To say that I was pretty excited to learn I was “doing” Muse at the Entertainment Centre last night would be the understatement of the year. Like the proverbial kid in a candy store where all the candy is their favourite, the boys from Teignmouth are one of my best-loved bands of recent times (disclaimer!). Although I had been lucky enough to see them before, this in no way diminished my excitement levels - in fact it only served to increase them as I had some idea of what was in store... One of the best live shows in the world! I can’t remember the last time I was at a gig at the Ent Cent, but was pretty sure that I would remember this one.
Taking my seat just as the lights went down for support act, Perth lads Birds of Tokyo, I was keen to see how they would go about it and how stuff from their most recent album March Fires would go down live. I saw them at BDO 2011 and had a great time during their set (maybe as much for the girl on my shoulders as anything, although my back was never the same), and watching Ian Kenny on stage would have to be one of my favourite things to do. The man has got so much energy and has amazing stage presence; I can’t wait to one day see him out the front of his harder-rockin’, alternate personality outfit, Karnivool.
Taking my seat just as the lights went down for support act, Perth lads Birds of Tokyo, I was keen to see how they would go about it and how stuff from their most recent album March Fires would go down live. I saw them at BDO 2011 and had a great time during their set (maybe as much for the girl on my shoulders as anything, although my back was never the same), and watching Ian Kenny on stage would have to be one of my favourite things to do. The man has got so much energy and has amazing stage presence; I can’t wait to one day see him out the front of his harder-rockin’, alternate personality outfit, Karnivool.
As far as last night’s gig is concerned, they absolutely nailed the arena-rock support brief; play what the punters want. Although this punter would always want Wayside included, after starting with Silhouettic, we got most of the classics such as Plans, Broken Bones (which went down an absolute treat!) and one of my personal faves off their self-titled album, Circles. As far as the new stuff goes, the guys gave us the singles plus one album track I hadn’t heard, The Others. The line between BOT and Karnivool is seemingly now more distinct than ever - as it needs to be I guess, but Lanterns was a good way to close with everyone holding up their phones to provide a visual highlight. With Ian in fine voice hitting all the right notes, their well-received 10-song-strong set got the already substantial crowd well in the mood for the blitzkrieg that was to come.
After the most dramatic of intros, including Vincent Price’s spoken-word part from Thriller, the punters roared as one as the pyramid of video screens lifted to an explosion of light and to reveal Mr Kate Hudson and his Muse belting out the huge opening riff of Supremacy, (opening track of 2012 LP The 2nd Law). Matt - surely in possession of one of the finest instruments in rock, his voice - and band-mates Chris (bass), Dom (drums) and touring supplementary muso Morgan (what a sweet gig!) then proceeded to lead us through one of the most theatrical stage shows you’re likely to see outside of the theatre, with the pyramid of screens a centrepiece, inverting when required on a regular basis, and frickin’ laser beams criss-crossing the Ent Cent at all angles and colours. Musical highlights were many and varied, with much to keep long-time fans happy, including 4 tracks from 2001’s Origin of Symmetry. Chris got on the harp to intro the Bohemian Rhapsody for the modern age (complete with its own Wayne’s World moment) aka Knights of Cydonia, and the fans were in raptures.
Two of the goddamn dirtiest riffs you’ll hear came in the form of Supermassive Black Hole and the most amazing Time is Running Out, both of which seriously get my juices flowing! Amid the occasional “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” chant and a “Fair Dinkum” from Matt, Chris got up front for his Liquid State, then after the Skrillex-inspired The 2nd Law: Unsustainable (there’s really not much these guys won’t have a crack at!) and Uprising (a serious call to arms if ever I’ve heard one, and great value live) it was time for the obligatory encore. Crowd favourite Starlight and 2nd Law single Survival with Matt on piano to start, were fitting ways to send us home, with the boys certainly having lived up to the oft-quoted moniker “Best Live Band on Earth”. If you consider yourself a live music fan and haven’t caught up with Muse yet, you should move heaven and earth to do so. Put it on your bucket list!!
Review by Paul Chivell
Photos by Melissa Donato. See full gallery here
Review by Paul Chivell
Photos by Melissa Donato. See full gallery here
RSS Feed
