That’s A-Muse-ing
Hello everyone. It’s been a while since I checked in – life has just been crazy with classes and NaNoWriMo. But good news is, I won NaNo (self-congratulatory post to come) and hopefully things are finally settled with the schedule (rant at some point will probably follow).
But asides from all that, I have actually been doing some pretty awesome things. One of these awesome things was going to see the Muse concert in Prague back on November 22.
It was my second time seeing Muse live. The first time I saw them, I traveled all the way to Madison Square Garden the summer before I started at college. I went with my mom, and we had bleacher seats all the way up at the top. I could barely see the stage, we were so high up, and all the people around us just sat there like robots. While the show was utterly epic and mind-blowing, especially for young Kristy who had never been to a concert before, it was still a letdown. The best part was probably when Matt Bellamy said “This one is for all the people in the back,” and played Starlight, as this was the only time I felt connected during the entire concert.
Anyway, it has been my vow since that day to see Muse live again once more – except this time, to get a floor standing space, where all the party happens. And so I did.
It cost more than I probably should have paid, but my mom was nice enough to buy my ticket for me as a Christmas present. And just like that, my dream was fulfilled.
I got to the arena early, just in time to wait for the gates to be opened. When I got inside, I had to go underground to get to the standing area, as well as wait in a monster line for coat check – kind of ridiculous. However, I quickly hurried out to the floor to get a good space. Unfortunately, I didn’t get as close as I would have liked – I was about in the middle, behind some tall guys. Don’t know how people got way up in front – obviously they had no coats and must have run down the stairs. My plan for next time.
The warm-up band was Everything, Everything – they were ok. Good, but nothing mind-blowing. Then came Muse.
Ah, how to explain the feeling I got when they came out on stage? Over the years, they continue to be my favorite band, even as their music gets more and more strange. So just to be in the presence of their music-making awesomeness was cataclysmic. And I mean awesome in the original sense, as in inspiring awe.
I had been listening to their new CD, The 2nd Law, the whole day, and I was kind of planning out how the concert might go. I totally called it when I thought that “Unsustainable” would be their entrance song – well, kind of obvious I guess. After that things just went crazy.
At some point early on in the show, this giant spaceship television screen pyramid came down from the ceiling and displayed images all throughout. Muse have definitely been known not to disappoint in the drama department!
I started singing along to all the songs – a good mix of new and old, hits and lesser known tracks. Probably the people next to me were uber annoyed as I never kept still – I was either rocking out or taking a picture, which meant I kept bumping everyone on all sides.
There were also cameras floating around the front of the stage that broadcasted video onto the screens, making the whole concert appear as though it were a music video – very trippy.
Towards the end of the show there was a Roulette Wheel of Rock that spun and randomly chose between “Stockholm Syndrome” and “New Born”. Gotta say, I was very happy it landed on “Stockholm Syndrome” – it’s one of the bands best hardcore songs, and perfect for listening to live!
In Muse fashion, there were “two” encores, though I don’t really consider the first one to be an encore as it was clearly to early for the show to be over, and was obviously just a chance for them to change things up. However, looking at the official setlist, they apparently consider it one. Whatever. But the show did end on a good note – the official theme song of the Olympics, “Survival”. I must say though, the time I spent at the Metal Female Voices Fest a month ago really, really spoiled me. I was entirely unsatisfied – the concert felt way too short! I wanted to keep rocking until the sun came up, but the show was over 🙁
After the show, I walked around the arena and saw these trucks. Could they possibly be all the trucks needed to tote around that massive spaceship pyramid and other lighting gear? It’s insane – but very probable.
The night ended with some late night pizza and beer, as well as a display of my nifty new t-shirt.
I guess all I have to say is this: Even though Muse are just plain weird and their music keeps progressively heading in a new direction, I can’t seem to shake them. I simply enjoy what they create and will probably continue to do so for a while.
