I Just Read About That…

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 19, 2023] Muse / Evanescence / One OK Rock

I’ve seen Muse twice at Wells Fargo and I promised myself I’d never miss a show.

But this year when tickets were announced  they were SO EXPENSIVE that I balked at getting one.  I realize that Muse puts on a stellar show that is better than anything I’ve ever seen, but I couldn’t see spending so much on a ticket for the floor. And I didn’t want to be back in the cheap seats.  So I blew it off.

I also don’t really like their new album as much as their older music, so it didn’t seem like I’d be missing that much.  The album is stripped down, I assumed the show would be too.  But I guess I was wrong.

And yet, reviews tell me this was their biggest show yet.  The Brooklyn Vegan review (from Madison Square Garden) says

a number of elaborate, expensive-looking cut scenes (one with parkour!) that allow for major set changes, it all makes sense in the context of Muse’s current, totally bananas live show. Songs like “Hysteria,” “Madness,” “Bliss” and “Uprising” were custom made for arenas, as streamers and confetti rain down over the audience who are singing along the whole time.  A runway connected the main stage and smaller stage in the middle of the floor, allowing for a lot of running around and kooky spotlight moments like when frontman Matt Bellamy played a glowing keyboard that was stitched into the sleeve of his jacket.  There were also six massive mirrors, rimmed with LEDs that floated and moved above the stage that helped reflect all those lasers into the crowd, and were really effective, visually. Less effective, but still fun, were the giant (inflatable) figures that loomed behind them for most of the show, first a hooded figure with a mirrored mask (the band opened the show wearing these masks, too) and then later a demonic centaur. Bellamy played a guitar solo on the shoulder of the former at one point. Streamers shot out over the whole room early in the show, and then confetti a few songs later. There was never a lack of things to look at.

Sometimes being cheap isn’t worth it.

I remembered Evanescence from the 90s.  I had no idea that they were still around–there’s been a fairly steady lineup since 2008, but Amy Lee is the only constant since 1995.  I like Amy Lee’s voice, although I feel like the band was harshly treated back in the day.  Or maybe people just had alt-goth bands.

Apparently they put on a very good show and Amy Lee is an impressive front woman.

One OK Rock is a Japanese emo band.  I would never have guessed they were Japanese from listening to them.  They sound pretty much like a American emo band.  I had never heard of them, but apparetly they are huge and have headlined large shows in the States.

Here’s a review of their headline show from last year in Los Angeles

One Ok Rock fills arenas and stadiums across the world and night after night sold out on this tour as well. Beyond the band’s incredible production and the colors that filled the venue, they are consummate rock and roll professionals with a tightly choreographed set that hit every note, every time.

Singer Takahiro Moriuchi threw his whole body into the performance (and even geared up with knee pads as part of his stage outfit). Guitarist Toru Yamashita and bassist Ryota Kohama wailed on their instruments, ripping solos and leaning over the stage to interact with the diehards crushed against the barricade. Meanwhile, drummer Tomoya Kanki was all smiles and dynamic expressions as he cheesed at the fans while bashing away behind his kit.

Sounds like it would have been worth the ticket price.