the awesomeness the music of Muse. They don’t have any idea that there is no such thing as losing momentum in Muse show even with slow songs.
EPIC show. MUSE is my highlight of this year’s ACL.
Yes, post the video of the floating light during Muse.