Manic Street Preachers
Words: Corey Grange
Manic Street Preachers, long a lauded live act but one that never made their way into my books. A band whose songs I've known but never really adored. They blew me away. No support act needed, instead choosing a mixtape of Richey Edwards' favourite tracks from 1991/1992. A beautiful touch. Pearl Jam, Siouxsie, Sex Pistols. Some taste, some man, some songwriter. 'Motorcycle Emptiness' opened the set, which is their best track. Not an opinion, just a fact. Not a fact but I like being right. 'Ocean Spray', a track I've never really liked was next but it opened up in a live setting (a trend with this gig). 'Faster' from The Holy Bible tore the crowd apart (as it should). 'Everything Must Go' brought me back to being 15 (in 2017, I'm not a fossil) and 'A Design for Life' is genuinely a masterpiece of a track. James Dean Bradfield's vocals and guitarwork are the highlights of that song AND this gig. Whatever he is doing to keep his voice in shape, he should keep doing. The acoustic set in the middle was pristine. 'From Despair to Where' and 'Yes' knocked me dead. 'Slash 'n' Burn' was a welcome surprise from Generation Terrorists, as was the Clem Burke tribute with Blondie's 'Union City Blue'. No encore needed for these lads, 21 songs straight and off the stage. We would've loved more. Bonus points for the little bit of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' for Bonnie Tyler too. We loved them and they know it. I didn't. But now I do. I shall be seeing them again.