Muse, the alternative rockers from England, made the Verizon Center their DC stop on the east coast leg of their US tour. With a stunning light show and more a powerful sound than you would ever expect to come from a trio, Muse effortlessly made the entire stadium come to life.
Whether you are a fan of their music or not, one thing you have to admit is the sheer musicianship of this band. Their sound is a hybrid one to say the least, combining influences from genres like classical, experimental rock, and electronica. With heavy-driving bass guitar lines supplied by Christopher Wolstenholme, accompanied with hard and steady drumming from percussionist/drummer Dominic Howard, the guitar work seems almost angelic rising above and falling below the thick overpowering rhythms. I was pleasantly surprised by the overall vocal range of singer/guitarist Matt Bellamy.
For Muse, to successfully pull off their sound on a recording is one thing, and amazing in itself. To pull off the same sound live is something of legend. There is something going on here that musicians and fans alike will cling to for years to come.
Opening the evening’s festivities was the charismatic Cage the Elephant. Cage’s front man, Matthew Schultz, not only makes an emotional and energetic centerpiece for this Kentucky-based band, but his courage to let his music take his very being is all-inspiring.
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
