One More Reason to Love Muse

Glenn Beck Praises New Muse Album – Muse Ask For Retraction

If that wasn't enough, here's another example: An Italian TV show asks them to lip sync "Uprising," the band disagreed, so all three members switched places to "perform" the song. Unfortunately, the video has been pulled but Matt Bellamy on drums hamming it up for the camera was absolutely classic.

The new album is growing on me. There are 3 really bad songs on it but I'm happy with the rest. I'm sure they picked up a lot of new fans opening for U2 on this stadium tour so I'm hoping they come back soon for a headlining tour. Few bands bring it on the stage like they can.

Around the Web

- Kudos to U2 for picking Muse to open their Giants Stadium show. Muse will tear the turf off of that field. Given the quality of this show, ticket prices seem very reasonable.

- It appears that The Mars Volta have a new album coming out in June. There are very few people in rock as busy as Omar.

- There is a solid interview with one of rock n roll's finest, Patterson Hood, on the AV Club site. I had no clue he was 45.

- Surprised and excited to see that Phoenix will be on Saturday Night Live this weekend. The new album is very good.

- Kasabian (remember them) is giving away their first single for free on their site starting March 31st.

- I'm happy that Doves are back. It's been four years and I had forgotten how much I enjoy listening to their music. This is another solid album from a rock solid band.

San Diego Street Scene

I still don't know how feasible this one is going to be with school kicking off the week prior to this (Sept. 22-23). Sunday is definitely the stronger of the two days (you can buy single day passes) with Editors, Social D, Arctic Monkeys, T.I. and Spoon to name a few, but Saturday has Muse. Decisions, decisions.

Muse @ Madison Square Garden, 8/6/07

Wow. I don't even know how to describe this. It was a rock concert, Broadway show and the 4th of July all rolled into one ridiculous, over-the-top spectacle. It was easily, EASILY, one of the best shows I've ever been to. It was everything a show at the Garden should be. The opening song should confirm the statement that was made last night.

Setlist:
1. "Knights of Cydonia"
2. "Map of the Problematique"
3. "Hysteria"
4. "Supermassive Black Hole"
5. "City of Delusion"
6. "Butterflies and Hurricanes"
7. "Hoodoo"
8. "Feeling Good"
9. "Apocalypse Please"
10. "Sunburn"
11. "Invincible"
12. "Starlight"
13. "Time is Running Out"
14. "New Born"
15. "Plug in Baby"

Encore
16. "Soldier's Poem'
17. "Unintended"
18. "Stockholm Syndrome"
19. "Take a Bow"

P.S. As much as I love Interpol, and I'm assuming there is some fan crossover here, there is no way in hell I can see them in the Garden after seeing this show. I just don't see how they're going to pull it off.

A Thursday Night in Brooklyn

It feels like it's been ages since I've been to a show. Actually, this is probably the longest stretch since I moved to NYC two years ago. The last show I caught was Dinosaur Jr and now that my ears have finally healed, I have a few dates with some of my favorite majors.

Tonight is The White Stripes at the Garden. Much talk about how this one will play out. I'm expecting big things but more on that tomorrow.

Last Thursday, I saw an unexpected announcement on BV that Trail of Dead will be playing a $5 show in Brooklyn next Thursday night. Under normal circumstances, I would think twice about making this trek (it's a long one) but there was absolutely no hesitation for this one. I may be one of the few people who still feels this way about TOD. Tickets are still available. For 5 bucks, how can it not be worth it?

I'll follow that up on Monday, 8/6 with Muse at MSG. I have very little interest in seeing Cold War Kids for this one but needless to say, the anticipation is high for a Muse blowout in the Garden.

The Stripes vs. Muse @ the Garden

I think a lot of people, including me, were taken aback when The White Stripes and Muse both announced headlining shows at Madison Square Garden. BV even had a great line in a post last month: "Are Muse as big as the White Stripes? Are the White Stripes as big as Muse?" I'll be attending both and while I've seen both bands live before, I think Muse may be a better fit on such a grand stage. But I also realize it would be foolish to count out The Stripes. Both shows went on sale on the same day and so out of curiousity this morning, I checked in with Ticketmaster to see how their respective shows were selling. Low and behold, as far as audiences are concerned they appear to be pretty damn equal (almost suspiciously).

Updated Muse Tour Dates and Presales

New shows added in Fairfax, VA and Denver.

8/1 Mississauga, ONT @ Arrow Hall
8/4 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
8/6 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
8/9 Fairfax, VA @ Patriot Center [Presale begins 6/12 @ 10am EST]
8/10 Philadelphia, PA @ Festival Pier at Penn's Landing
8/11 Boston, MA @ Agganis Arena
9/12 Orem, UT @ McKay Events Center
9/15 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
9/18 Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
9/22 San Diego, CA @ San Diego Street Scene

House Keeping

* I was blown away yesterday when Tripwire "broke" the news that Muse and Cold War Kids were playing the Garden. Not the theater but the damn arena. I didn't believe it until I just saw it confirmed on Brooklyn Vegan; so now I know it's legit. I love Muse and I am all over this if I'm in town but MSG?!?!?! Wow. August 6th.

* As InMyTree mentioned recently, The White Stripes are also playing the Garden. He'll be at Bonnaroo. I'll do my best to make this show at the Garden. July 24th.

* White Stripes tickets on sale Friday at 9am. Muse tickets on sale Sunday at 11am (from BV). I haven't seen anything on prices yet. UPDATE: The White Stripes tickets are $49.50 without fees (GA). Muse tickets are $45 and $39.50.

