I gotta say, I had mixed feelings going into this one.
I like Muse, but it's far from an unequivocal love - I probably skip as many songs as I listen to.
Their sound is typically big and heavy and undeniably catchy, but it too often slips into full-blown opera (think Queen)–and that's where they lose me.
On the plus side:
- There are few songs better for late night driving on the West Side Highway than "Map of the Problematique."
- I saw them perform on television at last year's VMA's (yes, the one hijacked by Kanye West) and I was struck by the precision and confidence of their crunchy performance.
- Ever since, the buzz has been building, culminating in a glowing firsthand concert report from Artgig Australia at Big Day Out in Sydney just a couple of months ago.
So when the Garden gig was announced, I felt an immediate tug and grabbed some tickets.
If I had any doubts going into Friday night, Muse smashed them to bits with a powerhouse performance that quite simply kicked ass.
This is a band made for the big stage and they used every inch of it, up and down, to put on one hell of a big show.
See them now if you can.
You won't regret it.
