The One and only muse at Mesa Amphitheatre 09.19.2007

By Steve Shugg, FromTheCrowd.com Contributor

There are certain bands that simply listening to their albums do not do justice to the musicianship and talent that the members have. This is due to the fact that so many bands these days have so much production done on their albums, that you can’t tell what’s real and what’s computer work; this could not be more false to the British trio Muse. They recently played at the Mesa Amphitheatre and to all the skeptics that thought they could not reproduce the sound that they create on their records; well all they had to do was listen.

Now I’ve seen Muse before, however it was during a festival so I did not get the full experience that I had heard so much about; that’s what made this show so exciting for me. From the instance the lights went down, introducing Muse to the stage, my mind was made up that these were some of the most talented musicians out there today. They ripped into songs like “Time is Running Out”, “Hysteria”, and “Stockholm Syndrome”. Matthew Bellamy hit all those high notes that were created on the records, and that one thought he would not be able to. He struck every note on guitar during the solos, and he had some amazing help. Dominic Howard was mesmerizing on drums, keeping up with the intensity of the crowd, and the energy from the songs. Then there was Chris Wolstenholme on bass, who kept up with everyone, and although there aren’t many bass solo’s in Muse songs, no one else would have been able to finish off an already incredible group. The fact that all three musicians are classically trained in their craft definitely shined through during this set.

As amazing as this show was, there were some things that made it a little different than others. For instance, right before they came back for their encore there was a reading or a speech if you will. The speech was one from John F. Kennedy during his time in office. It was about taking pride in our country, and not wanting to go to war because it wasn’t our war to fight. Now being a British band, this did seem a little out of place, especially since Muse has never really been known to speak out much against the war or politics. You could definitely see the tension in the air of the people that agreed with the message, and those that thought it was not their place and should not have been brought up at the concert. Either way, it was an impressive sight to see a crowd of a few thousand standing in awe listening to John F. Kennedy speak to us, even if it was a recorded message.

This combined with the music made for a memory that will not soon be forgotten. This show proved to the concertgoers that Muse isn’t going anywhere, and that their music and talent is going to be around for a while to come. Any opportunity to experience one of their shows, I would absolutely recommend taking that chance and having the chance to see what a rock show should be like.

Snow Patrol Dodge Theater 07.18.207

By Steve Shugg, FromTheCrowd.com Contributor

Snow Patrol are one of those bands where you’re not sure how their live performance is going to be, because most of their singles are a little slower, and not the most upbeat. However once Snow Patrol took stage, all doubts and uncertainties were gone.

Opening up with some of their most popular songs, like ‘Chocolate’ and “Hands Open’, they proved that they are not just a ‘singles’ band. Their stage presence and lighting spectacular made this show one of those that you walk out of simply feeling better about yourself. Even after lead singer Gary made his quip about the Phoenix heat, which seems like a must do for all acts coming through the valley, he was still able to combine his quirky remarks with raw musical talent; a skill that seems to be overlooked in a lot of shows these days. He even took the time to interact with the audience in between most of their songs; even when a fan threw a “Sheriff Gary” badge on stage.

It was also a treat for fans to learn what most of the songs were about, and the inspirations behind them; sort of a mix between “Behind the Music” and “Storytellers”. As far as front men go, he is definitely the right man for the band. Snow Patrol are definitely one of those bands whose live performance and studio albums match so well, that you can’t help but think that they are pulling a Milli Vanilli. However all one has to do is listen and experience all they have to offer to understand that this band is definitely going to be around for a while.