Muse in Zurich - 3 July 2019

When Muse put together their latest tour, I imagine the conversation went something like this: "We want lasers, we want confetti and streamers and balloons, and we'd like to have an arcade game on stage. Can we also get dancers and Matt wearing ten different light-up glasses and a power glove, please? Oh, and an inflatable skeleton robot the size of a house. Let's name him Murph." And so it came to pass.

Singer Matt Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard have always had a bonkers imagination when it comes to their tours, and we may have now reached the apex of their glorious madness. You could argue that Muse are currently parodying themselves, and the only way forward will be to scale things down. In the meantime, the band's "Simulation Theory World Tour" is predictably over-the-top and elaborate.

Despite all the razzle-dazzle, though, it's Muse's musical prowess that shines through, as always. Matt Bellamy's soaring vocals remain a thing of beauty, while Dom Howard is a machine on the drums, Chris Wolstenholme anchors the songs with instantly recognisable basslines, and touring member Morgan Nicholls adds his much appreciated multi-instrumental support.

For me personally, their most recent album "Simulation Theory" doesn't hit the spot. In a live setting, however, the new songs work a treat. "Algorithm" is grandiose 80s symphonic rock, "Propaganda" rhymes "floozy" with "woozy" - kudos to Matt for that one - and "Break It To Me" is probably the album's most interesting track, funk-driven and distinctly odd.

Audience favorites "Plug In Baby", "Time Is Running Out", "Supermassive Black Hole" and "Uprising" get everyone jumping and cheering, while "Starlight", "Madness" and "Mercy" prompt mass sing-alongs.

Muse play a "metal medley" in their encore, featuring bits of their heavier songs. This is joyful and frustrating in equal measure; I get to hear pieces of my favorite songs, but they end far too soon.

As is customary, the band conclude their show with the demented "Knights of Cydonia". If by then you aren't jumping up and down and having an absolute ball, you might need to check your pulse.

Even though this may not be my favorite Muse tour, then, the concert is a reminder of just how much fun the band is in a live setting. It's all a bit ridiculous and overblown, but so hugely entertaining that you can't help but leave the venue beaming.

- Anna Wirz

Photos of support band SWMRS are here.

Photos of Muse are here.

Setlist:

Algorithm (Alternate Reality Version; shortened)

Pressure

Psycho

Break It to Me

Uprising

Propaganda

Plug In Baby

Pray (High Valyrian)

The Dark Side

Supermassive Black Hole

Thought Contagion

Interlude

Hysteria

The 2nd Law: Unsustainable

Dig Down

Madness

Mercy

Time Is Running Out

Houston Jam

Take a Bow

Prelude

Starlight

Encore:

Algorithm

Stockholm Syndrome / Assassin / Reapers / The Handler / New Born

Knights of Cydonia