U2 and Muse at FedEx Field review

October 1, 2:27 PMDC Live Music Clubs ExaminerMichael Bogart

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the spaceship

Bono and company dominated FedEx Field Tuesday night. Except it wasn't all about playing U2 classics, although it was certainly a part of giving you those pseudo-altruistic chills that permeated the band's 2+-hour set. The greatest band that no one in America cares about kicked off the evening of fine stadium rock: Muse played a riveting opening set to a crowd that appeared less than a quarter of its final tally. Does drinking Miller Lite in the parking lots beat catching what was musically the evening's high point for this writer?

Muse broke in to their famous 'Knights of Cydonia', a soaring anthemic rocker highlighted on Guitar Hero. Take a gander at this song's performance at Wembley in 2007 and you'll catch a small glimpse of what most everyone at the show (or actually, outside the show) missed.

Breaking in to an interlude before pushing through Absolution front-runners 'Hysteria' and the personally-affecting 'Time is Running Out' seemed to suggest the English powerhouse was going to present a set of greatest hits.  Two more Black Holes and Revelations highlights cranked through as startled fans not knowing what to expect finally came to: the Twilight-featured 'Supermassive Black Hole'  and its body-thumping bass lines and the ever-cheerful rocker 'Starlight'. The Queen-infused 'United States of Eurasia' was incredible live before Muse closed out their set with Resistance-opener 'Uprising' and 'Plug in Baby' off of the 2001 release Origin of Symmetry. Muse is amazing and may be on the brink of finally breaking out here in the States. Catch them while you can...and realize they are far more than an opening act for anyone.

And now to the well-covered stage set up of U2. I've heard various numbers regarding costs and set up and all the other logistical opines. The 'spaceship' is unreal, bottom line. Take a gander at this article's default picture for just a sense of what this thing entailed. Aside from its look, the functionality of the stage is something to be ooo'ed and awww'ed at. The bridge platforms move so Bono and the Edge can traipse about and make their way around the 360 degree set up. The screens shape-shift, expand, retract, and generally appear to be something never-before-seen. Lights beam from the top of the spaceship as if projecting impending orbit. The whole contraption should be lauded for both design and function as U2 is far and away the premminent stadium rock show. The 360 Tour cements their ability to entertain above and beyond. It was easy to walk away not knowing what you just experienced.

U2 opened up with 'Breathe' in keeping with the tour's trends. 'Magnificent' really harkens back to U2's finest writing days and sounds as if it could be another timeless track. A kick-ass 'Mysterious Ways' gave the old heads what they were looking for while 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' segued in to a brief Bono 'Stand By Me' snippet. Songs like 'Elevation' and 'Beautiful Day' play strong and sound great in the stadium atmosphere. The light show, lasers, and stage movements highlighted above are in full throttle at this point.

Bono dedicated 'New Year's Day' to "Teddy" (Kennedy) as he meandered in to and out of political dialogue, including keeping Secret Service on their heels by outlining all of the Capital Hill stiffs in the crowd. 'Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Of' is a good song to hear at home, but does not seem to translate well to a rock show at a venue filled with 75,000+ people. A sonic and exceptional 'The Unforgettable Fire' roared before Bono dedicated an incredible 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' to the folks in Iran.

Strong encores like the ever-sweet 'One', apparent crowd-favorite 'Where the Streets Have No Name', Bono's softly-and-near-spoken 'With or Without You', and 'Moment of Surrender' closed the larger than life set.

Muse set list:

Knights of Cydonia, Interlude, Hysteria, Supermassive Black Hole, Time Is Running Out, United States Of Eurasia, Uprising, Starlight, Plug In Baby

U2 set list:

Breathe, Magnificent, Get On Your Boots, Mysterious Ways, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Stand By Me (snippet), Elevation, Your Blue Room, Beautiful Day / Blackbird (snippet), New Year's Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, The Unforgettable Fire, Mofo (snippet) / , City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight / Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (snippet), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On
encores: One / Amazing Grace (snippet), Where The Streets Have No Name, Ultra Violet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment of Surrender