By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
British rock band Muse kicked off the New Year with an electrifying concert, Thursday evening at the Olympic Gym, Olympic Park, southern Seoul.
The virtually sold-out audience didn't seem to mind the freezing temperatures outside and a delayed start. The crowd roared with excitement as lead singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard appeared on stage.
Muse performed ``Uprising,'' the first single off their latest album, ``The Resistance.'' They followed it with ``Map of the Problematique,'' and ``Supermassive Blackhole.''
``Gamsahamnida, Seoul,'' Bellamy said to the cheering crowd.
Known as one of the best live bands around, Muse did not disappoint. With slick graphics in the background, the band gave powerful performances of ``New Born,'' ``Butterflies & Hurricanes'' and ``Hysteria.'' Bellamy's haunting falsetto voice and skillful guitar solos impressed the crowd, as well as Howard and Wolstenholme's drum and bass jams.
Muse also played songs from their latest album such as the Queen-influenced ``United States of Eurasia,'' ``MK Ultra,'' ``Undisclosed Desires,'' ``Resistance'' and ``Unnatural Selection.''
For a band with just three members, it was impressive how Muse managed to perform with consistent intensity and keep the crowd's energy at a high level throughout the hour-and-a-half concert.
The night would not have been complete without Muse performing hit songs ``Starlight'' and ``Time is Running Out.'' They closed the concert with ``Stockholm Syndrome,'' while huge white confetti-filled balloons came bouncing out into the crowd.
Muse came back for a two-song encore: ``Plug In Baby'' and ``Knights of Cydonia.''
``Thank you very much. You guys are amazing,'' Howard said.
``See you soon,'' Wolstenholme added, which raised hopes among fans that Muse will come back for another show.
With their Seoul concert, Muse once again proved why they're considered one of the most thrilling live bands around. It was the band's third time to perform for Korean fans, after a concert and headlining performance at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival in 2007.
The Seoul concert was Muse's first stop on the Asia-Pacific leg of ``The Resistance Tour.'' Other concerts will be held in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong through next month.