MUSE - Horden Pavilion Sydney - 23/01/07

I was lucky enough to get tickets to the first of Muses' sought-after and sold-out live experience at the Horden Pavilion, as I had missed-out in 2004 I knew I couldn't risk it again in 2007!I strolled into the massive space that is the Horden Pavilion and tried to get a good spot to see the coveted support band "Ground Components", although it is hard when the tall guys stand upfont...The lights dimmed at 7.30 and these scruffy figures lunged themselves into their respective positions. The leadsinger/guitarist trying to get the audience onside by shouting "Hello Sydney!" but unfortunately this novelty wore-off as soon as they were halfway through their set... All of their songs were pretty boring and above all sounded the same as one-another.Their hour was up and it was time to wait the dreaded 30 minutes (or however long the soundcheck guys want to take) before Muse would appear onstage.In between this a sheet covering Dominic Howards' pristine transparent drumkit and Matt Bellamy's shining white electronic piano with vintage white amplifier in tail, was raised which made the awaiting crowd even more anxious with a loud applause.The soundcheck guys did take what felt like an eternity to finish their job for the night, but it was all worth the wait as Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard or collectively MUSE, strolled across the vast Horden stage.MUSE had arrived and it was time to experience some of the most talented artists in the business doing what they love doing best, playing insane rock and roll which could have fallen off the pages of an immense sci-fi, western and romance novel!The trio began with introductory track from "Black Holes and Revelations", "Take a Bow" which had everyone jumping and screaming with smiles from ear-to-ear as the addictive lyrics and guitar riffs pounded out of the towering speaker stacks!Hilights of the show were; "Starlight", "Supermassive Black Hole", "Hysteria", "New Born", "Plug-In Baby", "Time is Running Out", "Bliss", "Muscle Museum", "Invincible" and of course the finale of the second encore "Knights of Cydonia", which had the whole crowd singing along to the words of the chorus as they all flashed-up onscreen in corrsespondance to Matt's absolutely breath-takingly amazing singing ability!This night left me speechless as they had played the best set-list I had heard in months and not to mention one of the most exhilerating performances I have seen in years! The Audio-Visual system made this night more of a theatrical experience rather than a mere concert or gig. Audience members were sucked-into the songs as images and videos relating to the plot of various songs were projected onto the massive transparent screens! "Invincible" had video of poverty, famine and natural disaster stricken areas of the world which made me feel extremely lucky to live in the conditions that I do.Eventhough I did see MUSE again at the Big Day Out two days later, as with the White Stripes you can never judge a bands live show to its full extent until you see their own headline show.10/10!Here's a vid I took with my mobile during "Starlight":And "Supermassive Black Hole" with "Knights of Cydonia" (AV screens and pyrotechnics!)