music365 - Muse: London Astoria (june 6 2000)

Muse may be media darlings, but they're clearly getting tired of sharing a halo with Messrs Radiohead. Diminutive singer Matt comes on all skinny limbs and foppish white shirt, and just as you're beginning to think he's swopped being Thom Yorke for Brett Anderson, he proves he's actually Jimi Hendrix. He's always leapt about and pummelled his guitar, but tonight he's a hopping, instrument-attacking, gurning maniac, playing in the air, thrashing on the floor, while bassist Chris headbangs for England. The old material shudders and splinters while new songs 'New Born' and 'Yes Please' are a barrage of storming riffs and Armageddon-announcing drums, banishing for good every thought that they're a bunch of vulnerable cissies. And at the end of the night, all mutterings of the 'R' word are finally silenced, as Matt covers his guitar with his amp, stands on it, and indulges in a bit of amp surfing, while Chris and drummer Dom fall to the floor in a whirling mass. "This is 'Showbiz'", Matt had said three minutes ago. And it is. 9/10 Alix Buscovic-Music365

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