Muse — Eurockéennes de Belfort, 2000

On 7 July 2000, Muse played the Eurockéennes de Belfort, on the peninsula of Lac de Malsaucy, a year before the release of “Origin of Symmetry.” This filmed live concert captures the Teignmouth trio — Matthew Bellamy on vocals and guitar, Chris Wolstenholme on bass, Dominic Howard on drums — at a pivotal moment, still touring the debut album “Showbiz” while road-testing songs to come. The set opens with “New Born” and “Sunburn,” then delivers a feverish cover of “Feeling Good,” the hysterical climbs of “Muscle Museum” and “Plug In Baby,” and the ballad “Unintended.” Long circulated on a period DVD, the capture documents the youthful rage of a rising British rock band in front of the French festival crowd. A precious live record for gauging how far they travelled before international success, with raw energy and an already spectacular onstage virtuosity. For fans of the band, this early full concert is an invaluable live document, filmed years before Muse filled the world’s biggest stadiums with their arena rock.