Muse kicked off the North America leg of its The 2nd Law Tour on Monday (January 21) in San Diego with a characteristically stunning visual presentation that included a huge pyramid of LED screens, lasers and lighting effects and customized video footage.

Drummer Dominic Howard tells us that the British trio comes into each new tour feeling like it has to top what it did on its predecessor:

"I think we always have to feel like we're doing something slightly better to what we did last time. As far as just trying to make the show bigger and better and have more effects and be crazier than what we did last time, that's almost getting to the point where that's getting hard. I think in many ways the band is getting better all the time at playing and performing. I think as far as how we are on stage and how we are to the audience, it's getting better all the time. Somehow it's still moving forward. That's the main thing -- it`s still moving in the right direction."

Muse, which canceled three shows in December after frontman Matthew Bellamy broke his foot, will be in North America until April 26, wrapping up in Quebec City, then begins a second European tour on May 22. It will also play festival shows during August in Japan and during September in Brazil.

Muse is nominated for a pair of Grammy Awards, Best Rock Album for "The 2nd Law" and Best Rock Song for "Madness."

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