Gallery and Review by Gallery of Rose

July 28th, 2026

2026 has been a fantastic year for Maryland residents who love concerts. Star after star has been lighting up Columbia’s own Merriweather Post Pavilion. From The Strokes to Alex Warren to Train, things did not slow down as July came to a close and Muse took the stage. 

I’ve been listening to Muse for two years now, and they very quickly earned a special place in my heart. Thanks to a friend’s recommendation, I started listening to them during a rough time in my life. Now, I fondly remember late summer nights, listening to Muse while skating at the park with that friend - Plug in Baby was always on repeat. I even ended up naming my first car Bellamy, after lead singer Matt Bellamy.

Before the concert, I had been seeing so many videos about Muse concerts online. People talking about how infectious their energy is, feeling their basslines in their bones, and all of the different lighting effects immersing them in the experience. I was already looking forward to this concert, and seeing all of these positive reviews and comments only added to my excitement. 

My favorite feeling in the world is right when a concert starts — the lights go down, the crowd erupts into cheers, and the anticipation lingers in the air. It is always such a magical moment, especially from the front as a photographer. This, however, was my first time shooting at Merriweather Post Pavilion, and it was the largest venue I have ever shot. The energy in the pavilion was unreal. I could just feel the excitement emanating from everyone; every single person in that venue was waiting for that exact moment, when Muse walked out onto the stage.

They began their set strong with Hysteria, Cryogen, and Supermassive Black Hole. High energy right off the bat —a classic, a new hit, and the one everyone knows. It was surreal to be able to experience those songs from up close while I was shooting. While I’ve enjoyed many concerts from the barricade, it truly is another feeling to be right in front of the stage as your favorite band plays songs you’ve heard hundreds of times before. It’s almost like they’re playing it for you. It’s a feeling that I hope everyone can have the opportunity to experience in their life. 

After I was done shooting and settled in, I was able to see the full scope of the stage. They had quite possibly the coolest lighting setup I have ever seen. Hanging rectangular screens with lights moved around the entire set with insane visuals. There were lasers, images, pyro, and confetti. It was so fun to watch everything happening on the stage. While the concert was already engaging, the imagery and effects pulled everyone into the new world that Muse created at this show.

One part that really stood out to me was at the end, during their final song, Take a Bow. Lead singer Bellamy was wearing electronic glasses that displayed the lyrics as he sang them. I’ve seen artists have lyrics on screens behind them during concerts before, but I’ve never seen lyrics on glasses. It was just a cherry on top of a night filled with creativity and innovation. 

I absolutely love how Muse ended their set with Take a Bow. Lots of musicians play their most popular songs last, but I believe they made the right choice. Opening their set with Supermassive Black Hole, their most popular song started the night off strong, while Take a Bow is a grand song, making it the perfect choice to end an already mind blowing concert.

All in all, it was incredibly special for me to be able to create art from music that holds so much meaning to me. I am so passionate about concerts because of the unique experiences they can bring to everyday mundane life, and Muse’s show was the perfect reminder of why I feel this way.  They took every aspect that the audience engages with, not only their sound but their visuals and energy, and put their all into it. Going above and beyond for a show like this brings their fans in and makes them feel like part of something special, something more.

THE SETLIST

Interlude - Hysteria

Cryogen

Supermassive Black Hole

Hexagons

Stockholm Syndrome

Unravelling

Kill or Be Killed

Be With You

Psycho

Madness

Plug in Baby

Time Is Running Out

Uprising

Knights of Cydonia

The 2nd Law: Isolated System

Nightshift Superstar

Alogrithm (Intro) - Undisclosed Desires

Starlight

---------

Take a Bow