Fresh from being voted Best British Live Act at the Brit Awards and Best British Band at the NME Awards, Muse, hailing from Devon, gave Hong Kong fans a truly unforgettable night. Often labelled a "cool" band, their musical prowess is certainly not to be underestimated. Before the show even began, over a thousand people were waiting outside the venue—it has been a long time since we've seen such a dedicated crowd. Naturally, the band did not disappoint, driving the fans into a frenzy all night long with their surging energy and extraordinary technical skill.
The band wasted no time, kicking off with a non-stop run of "Take A Bow", "Hysteria", and "Supermassive Black Hole". Frontman Matthew Bellamy then greeted the audience with "Good evening, Hong Kong!" followed by a phrase in Cantonese: "How are you, Hong Kong?" (Dim ah Hong Kong?), which naturally drew thunderous applause and cheers from the floor. Matthew was full of energy throughout the performance, constantly running around the stage with his guitar and even dropping to his knees, lost in the music. Combined with drummer Dominic Howard’s powerful, driving beats and bassist Chris Wolstenholme’s immersive performance, it is clear that Muse’s title as Best British Live Act is entirely well-deserved.
Most of the night's songs sent adrenaline pumping through the crowd—mass singalongs, jumping, and crowd surfing were constant occurrences, highlighting just how crazy the fans are for Muse. Despite their numerous awards, the band hasn't become arrogant. On the contrary, their down-to-earth attitude was evident, from drummer Dominic saying "Thank you!" in Cantonese midway through the set, to Matthew thanking the fans for their passion before the encore, saying "Hong Kong is amazing!" It was clear that the band and the fans were completely connected that night.
Matthew mentioned in the press conference that he couldn't imagine having fans who knew their music so well in a part of Asia this far away; after tonight, his opinion has surely changed. Although there was frequent chaos in the first few rows, with some over-excited fans fainting and having to be carried out, it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm for Muse's first-ever concert in Hong Kong.
Setlist
Take A Bow
Hysteria
Supermassive Black Hole
Butterflies & Hurricanes
Assassin
New Born
Citizen Erased
Hoodoo
Apocalypse Please
Feeling Good
Sunburn
Starlight
Plug In Baby
Map Of The Problematique
Stockholm Syndrome
[encore]
Soldier's Poem
Invincible
Time Is Running Out
Knights Of Cydonia