Muse and Silversun Pickup United Center Chicago, IL March 12, 2010

Muse was advertised as one of the best live shows by the promoters of the event at Chicago’s United Center this past Friday night. I’m definitely a fan, yet I’ve also heard a lot of mixed things about them. Walking in, the sold out crowd got me excited, but I remember what one of my friends who saw them at a festival in Istanbul describing them as “arrogant” (as if they were playing inside a glass cage and you weren’t allowed to look at them). I’m sure the band has come a long way since then her seeing them eight years ago, however I felt remnants of their past still remain.

There were perhaps a total of five words that were said to the audience from front man, Matthew Bellamy…something along the lines of, “Thank you Chicago,” screamed into the microphone beyond the point of understanding. It felt awkward in the band’s huddle moments between songs and it was as if they were deciding right there and then what song to play next. However the light show compensated for their impersonal presence, but that’s hardly a substitute. They do have to fill up that budget of $50 per ticket though. And yes, the light show was VERY impressive with strobe light warnings posted all along the outer halls. Muse appeared on three ascending and descending rotating pillars with projected live images of the band and the crowd along with few images of Middle Eastern conflicts.

While listening to them for that hour and a half, I realized there was only so much yelling and angst I was really willing to take. I wasn’t impressed or convinced when Bellamy ran to his knees playing guitar in a cliché rock star way, or when he spun around playing his guitar lifting it up and down at the same time, or when he decided to sing laying and rolling around on the floor, or when he or when he played it behind his head. Those types of things don’t impress me these days but the crowd seemed to respond by eating up ever last bit.

There were small moments where singer Bellamy sang softly and intimately with a grand piano ornamented with coordinated lights from the piano’s soundboard reflected on a open clear top. It’s too bad that it was lost and ineffective in the vast and caverness United Center. But it was a rock concert, it was meant to be loud, almost obnoxiously loud. Not a concert for those who enjoy subtlety and sensitivity, and not a band for those who enjoy such things of that nature either. Regardless of all this, Muse has perhaps finally found a US following where they’re able to do anything they want, and don’t get me wrong they are a good solid band. For me, it’s more easily digested in small doses. I’m still a fan especially in my depressed and lonely moments, but their show simply left me cold and lifeless.

Silversun Pickups who opened the show earlier in the evening, took the night for me. Their awkward sounding yet surprisingly compelling lead singer, Brian Aubert, caught my attention in a shy modest way perhaps knowing that they were performing in the shadow of Muse. The stage and sound was set up for Muse, and the result was something muddy and barely audible where everything blending together. Also, the lights were just not on point as oppose to the carefully orchestrated Muse production. However, this is typical of openers, but I’m sure Silversun Pickups will be out of that phase soon enough. They are a quirky group with a surprisingly growing following. Most of the people I know have heard of them much more than they’ve heard of Muse actually. But as I have said, that has been Muse’s challenge for sometime here. I’m looking forward to seeing much more of this LA alt rock group in the near future and hopefully in a much more intimate setting.

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