Muse, Thirty Seconds to Mars, PVRIS @ USANA 09.20

USANA Amphitheater, out in West Valley, opened its gates to the flood of fans that started arriving hours before the show even began. With Muse returning to Salt Lake City after a four-year pause, bringing supporting musical groups 30 Seconds to Mars and PVRIS, eager fans filled this outdoor venue by the tens of thousands.

Opening group PVRIS (pronounced “Paris”) took the stage while the light was still over the audience’s shoulders and half the attendees were getting beer and finding their seats. The music started and the section upfront sang along, swaying to the beat of the music. PVRIS played in a slower-paced style and reminded of Paramore and Halsey with a sound that is ethereal, dance and pop in one.

Next up onstage is Thirty Seconds to Mars, entering one by one from the darkness and only lit up by a giant pyramid in the rear and center. Jared Leto joined onstage after the lights and beats become one pulsing presence. The 1990s-formed group have had plenty of airplay over the years, and it definitely showed with the crowd singing along. Leto left the stage, interacting with the audience and jamming one of the band’s most well-known hits, “The Kill,” while sitting at the center. With guests being invited onstage, getting screamed at by fans and singing and dancing with a Rock Star Jesus in Pajamas, this performance was widely appreciated.

Finally, after a slight intermission for a bathroom break and a refill, the venue went dark and all one could hear was the shrieking of the crowd, awaiting Muse to melt their faces. Panels of light flashed with colorful rectangles as a beat started pulsing: the familiar “Psycho” intro. The beat became more prevalent as the colors continued to flash, revealing three silhouettes. The music and the lights were in full blast as voices screamed, “Fucking psycho!” and the band broke loose with a fantastic light show. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme rocked his head, drummer Dominic Howard hammered out the beat to the familiar hits and lead singer Matthew Bellamy donned slatted sunglasses and a hidden camera projecting his image as an oversized, distorted projection of himself on the panels all across the stage. Muse continued playing hits from their albums Black Holes and Revelations, The 2nd Law and Absolution, delighting audiences with live renditions of new favorites such as “Dead Inside” and “Mercy.” Fans ranged from hands-in-the-air, screaming enthusiasts to the stoic, silent type and all in between, all taking in the same high-energy, intense, pounding musical experience that only Muse can deliver.

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