MtvU Campus Invasion Tour visits Tech with Muse, Razorlight
By Ethan Trewhitt / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
An inflatable rock-climbing wall was among the attractions at the mtvU village that was set up in the Buger Bowl last Sunday.
Brown backpacks full of books, air fresheners, spiral notebooks and CD samplers donned the backs of students on the lawn of the Burger Bowl Sunday afternoon.
Along with presenting Muse and Razorlight, mtvU set up a series of interactive stations stocked with giveaways and MTV promotion on campus before the concert.
Complete with an inflatable rock-climbing wall and a live DJ, students could design their own T-shirt, register to win passes to the Tabernacle show, race friends in a bungee-challenge, view a digital make-over and design a key chain.
The Student Center Programs Council co-sponsored the event and responded to a seemingly light crowd. " It was an okay turnout. It was [to be] expected with the little advertising and the Ludacris concert, " said Chirag Talati, a third-year Aerospace Engineering major.
MtvU promoters reported a stronger showing from Florida campuses earlier that weekend at Florida Atlantic University and Jacksonville University, but they were not disappointed with the crowd for a Sunday afternoon.
MtvU gave meet-and-greet passes on the hour. " My friend Gavin and I actually won tickets out at the MTV Invasion. We didn ' t know that much about Razorlight, but had heard about Muse - we got front row seats and got to meet the band, " said Andrew Smith, a first-year Management major.
Electrifying and dynamic, Muse put forth an amazing performance fused with musical flair and passion in a remarkable stage show.
Infused with raw energy, imposing guitar chords, lingering falsetto lines, lavish piano playing, intensive drum beats, innovative bass lines and a commanding stage presence, Muse captivated the sold-out Tabernacle audience last Sunday evening.
Pictured as silhouettes upon a backdrop of their Absolution album cover, Muse took over the intimate venue as if ready to play an arena rock show; flashing lights and vivacious stage antics revealed the dynamic threesome to be phenomenal musicians as well as live performers.
Taking the stage, the British rock trio slipped into a perfect opener that let the crowd know they were ready to play: with a creeping guitar line, " Hysteria " mounted into an explosion of bold guitar fused with a pulsating drum line that filled the entire venue with escalating anticipation.
" [Muse] came out to open with a song off their new album that set the tone for the show. I thought it was awesome how they incorporated piano with heavy guitar, " said Dan Snyder, a third-year Building Construction major.
Sacrificing on piano and guitar at times because of the sheer capability of three musicians, Muse handled the task with enthusiasm and rock star finesse that kept the crowd engaged.
" Butterflies and Hurricanes " showcased the power of keyboardist and lead singer Matt Bellamy ' s voice, laced with haunting orchestral themes and tinkering piano segments that exceeded any expectations live as it rose into an impressive rock ballad.
Muse capped their performance with a high-energy encore that swept into an improvised rock moment among the musicians. " I loved the total rock star moment at the end, with [Bellamy] knocking the amp over and falling to the ground, " said Gwyneth Halstead-Nussloch, a first-year Biology major.
Muse takes British rock to a whole new level, channeling concert piano passages that effortlessly crescendos into intricate bass lines compounded with an alternative rock spin. Their live performance fortifies their latest album, Absolution, creating an experience that hardly transcends any depiction. The British three-piece, hailing from the Devon town of Teignmouth, is composed of Bellamy, drummer Dominic Howard and bassist and back-up vocalist Chris Wolstenholme. The former schoolmates have enjoyed remarkable success in the United Kingdom, headlining arena shows and producing popular singles. Currently signed with Warner Bros. in the States, Muse has experienced a response of sold-out club shows with a steady fan-base. Emerging fellow British rock band Razorlight opened for Muse.
Energetic and entertaining, Razorlight put on a good performance. " The crowd responded well - they were musically interesting: British rock definitely with a mix of ' 80s new wave and something different, " Halstead-Nussloch said.
From patterned polos to colorful mohawks, from studded belts to lacy tops, the mtvU Campus Invasion Tour attracted a variety of college-aged fans to the Tabernacle. Students at Tech enjoyed the convenience of buying discounted tickets for the sold-out show at the Student Center box office.
