Muse | Madison Square Garden
Now that was a rock show. Performing in the round, on elevated platforms, underneath giant video projections and through a fog of lasers, giant inflatable eyeballs and flashing lights, Muse merged the awesomest visuals and sonics of yesteryear's stadium rock into something very new (and awesome...did we mention that?). The trio (rounded out by a touring keyboardist) seemed eminently comfortable within the whole spectacle, effortlessly churning out songs with an equal stomp'n'pomp mix of Zeppelin, Radiohead and Pink Floyd (or, conversely, one could argue Depeche Mode, Def Leppard and—especially on the operatic "United States of Eurasia"—Queen). Still, given the audiovisual overload, it was the simple guitar crunch of the band's heavier tracks ("Time is Running Out," "Hysteria," "Unnatural Selection" and encore "Knights of Cydonia") that made the most impact. With Silversun Pickups.--Kirk Miller
More concert photos: Jay-Z at Madison Square Garden l Flogging Molly at the Hammerstein l Editors at Terminal 5 l Motion City Soundtrack at Irving Plaza | Kid Cudi at Irving Plaza | Charlotte Gainsbourg at The Bell House | Dinosaur Jr. at Brooklyn Bowl | Vampire Weekend at United Palace | Julian Casablancas at Terminal 5 | The Drums and Surfer Blood at Bowery Ballroom | The Hot Rats at Music Hall of Williamsburg
