Muse

Opening the show were The Big Pink, one of the most impressive (and more memorable) support acts I’ve seen in a while. Their dark, lingering electro beats twinned with intense guitar and drum-playing creates a tough and powerful new sound that can only be described as a fusion between Joy Division, Glasvegas and Aphex Twin.

Playing songs from their highly-anticipated album, A Brief History of Love, including ‘Tonight’ and the haunting ‘Too Young to Love’, they finished on a high with their outstanding new single, ‘Dominoes’.

But while The Big Pink were remarkable, there was only one band the crowds were dying to see, and the 40 minute wait whilst the stage was being set only added to the desperation in the arena.

At last the wait is over – three mammoth concrete block towers adorn the stage. As all lights go off, the windows of the towers light up the arena and bright white silhouettes appear, walking up the towers’ stairs and gradually falling down. Suddenly the tower blocks drop and the whole arena is doused with bright red flashing lights. The band are ascended high above the stage within the tower blocks, staring at the crowd amongst deafening cheers and screams from their followers. It is obvious Muse are never ones to turn down an explosive entrance – best of all, this was just the beginning…

Kicking off with their mighty single ‘Uprising’ from latest album The Resistance, their whole set list is just mind-blowing. The opening riff to ‘New Born’, from their earlier album Origin of Symmetry, sends the crowds into a frenzy; hoards of people jumping simultaneously to the thumping bass and drumming whilst green lasers cut through the arena. At times it is genuinely hard to believe that this show is live; it all seems so flawless.

Other highlights of the gig include the monstrous ‘Supermassive Black Hole’ and the beautiful, yet so powerful, rendition of ‘Feeling Good’.

As the podium ascends into the air, with Matt Bellamy leant over his crisp white piano embellished with flashing cream lights, his magnificent piano solos and the throbbing bass from Chris Wolstenholme send shivers down my spine. This is possibly one of the greatest musical moments I feel I am witnessing.

The band continued to play a selection of songs from their new album, whilst incorporating their more famous, classic singles such as ‘Plug In Baby’, and ‘Time Is Running Out’. Finishing with the raucous ‘Knights of Cydonia’, Bellamy’s compelling stage presence commanded every fist in the arena to pound the air as the band’s colossal performance drew to an explosive finish.

It isn’t irritating to witness just how good a band like Muse are – it’s simply inspiring. This was like no other show I’ve seen before: blinding lights, changing dynamics, lasers… It’s no questioning why they’ve won endless Best Live Act awards since they first formed. I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my time, but this was easily the best gig I’ve been to in my life so far – possibly the best live band of our time?

I recommend anyone and everyone to try and see this band at least once before they die – I bet my right arm you won’t regret it.