Muse Cut The Setlist Down For The Cure

by Paul Cashmere
Undercover News
Summer '04

Muse are currently touring the USA with The Cure on the Curiosa Festival but because of time restrictions have had to cut their set down to just six songs.

The six songs they played were 'Hysteria', 'New Born', 'Bliss', 'Butterflies and Hurricanes', 'Time Is Running Out' and 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Undercover caught up with Muse bass player Chris Wolstenholme after the Atlanta show on Friday to run through how they chose their setlist.

Hysteria from Absolution
Chris: "Hysteria was the second single we did in the UK and I also think it is the next single that is going to be released in America. We always felt with that track was that it was very good track to open a gig with. It is just one of those tracks that is a simple song but has an immediate effect. It was one of those tracks that grabs attention from people. I think for that reason we chose to open the set with that. It is just a good, rocking track".

New Born from Origin of Symmetry
Chris: "New Born I think between the three of us is probably one of our favourite tracks from Origins of Symmetry. It is a good live track. I think it's one of the songs which showcases the experimental side of the band. It is not really a conventional pop song. I think a lot of the reason for choosing these songs is that we went for the heavier more direct kind of songs rather than going for anything too mellow".

Bliss from Origin of Symmetry
Chris: "We have just always loved playing that song live. Even if you don't know the song it has one of those discoy feels to it but recorded in a rock way. It was one of those songs that when we play it live you always know if you are having a bad gig it will be the song that will get the crowd going".

Butterflies and Hurricanes from Absolution
Chris: "We weren't sure whether to play that at first because it is one of the most experimental tracks on Absolution, but it is also out favourite track on Absolution. We actually recorded strings on there. It is one of the ones we do that has a strange arrangement. It is not really a conventional song as such. We were unsure of doing it but we decided at the first gig that maybe it was another side of the band that would be good to show people who are seeing us for the first gig. The reaction we got from the first gig was really surprising. The crowd seemed excited that we were playing that one song. We have played it at every gig so far on this tour. I'm not sure if we will keep playing it. We are trying to mix it up. At the moment that one song is going down really well".

Time Is Running Out from Absolution
Chris: "Time Is Running Out is one of those songs that is one of the most popular on the album. It was the first single and if there was a pop song that we have written that would be it. It was our first single in America and it was the first song a lot of people would have heard from the radio. It is one of those songs that has to be in the set. It is a key moment in the set and has to be there anyway".

Stockholm Syndrome from Absolution
Chris: "Ever since we have been touring Absolution we have been ending on that song pretty much every gig. It is just a blistering rock track. Wherever you are in the arena it just has this catchy kind of rock riffs that even if you don't like it, it just turns heads".

With a shortened set to play to, Muse have had to leave out some of their better known songs. One of the best known 'Hyper Music' from Origin of Symmetry isn't in the setlist but as Chris tells Undercover News "We haven't played that at all since we started touring this album. I'm not sure why. It is difficult even when you have an hour and a half we have four albums of material and it is difficult to play. I don't know why really but that song seems to have just disappeared. Maybe it is in similar vain to New Born or Hysteria. When we play we try to get across as many different sides of the band as we can. It is not all about being a rock band. There are other sides to the band and when it is possible it is nice to get those other sides out as well".