Camden, NJ – Grammy award-winning English rock band Muse have recently released their newest album, The Wow! Signal, on June 26, marking 3 years since their last full-length album release. In honor of the release, the band has embarked on a massive North American tour, hitting amphitheaters across the US and Canada. Now halfway through the tour, Muse stopped at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, NJ on July 29 to a near sold-out crowd. With an extensive 23-track setlist, eye-catching stage production, and a commanding stage presence, Muse put on a show that the fans would never forget.
The first band to hit the stage was Australian indie rock band The Temper Trap. After a long hiatus, the band recently released their newest full-length album Sungazer, their first album release in 10 years. The band opened with “Love Lost” and “Fader”, tracks from their 2009 breakthrough album Conditions, followed by the intro track from the new album “Lucky Dimes”. With shoegaze and electronic influences, The Temper Trap creates a unique soundscape that mesmerizes the audience. The band closed with their multi-platinum hit “Sweet Disposition” and a single from Sungazer “Giving Up Air”. Despite just playing 6 songs, The Temper Trap successfully warmed up the audience for the upcoming acts with their genre-bending sound.
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The second and final opener to perform was UK-based alternative rock band Bloc Party. Having been active since 2004, Bloc Party’s unique sound made them a standout in the indie rock scene. Combining elements of post-punk, electronic, hip-hop, and more, the band creates a recognizable sound of their own. The band opened with one of their recent singles, “Coming On Strong”, from their upcoming album Anatomy of a Brief Romance, set to release on September 11. With songs that ranged from melodic indie rock to more high-energy, punk-inspired tracks like “Helicopter”, the audience was fully engaged in the set for all 10 songs. By the end of the set, the crowd was full of energy for the headlining act.
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At around 9:15, the lights began to dim for the final time that night as cheers boomed throughout the amphitheater. Rows of rectangular screens floating above the stage began to light up, and soon enough, Muse walked onto the stage as excitement filled the venue. After performing the instrumental “Interlude”, they went into the fan-favorite “Hysteria”, already invigorating the crowd as they sang along and got off their feet. The band then went into a new track “Cryogen” from their new album The Wow! Signal, followed by their 2006 hit “Supermassive Black Hole”. The passion among the fans was evident as everyone in the crowd continued singing along to every lyric; Muse’s return to New Jersey was certainly a welcome one.
Muse ensured to put on a show that had to be seen to be believed. With intricate lighting design and a captivating stage setup with floating rotating screens playing intriguing animations, Muse’s show had everyone in the audience enamored. The additions of confetti, pyro, and lasers added to the spectacle, making the show more of an experience rather than just a concert. Muse’s stage presence is already engaging on its own, with singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy’s dynamic vocals and electrifying riffs continuing to hype up the fans throughout the show. The grandness of the show is fitting for Muse’s music, known for its unique genre-bending sound that influenced modern rock.
Muse’s set was something new fans and longtime fans would enjoy, full of fan-favorites and songs from the new album. With a massive 23-song setlist, the band took songs from nearly their whole discography, ranging from early in their career to their latest release. Among new tracks like “Nightshift Superstar” and “Unravelling”, the band also performed hits such as their 2009 track “Uprising”, their 2003 track “Time is Running Out”, and their 2006 hit “Knights of Cydonia”. They closed their initial set with the fan-favorite “Starlight”, and the crowd’s voices echoed throughout the venue as they sang along to every word. Once the band walked offstage, the fans clamored for “one more song”. Soon enough, Muse walked back on stage, much to the excitement of the fans, and performed their 2006 track “Take a Bow”. Muse ended their July leg of the tour with a bang, and the fans left with an unforgettable memory.
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