MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, FRIDAY MARCH 5TH

By Chris Ramirez

If Muse had not earned the title of “one of the best live performers” before, they earned it on Friday March 5, where the bands show at Madison Square Garden was nothing short of awe striking, spontaneous, and visually bedazzling.

The Resistance Tour, which supports Muse’s most recent album, 2009’s “Resistance,” has it all, from big screens and green laser lights to elevating floors, and even a keytar. Yes, a keytar! Oh yeah, and there were eyeballs! Giant eyeball balloons, filled with confetti, that were released from the ceiling during the exhilarating “Plug In Baby.”

The performance began with a curtain drop, revealing all three members standing on separate elevated square platforms on stage. The platforms, and head screens above, doubled as blow up screens and mainly showed visuals of the band. At the apex of cheers and clapping, they broke into the fist-pumping “Uprising.”

After two songs, “The Resistance Tour” took a quick turn as they regressed back to their older catalogue, playing their 2001 single “New Born.”

Throughout the rest of the show Muse’s setlist was well mixed, with the new, “MK Ultra,” Exogenesis,” and “United States of Eurasia,” and the old, “Time is Running Out,” and “Map of the Problematique.” The most impressive acts were the harder numbers and popular singles, “Hysteria,” “Starlight,” and the sing-along encore “Knights of Cydonia.”

The most important piece of the show was guitarist/singer Matthew Bellamy. On a large circular black stage with 360˚ visibility the fans witnessed Bellamy’s spunky energy, running, jumping, spinning in circles, and playing guitar while sliding across floors.

Most surprising was Bellamy’s voice. Often over layered and crowded out, Bellamy’s voice usually comes second to the music in an album. Live, however, his voice, who would have thought, is quite impressive! He even hit the high notes during “Knights of Cydonia,” with perfect accord. Bellamy’s voice is a hidden weapon for the group; and it’s a shame he doesn’t utilize it the same way in an album.

Muse’s other members, bassist Christopher Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard, were just as energetic. Wolstenholme gave every part of the audience as equal attention as Bellamy. Howard, stuck behind a drum set, was positioned on a spinning platform that would turn him towards every direction.

Howard is the fans’ energy incarnate. His fierce and energetic drumming is the dark-pounding heart and soul of Muse’s live performance. His connection with the crowd is most apparent when he talks to the audience with a smile full of joy and eagerness.

Definitely a must-see, with no need to worry about being entertained; you will be captivated. In fact, the only people that should worry are Muse, who might be wondering how they will match this performance next time around.

The Warm-up was electric rock band Silversun Pickups. And Yes, Brian Aubert’s voice is just as scratchy live. But with such melodic rock music, it’s the scratchy-ness that keeps you from getting completely lost in the dreams of the music and makes you pay attention to the lyrics as well, which is nice.