Despite the terror that our world is experiencing today, paranoia was not “in bloom” at the Muse-Drones Tour concert in Chicago Wednesday night. The band showcased a 360-degree stage, which extended from the East side of the United Center to the West. This set-up eliminated the lack of intimacy that the enormous space in the stadium has created during past Muse tours.
This year, the band visually protests the fear that ISIS has inflicted upon citizens and visitors of France, the United States, Turkey and most recently Indonesia, by getting as close to the audience as possible.
Previously, all three key members of the band waved goodbye and disappeared from the stage at the end of their usual encore, “Knights of Cydonia.” But for this tour, Guitarist and Vocalist Matt Bellamy, Bassist Chris Wolstenholme, Drummer Dominic Howard and Keyboardist Morgan Nicholls shook hands and embraced with their beckoning front row fans following their final song of the evening.
Muse’s latest album, Drones, actually showcases the dangers of human intelligence. A projection of a puppeteer robot’s hands “controlled” Matt and Chris as they played, “The Handler,” from opposite poles of the 360-stage. The puppet’s menacing digital eyes looked over the three, as Matt’s voice soared, “Now you are my handler, and I will execute your demands.”
Because I was mesmerized, I didn’t notice the absence of Matt’s light-up piano until about halfway through the set. But, soon after, he entered the cellar of the West wing to reemerge with his grand Kawai for “Apocalypse Please.” He uses the piano both symbolically and physically to declare his might against fears of war, loneliness and love.
Then, during “The Globalist,” the words, “killed by drones” juxtaposed a light and hopeful melody from the piano. And, as he descended back beneath the stage, those same words initiated an eerie and beautiful Gregorian chant, “Drones.”
Muse has explored many themes throughout its inception, but each of its tours brings a new uprising, a new fight and a new strength to its spectators.