The Checks are a rock band from New Zealand, this could have been a big break for these guys, touring with Muse, however they failed to impress. The Checks are best described like a bad version of Jet, and remember Jet isn’t all that good one could go as far as mediocre. I was impressed with the sound quality. (Afterthought, maybe Muse chooses a really bad support band to make them look even better, and the support even worse.)
Performance 4.5
Technical 7.5
Muse
I thought Muse was more than impressive at the Big Day Out and that was just a festival performance. (Festivals act as good samplers, always better to see a headlining show.) My expectations were set really high for this concert, and Muse didn’t fail to smash through them and go way beyond my expectations. The stage was set up with a grand piano with a clear Perspex lid to minimise impact on the supermassive screens, lights and visual show. Even the drum kit was clear to allow the audience the chance to see Dominic Howard at work. The set list was epic, just when you thought they couldn’t take it any further they still managed to take it to the next level.
Take a Bow
Map of the Problematic + Maggie's Farm outro
New Born+ Microphone Fiend riff + Ashamed outro
Butterflies & Hurricanes
Microcuts +riff
Supermassive Black Hole
Feeling Good (cover)
Ruled by Secrecy
Soldiers' Poem
Invincible
Hysteria
Fury + Whole Lotta Love riff)
Starlight
Time is Running Out
Stockholm Syndrome
Plug in Baby (balloons released)
Deadstar riff + Hypermusic riff
Knights of Cydonia (release the CO2)
Truly an amazing show! Matthew Bellamy vocal talent is amazing. This live show showed off everything that is good about Matt’s vocals, his range, his control. It just looks so simple and natural. The use of all the equipment only enhances the experience you might think that screens, lights, balloons and a truly epic release of co2 at the end might be distracting from the music. Well you would be wrong! The strike a superb balance and well timed musical and visual stimulation that just makes you wide eyed, smile from ear to ear, and just taking you to the point before you are about explode from the sheer awesomeness, and holding you their for the entire show.
The cover of Feeling Good gives Matt the real chance to show off his amazing vocal talent, showing off both control and range. Describing these guys music as progressive just doesn’t even cut it. They combine so many genres and styles of music. {Insert insightful detailed music break down here if you can find one.} Matt’s piano skills are quite amazing (would not surprise me to find out he is classically trained), as well as, the at times unorthodox technique with the guitar. When does a musician or group of musicians know that they have achieved the following transitions from, simple musicians, to rock stars, to revolutionaries, to rock gods? Provided Muse continue to produce their truly outstanding progressive (I know it doesn’t cut it) music and back it up with absolutely epic live concerts, I believe Muse who are definite revolutionaries are destine to be rock gods.
Muse has broken my scale yet again, however deserving of 11 the scale only goes to 10. There was one ever so minor glitch with the mixing early on but it was quickly rectified. No recording does Muse justice to them compared to their live performance, and I really love their albums too.
Performance 10
Technical 9.5
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