Friday 13/11/09 Muse @ The 02 Arena, London

Despite the date, a night with Muse in an arena is always going to be a good night. Ever since their Wembley stadium gig, this has been a band who have revelled in the mega-stadium gig. The O2 is of course the next stage of this.

The don't fail to disappoint. From their emergence in the middle on top of towers that elevate in height to their  recent single 'The Resistance', performing to a crowd surrounding them on 360 degrees, its going to be a night of stellar hits.

As much as this had to a greatest hits set  (recent album The Resistance is an unusual mixed affair from the band) its still fantastic to hear everything from the beginning. While the likes of 'Hysteria' and 'Plug-in Baby' delight the crowd, an outing of 'Cave' played by Matt Bellamy on a transparent  light-up piano is a nice way to bring the back catalogue up to current affairs.

New numbers transfer to the live setting rather well too, though only a handful get an airing. 'Undisclosed Desires' in particular strikes a note – a rock-R&B fusion that will destroy the charts if given a release date.

If there's one complaint tonight, its the setting. Muse have become a simply colossal band, and only a mammoth venue will now suit them. But the massive short comings of the ludicrously high O2 arena puts a slight damper on events. Considering the price paid for tickets, I'm sure many people up in the rafters were undoubtedly a little disappointed with their view and would have preferred bigger screens on which to see the band. I'm sure many more would have preferred Muse perform four gigs at the more intimate Wembley Arena than two at The O2.

Never the less, by the final number, predictably 'Knights of Cydonia', this is largely forgotten as the crowd revels in the intense performance one of this generation's guitar hero and some supertight playing from Dom on drums and Chris on bass.

No one needs me to say that this was going to be a spectacular performance - that's what Muse are all about. From a fan's point of you though, you can't help feel a victim of your own desire to be a part of that in what you pay and what you get to see at a venue like The O2.

A brilliant night, just lacking in the desired intimacy.