England's Glastonbury Festival went off this past weekend, with most reports coming back very positive. One band that certainly won't forget the experience is MUSE, who closed the festival with a headlining slot on Sunday night. Playing to easily their largest audience ever, the band rolled through an expansive set that many critics are calling the highlight of the festival. Muse frontman Mat Bellamy yelled to the audience, "This is the best gig of our lives," shortly before leaving the stage. Tragedy, however, struck moments later, as the father of drummer Dominic Howard collapsed and died on the festival grounds. Muse have cancelled all immediate festival appearances as a result of the death.

Muse - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver - 05/10/04

I've been going to punk rock shows for over twelve years now, and it's been a long time since any band has made my ears ring. Muse did it.

First, get a sense of the show. The first venue sold out, and the one they moved it up to that is nearly twice the size almost sold out too. Yet it's a rainy Monday night. Yet the screaming for Muse sounded like Kiss took the stage. Vancouver is an infamous laid back city when it comes to live shows, we confound and aggravate bands the world over.