virtual festivals - Glastonbury review Other Stage (june 2000)

After the Dandy Warhols had infected us with their light hearted fun, it was down to Muse to get heavy. The odds were stacked against them, with a typical Glasto party vibe embracing the thousands of grinning, dancing ravers, and a glorious blue sky. This scene would have been enough to make Nick Cave smile... But not Muse. Even a tour with 'fun' rock pros, the Chili Peppers didn't lighten these boys up one iota. And so they stomp onto the stage, and the rock begins. Singer Matt Bellamy proceeds to tap into uncharted depths of raw emotion - loss, heartbreak, frustration, angst... powerful, gripping stuff. Not since Nirvana has a three-piece sounded so... big. The mosh pit quickly swells, and the crowd surfers don't waste a second, pouring over the barrier, to such thrashers as 'Cave'. The highlight of the set, and possibly my whole festival, was their beautiful, emotive cover of Nina Simone's 'Feelin' Good'. It's soaring optimism was the perfect balance to their woe-heavy catalogue. 'Muscle Museum' was hampered with guitar mistakes on Bellamy's part, but somehow that actually added to the performance! Matt was showing off a brand new £2000+ Parker Fly guitar, but he obviously wasn't overly familiar with it yet. Gives hope to all us aspiring guitarists. Grand finale 'Showbiz' was majestically intense, and it looked as if they would get through the set without surcoming to that irresistable Glasto feelgood factor. It got them at the end, however, as they all fell giggling into the drum kit and started beating the hell out of eachother, to raptuous applause! Steve Jenner

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