* I may be getting ahead of myself but "Icky Thump" is one of the best song's I've heard in awhile. I can't get enough of it.

* "Recommended" vs "Best New Music." I have no idea how Pitchfork makes this distinction but Dinosaur Jr's Beyond was reviewed today and received a "Recommended" 8.4. I wholeheartedly agree with this review/score (agreement with P4K, of course, is rare). This album is ridicuously good and a must for any of the younger folks out there who may not be familiar with their older work. It will certainly go down as one of my favorites of the year. Can't wait to catch them next month.

Muse Opening for My Chemical Romance: Filed Under "I Just Threw Up In My Mouth"

I don't know if this is worse than Bloc Party opening for Panic! at the Disco. The dates follow the official word from Market Wire. I will keep my memories of Muse at Hammerstein Ballroom and opt out of this little mess at MPP.

BURBANK, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 06, 2007 -- MUSE, one of Britain's biggest bands, have secured the Special Guest slot with label mates My Chemical Romance this Spring. Dates have been confirmed for April and May and are listed below. Prior to the U.S. Spring tour, MUSE will perform in Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong later this month. A tour of Japan will follow in March leading up to the American dates. As reported previously, MUSE will also headline a pair of shows in California prior to the tour. At press time, the Los Angeles date at the Forum is now sold out. [Market Wire]

Tour Dates
April 9 Bill Graham Civic, San Francisco, CA*
April 10 The Forum, Los Angeles, CA*
April 14 Reliant Arena, Houston, TX
April 16 AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
April 18 Pensacola Civic Center, Pensacola, FL
April 19 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL
April 22 Bank Atlantic, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
April 24 Gwinnett Center, Atlanta, GA
April 25 Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN
April 26 Cricket Arena, Charlotte, NC
April 27 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Washington, DC
April 28 William and Mary Hall, Williamsburg, VA
April 29 Bryce Jordan Center, State College, PA
May 1 Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
May 2 Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
May 6 Cumberland Civic Center, Portland, ME
May 8 DCU Center, Worcester, MA
June 16 Wembley Stadium, London, ENG*
June 17 Wembley Stadium, London, ENG*
June 23 Parcs Des Princes, Paris, FRA*

* - Muse Headlining Dates

New Shows for '07; Best Shows of '06

I've been sulking over the last few weeks and it's because I've had no live shows on the calendar to look forward to in the new year. And then everything changed in the last 24 hours. I've just picked up tickets to see new UK buzz band, The View @ Mercury Lounge on 1/3. This is a DIY Scottish band that has been linked to ultimate fuck up Pete Doherty. They've since been getting a lot of play on BBC and their debut album comes out in the UK on January 22nd. I'll go in with low expectations and hopefully leave pleasantly surprised. Also on the books, Peter Bjorn and John, who are somewhat surprisingly doing two shows at Mercury Lounge on 1/29 and 1/30. By now, I hope you have all heard "Young Folks." It was on Grey's Anatomy after all...(that's intended to be sarcastic but seriously best pop song of the year?) Lastly, the best news of all, The Thermals will be doing two headlining dates on the East Coast (w/ the Big Sleep). Tickets go on sale Friday at noon (at least for NYC).

Mar 2 - Black Cat Washington, DC
Mar 4 - Bowery Ballroom New York, NY

And just like that, bands representing two of my favorite albums from '06 kicking things off right in '07.

With that, I thought I'd list my favorite shows of 2006:

1. Editors @ Mercury Lounge (Jan. 20): I don't know one person, blogger, etc. in attendance who wasn't floored by this performance. I had been listening to their album for quite some time but that's a different band. Simply, the most jaw dropping live performance I've probably ever seen and I shared that experience with about 200 people.

2. Muse @ Hammerstein / SSPU @ Mercury (Aug. 3): There are a collection of bands that can rightfully claim to be the best live band in the world today. Muse currently holds that title. Jumping in a cab and rushing to see SSPU at Mercury made the night that much more memorable.

3. Pearl Jam/MMJ @ Continental (Jun. 3): Any Pearl Jam live appearance is going to count as one of the best of the year. They're my favorite band and the benchmark for any rock band trying to make the jump to arenas. Oh and MMJ is no slouch, they get it.

4. Wolfmother @ Northsix (Feb. 19): Watching this band grow into something huge and knowing that InMyTree and I saw them before it all went down.

5. Radiohead/The Black Keys @ MSG Theater (Jun. 14): No need for explanation

Muse Set for Two Wembley Shows

I mentioned previously that one of my favorite bands (and owner of my second favorite album of 2006), Muse, will be opening up the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium. To give you a sense of just how big Muse is across the pond, they sold out the 70,000 seat venue this morning in 45 minutes @ £37.50 a pop! So they went ahead and added another one. Unreal.

Dead Star/In Your World Double A-Side
MP3: Muse - "Dead Star"
MP3: Muse - "In Your World"
MP3: Muse - "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (very entertaining Frankie Valli cover)

Muse to Open New Wembley Stadium

Queen, Guns N' Roses, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Madonna, Metallica...Muse. Big news from the Muse camp this morning, they will headline the first concert at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium on June 16, 2007 (previous names all played the old stadium). While some may not agree that they have earned the right to be included amongst said monsters of music, in my mind they are the clear leaders of a younger generation of arena bands. It should be noted that the CAPACITY IS 75,000. They're ready.