MUSE‘s performance at Merriweather Post Pavilion on July 28 got off to an eventful start following an afternoon filled with severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings that threatened to delay the show. When skies cleared and doors finally opened, fans quickly filled the venue in anticipation of an exciting evening featuring The Temper Trap, Bloc Party, and MUSE. By the end of the night, the hazardous weather had become little more than a footnote to a show filled with impressive performances, striking production, and an audience that sang along from start to finish.
Australian indie rock outfit The Temper Trap opened the evening with a laid-back set that provided a welcome reset after the volatile weather. Formed in Melbourne in 2005, the band delivered six songs of atmospheric indie rock and soaring melodies, including their well-known hit, “Sweet Disposition.” Front-man Dougy Mandagi warmly greeted the audience, encouraging everyone to get on their feet and dance as the band’s polished musicianship and relaxed stage presence eased the crowd into the night.
London’s Bloc Party followed, taking the energy up another notch. Formed in 1999 and regarded as one of the defining bands of the mid-2000s post-punk revival period, the group packed driving rhythms, angular guitars, and electronic textures into a tight 30-minute set. Pulsing strobes and increasingly dynamic lighting complemented the heavier sound, while lead singer Kele Okereke shared brief stories between songs and previewed material from their forthcoming album, Anatomy of a Brief Romance.
Since forming in 1994, Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme, and Dominic Howard have earned a reputation as one of modern rock’s premier live acts, and The Wow! Signal Tour demonstrated exactly why. The production made an immediate impression, with a reflective center catwalk extending into the crowd beneath a towering wall of lights. Floating LED panels, lasers, pyrotechnics, and confetti cannons continually transformed the stage, while evolving visuals – from psychedelic imagery to towering flames – gave each song its own distinct atmosphere throughout the night.
When the house lights dimmed, the crowd erupted as MUSE took the stage. An atmospheric introductory video built up suspense while the trio quietly gathered around Howard’s drum kit and they launched into the unmistakable opening riff of “Hysteria.” The audience immediately sang every word as Bellamy sprinted down the catwalk for an extended guitar solo. “Supermassive Black Hole” followed with hypnotic visuals and an extended intro, while the opening notes of “Stockholm Syndrome” prompted another roar from the crowd.
Throughout the evening, the band balanced explosive moments with quieter, cinematic passages that helped move the audience through their carefully curated set list. “Unraveling” slowed the pace beneath deep blue lighting, while “Be With You” transformed the venue with stunning stained-glass-inspired visuals and church organ flourishes. As the song progressed, fans clapped in unison before red confetti and cascading ribbon streamers blasted across the amphitheater in one of the evening’s most surprising moments.
The intensity quickly returned with the pounding drums of “Psycho” and a playful call-and-response guitar riff leading into “Plug In Baby.” Following an instrumental bridge of “Hanging in Victory Square,” MUSE moved into “Time Is Running Out” before delivering one of the night’s biggest crowd moments with “Uprising.” Bellamy stepped back from the microphone, allowing thousands of voices to carry the chorus as bursts of flame erupted with every shout of hey!; by the final refrain the band had joined back in, creating one of the loudest sing-alongs of the evening.
Next, a dance-inspired remix by Dan Lancaster shifted the mood before the band launched into “Nightshift Superstar,” with Bellamy sporting illuminated glasses and an LED jacket as lasers swept across the venue. During “Undisclosed Desires,” the audience waved their arms to the beat while Bellamy quickly introduced each member of the band. The main set closed with “Starlight,” once again handing the chorus to the audience as Bellamy extended his microphone from the end of the catwalk. After a brief departure and a short closing segment, MUSE returned for an encore of “Take a Bow,” punctuated by pulsing warning lights, lasers, ribbon cannons, and precisely timed pyrotechnics.
The evening delivered everything fans have come to expect from MUSE – exceptional musicianship, soaring vocals, inventive production, and a strong connection with the audience. Whether experiencing the band for the first time or returning to hear longtime favorites, The Wow! Signal Tour offers a live show that is well worth seeing.
The MUSE tour will continue through North America and Europe through the end of the year. Tickets can be purchased here.
