Reviews about New York & Philadelphia, USA. August 2006

Sylvie · Reviews about New York & Philadelphia, USA. August 2006

Manuella and Sylvie's review about New York and Philadelphia.

New York. 3rd august, 45°.
After having spent several days in Manuella’s house, we leave Middletown in New Jersey with 10 persons packed into Manuella’s van. Mary (Gocanux) navigates Manuella through the streets in New York. We arrived a couple of hours earlier at the Hammerstein Ballroom (34th street). There was only a small crowd waiting because it was so hot at 44 C. While waiting to get in we met other musers from the official board as well as a german couple.
This venue is particularly wonderful with about 3 800 people capacity, it is an old theatre with two mezzanines. We both decide to go to the mezzanine where from we could enjoy the show in this big stage. Our friends went into the front of the pit which was absolutely crazy and wild.
Calvin was even unwell after the show, almost loosing his spirits. We went into the back of the venue to wait for Muse and meet them. We didn't have to wait long, about 30 mn. Tom Kirk and Morgan came out first. Manuella introduced me to them as the French Musemom !! Tom took our CDs to be signed as well as a picture Manuella had for a young girl. I gave him my French/English dictionary for Matt so that he could learn a bit more French for his next Muse gigs in France !!
Tom Kirk came back with all our signed stuff. This man is absolutely nice as well as Morgan who listened to our thoughts about the gig.
Dom, Chris and Matt came out, signed a few autographs and we had the great opportunity to take pics with him, and the French Musemom was once again introduced !!!
As we drove back to New Jersey, we were tired but excited with many images in our heads.
Philadelphia.4th august 43°.
We drove for 2 hours to see them at the Electric Factory, in Philadelphia the next day and this time there were only 6 of us. Again, waiting in line was pleasant, meeting people and having a bar close by to grab some drinks and food !!! The crowd in the pit was incredibly packed to the point that our Canadian friend Mariko had to leave because it was getting way too chaotic. The MuseMoms were in the bar section overlooking the stage, with an incredible view. Gorgeous !!
We waited for about two hours to meet Muse. Meanwhile, we met other musers from the board and took a nice pic together. We knew Muse were already in their bus, ready to leave but Tom Kirk came out as well as Matt and Chris to take a few pics along with the legendary Musemoms’one. They all looked very tired, it was about 3am and they had to leave for Atlanta for their last gig in the US. When Tom Kirk saw me this time, he said : “Hey, Sylvie, how are you ?”. I told him my US Tour stopped there, that I was so disappointed not to see such little venues in France now. Tom Kirk agreed and proposed me to follow them to Atlanta. I said I’d have loved to follow them … in their bus !!
Moreover, I gave him questions from Unomuse to give to Matt and Tom Kirk mentioned Unomuse was a great site.
Mariko asked Matt why they hadn't played Hoodoo, and he mentioned it was because of the numerous instrumental issues…
Gigs
Those both gigs were rather awesome. We could notice the incredible performances of the three British guys through all those gigs. Dom was always smiling while playing, Chris closing his eyes as usual with his head balancer and Matt embracing all the time his guitar, jumping and marrying his micro. Even if Morgan is now here with Muse, Matt was particularly very present on his piano with many songs and it is such a great delight, moving from those two instruments and being helped by someone to be the more excellent possible.
When Matt sang Bliss and Plug in Baby, he just let loose. He was all over the stage. He truly enjoys playing those songs. In New York City their performance was almost like they were holding back a bit but in Philadelphia it was fantastic and really excellent, they seemed more relaxed on stage.
Matt said twice “Merci”, he perhaps knew there were many French Fans in the public !!
The lightshows were completely different from the ones used in Arras Festival (1st July France). For example on Take A Bow there were red lights and lazers and with Matt actually taking a bow as in New York city, as well as moving toward the front of the stage pointing his finger straight up into the air with a black silhouette, it was purely amazing and unforgettable.

Setlists :
Though it was an incredible song setlist, we were a bit disappointed to have had the same setlist both in NY and Philly., we would have loved to get City of Delusion played as in California for example.
A few notes about the songs :
Take A Bow is really a good choice to be an opener. In New York, Take A Bow was the greatest one from Toronto and Philadelphia gigs according to Manuella. The way they performed, this song was wonderful choregraphed, the crowd was in the palm of his hands.
Hysteria is always very welcome and Matt was so charming with his red clothes in NY and white shirt in Philly.
Supermassive Black Hole, we saw Chris singing “Supermassive Black Hole !!!”
The colors of the lightshows were rather edulcorated !!!!
Butterflies & Hurricanes is always a good surprise because of the power of its lyrics and Matt’s involvement in it with the piano.
Starlight : Matt enjoyed this one, he even clapped his hands at the beginning !!!
Forced In was played every time, it is a break moment for the three guys, a kind of intimate moment for them, Matt and Chris turning towards the drums.
Bliss : Matt was a bit disappointing in NY, he didn’t have as much feeling in his voice as he normally does , Manuella and I both looked at each other because we noticed something was missing ! Bliss was particularly awesome in Philadelphia with an extended version.
Feeling Good was wonderfully received by the audience ! Of course, everyone wanted too see him singing in his megaphone and moreover, he was really excellent. What a treat!
Soldier’s Poem, this is a special moment and perhaps for all the American young public. This perhaps explains why Muse always sang this song through this American Tour.
Invincible is really one of the gems from the new album. Matt begins on the drums stage, imposes his soft and charm voice. Next to him, there is a screen showing space conquest. Playing with his new Manson guitar with a digital screen, Matt looks really charismatic in this one, excellent !
Plug in Baby. Superb ! Matt was jumping in the air, doing his kick and we both laughed at this moment !
New Born was pretty good with a riff with his new Manson guitar. In Philadelphia, this song was particularly awesome.
Stockholm Syndrome was powerful as ever, it was played after the Encore. We even heard Matt singing ah ah ah through the lyrics, a funny moment. There were also an extended version in New York.
ENCORE : Dom always speaks in the micro before the Encore or after the end of the show. In New York, he said : “Fuck You” !!
Map Of The Problematique is very good live, a real enchantment, the electronic sound is pretty good, played by Morgan, situated on the right bottom side of Dom’s drums.
The end of the show increases in power with the so loved Time is Running Out very well received by the American public.
Knights of Cydonia who finishes wonderfully the show (There was also the beginning of Space Dementia before it in New York and a guitar riff with a funky reggae in Philly).

TreeHeart

Sylvie, first off, your review was excellent! It sounds like they really made it worth your while travelling so far to see them!

I only hope I enjoy them so much if I ever see them

Sylvie

Aw thanks Karen, excellent is a big word but I'm not a musician, I wished I could speak more about the music itself... I was not close to them either, so I could also mentionned a few more things, but well, this is mine and I'm sure other ones will make reviews in another point of view !!!