Months ago, when I picked up tickets for the show I knew that our seats wouldn’t be the best. See, the tickets had been on sale for a while and most of the good ones were already taken. Based on the layout map, the only tickets available were at the side with an obstructed view. Back when I saw No Doubt, the obstructed view seats we got weren’t so bad, so I was hoping for a good result. However, when my friend and I got to our seats I felt like there was a lot to be desired.
Silversun Pickups was already doing their set. From our spot we could barely see the band. Actually, we got a side view of sorts. There were these three tower like things in the centre which we figured were part of Muse’s set. As far as Silversun Pickups went though the towers were really blocking our view. It was a little bit disappointing, but regardless we could hear them just fine. Most of the songs they played were off of their album Swoon, which meant they were familiar to me. I heard their singles enough on CFNY Edge 102.1 and enjoyed them such that I bought the CD. It was a good decision: for me it’s really a solid listen from start to finish. Anyway, I found it interesting to hear their songs played live; it’s good to see how they adapted things. The nervous (though not frantic) energy of the songs really carried through the arena. I say they did well to showcase their work, but perhaps…they weren’t entirely engaging. It’s hard to describe. Perhaps if I was closer to the action I’d have been more hooked in. Regardless, they were a great opening act.
Right after SSP, I was kind of fearing the three towers, wondering if they’d obscure Muse entirely. Once the show started, it became pretty apparent how they would be used. My goodness, the visuals were just crazy. The towers themselves became screens, and the lower halves of the towers held the band members. The setup made watching more bearable. We still weren’t able to see all of the stage, but what we got was sufficient.
In terms of sound, Muse is eccentric, aggressive, and energetic. They have that quirky quality that I seem to enjoy so much. They seriously seem to be made for stadiums and arenas. It’s all very grand and a lot to take in. Sure, the themes seem to be a little simplistic–especially for songs from their last album. So many of them are all about speaking up to authority and taking a stand. I can see how it can get repetitive, but really they put on such a good show that I could have looked past that. The screens were amazing. The moving pillars were well used. There was a lot of laser action being spread out among the crowd. From my vantage point it was cool to watch, but I can only imagine that the visual effects would have been much more stunning if I was seeing it all head on.
Oh yeah, speaking of things being visually stunning, it seemed like there were a good number of people getting into altered states at the show. As soon as Muse took to the stage, I noted that someone around was smoking marijuana. Then the smell went away. Midway through the show, two guys in their late teens in the seats in front of me decided to smoke up. Minutes later, a guy next to them lit up a joint as well. What the hell? Especially for a group like Muse, there should be no need to get into an altered state. I was annoyed, but what made their lighting up kind of amusing for me was that moments after the did that a bunch of eyeball balloons fell down on the general floor admission crowd down below. It was entirely so random and unexpected and sort of related to the smoking that I had to laugh.
So yeah, man. Overall it was a really great night. Muse really does put on an unbelievable show. They are definitely a band I would recommend you go see, even if you aren’t into the whole progressive rock thing. The spectacle is just amazing.
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