Electrifying Uprising

Electrifying Uprising

To call British rock trio Muse a veritable force of nature may seem superlative to some, but that description is far from inaccurate, if their third and latest Singapore outing is anything to go by.

The Devon band's inimitable brand of arena-rock virtually shook the walls of the Singapore Indoor Stadium last Saturday night at a sold-out show that drew a whopping 10,000 people - who, from the get-go, did a marvellous job of adding to the night's atmosphere.

Never mind the nail-biting 90-minute wait the hyped-up crowd had to endure before the guys took to the stage at just after 9.30pm, after an upbeat opening set by Los Angeles indie-rock outfit The Ruse.

Once frontman and guitarist Matt Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard appeared and tore into the opening strains of Psycho, from their latest album Drones (2015), it was game on.

There was palpable electricity in the air as the crowd - a mix of Singaporeans and expatriates mostly in their 20s and beyond - pumped their fists in sync, bopped up and down and wholeheartedly sang along to tunes such as Reapers (2015) and Resistance (2009).

Black-clad Bellamy, hair spiked up in true rock-star fashion, held court, working the stage (and the short runway protruding from it) and busting out some truly impressive guitar solos. Howard and Wolstenholme, too, proved worthy allies.

Together, the multi-award- winning band, which last played here in 2010, were spectacularly tight, effortlessly cementing their reputation as one of the best live acts in the world, a sentiment that was echoed loud and clear on this reviewer's Facebook feed after the gig.

One particular stand-out moment came during Feeling Good, a cover off their 2001 album Original Symmetry, when Bellamy, a classically trained pianist, showed off his skills on the keys, his tenor voice hitting each note perfectly.

Around the stadium, fans held up their mobile phones, creating a gorgeous sea of lights and the kind of unforgettable concert moment that sends chills up and down one's spine.

As the big guns came out during the last third of the 95-minute show - with some of the band's most recognisable hits such as Starlight (2006) and Time Is Running Out (2003) making their appearance - the raw, visceral essence of Muse was most apparent.

"They will not control us/We will be victorious," a crescendo of voices declared in unison with Bellamy and crew on Uprising (2009), as huge confetti-filled black balloons bounced through the stadium.

Indeed, as the final notes of Knights Of Cydonia (2006) rang out and the band's faithful following began filing out of the venue, victorious seemed a word most apt.

stlife@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on September 28, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.