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Manic Street Preachers
Razorlight
At Arena, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
It really shouldn't have worked.
I mean, three overweight Welsh blokes a good five years past their sell-by date and the biggest gobshite to crawl out of London's trendier quarters since time began, maybe, all under the same roof.
Ticket sales haven't exactly been soaring - the fact that touts outside were selling their wares for less than half price probably tells its own story - while the Manic Street Preachers' most recent offering 'Life Blood' continues to gather dust on the shelves of every HMV and Virgin Megastore up and down the land.
The last time they played this venue, two years ago to promote their greatest hits package, they seemed laboured, almost going through the motions to fulfil contractual obligations and the like before seemingly being put out to grass forever more.
I certainly didn't come here tonight expecting to see the most exciting show I've witnessed all year.
How wrong could I have been...
The fact that the Manics chose Razorlight to support them probably owes as much to a sense of deja vu - certainly on Nicky Wire's part anyway - as it does to a mutual admiration of each other's musical talents. If there's one thing about Johnny Borrell, he can certainly wind people up the wrong way, not unlike Wire in his younger days, and whether or not you find his C-O-N-T-R-O-V-E-R-S-I-A-L appropriations preposterous and irksome, you've got to admire his belligerance.
This time last year Razorlight were opening for no-hopers like The Bell Rays in shitty little toilets. Their meteoric rise probably owes as much to their uber-confident frontman as it does their tunes, but then when you've got such infectious stompers as 'Rip It Up', 'In The City' and 'Dalston', only a brave man could cast any aspersions of failure.
Future headliners of Glastonbury? Don't laugh - stranger things have happened.
And none more strange than the new lease of life that seems to have gripped the tired old carthorse that was the Manic Street Preachers, circa 2002.
The zest of yesteryear is back and tonight you get the impression that James Dean Bradfield and company are actually enjoying every minute of it. Despite the fact that Nicky Wire still looks a forlorn figure marooned to the far right of the stage, the addition of second guitarist Guy Massey has obviously had an impact not witnessed this side of 'The Holy Bible', as even the newer songs such as 'I Live To Fall Asleep' and '1985' sound as meaty as a 16oz sirloin cut from Dewhursts.
Even the actions of an overexcited member of the audience pouring a bottle of water into the mixing desk that causes the band to leave the stage halfway through 'Australia' and spend the next ten minutes waiting around while their roadcrew scurry around like headless chickens can't dampen their spirits, or the fact that JDB's favourite football team got stuffed earlier that day.
It's probably fair to say that the majority of hardcore Manic Street Preachers fans' ideal setlist would comprise largely of material lifted from the first three albums, with as little as possible from the '...Truth' and 'Know Your Enemy' eras, so the fact that no less than FIVE songs - count 'em if you don't believe me - in tonight's set are lifted from 'The Holy Bible' ('Yes', 'Faster' - played with a blistering fire in its belly as opposed to the half-arsed semi-acoustic meandering we were "treated" to on the greatest hits tour - 'This Is Yesterday', 'Die In The Summertime' and 'Archives Of Pain') made it feel like a few old demons were being exercised. Either that or they've a new box set to promote, but we'll let the cynics deliberate over that one...
As a rapturous 'Motorcycle Emptiness' and 'Design For Life' close the show, a new chapter in the Manics saga may be just beginning, ultimately proving how embarrassingly foolish it would be to write off Blackwood's most famous sons just yet.
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Manic Street Preachers
Ahh ze Manics. I have heard very bad and very good things about this gig. Johnny Razor is a bit of a nusance isn't he? Shame the new Manics album sounds like Keane. I have nothing to say really, just loitering. Anyone fancy a walk to the shop? For a pie? -
Manic Street Preachers
I find it amusing how [since 2000-ish, anyway] whenever a new Manics album comes out, the previous album/tour, despite being lavished with praise at the time, is slagged to death, and the new offerings are talked of in the highest regard.
Me? I didn't go and see them. I like them, but £30 to see them in an aircraft hanger with Razorlight? Naaaaaaah. -
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I love the Manic Street Preachers. im going to see them on Friday in Manchester and im soooooo excited,i think my ticket was worth every penny,but then again i aint paying.lol -
Re: Manic Street Preachers
I would like a pie.
NO, WAIT.
A slice... cheese and ham wrapped in pastry.
Mmmmmmm processed joy. -
Manic Street Preachers
Went to Cardiff to see them last night and saw James Dean Bradfield...
... 's name on a piece of paper, saying he had the flu. Travelled back to Bristol. -
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unlucky.im going to manchester to see them on friday (hopefully) ,im so excited,there well good. -
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Mmmmmmmmm,thnks for that ive got to wait ages until i can get dinner and now youve gone and made me hungry.lol -
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I only have one of those wierd slices of pork pie that have a boiled egg in the middle. Would you like to share? -
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Yes please!!!!!!!!!!!! lol -
Manic Street Preachers
I understand that Razorlight are in New York when the new gigs take place, so we'll be getting something else. Perhaps Hope of the States, after they supported on the first date? That would suit me. -
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It's not the price, it's the price/venue combination. -
Manic Street Preachers
I'm glad this tours being well received - i'm a bit annoyed people are comparing the new album to Keane - i just can't see it - sure 'Empty Souls' sounds vaguely like coldplay, but aside from that it's new ground for them - i used to think this would be their last throw of the dice, but y'know what - i think they may have another five years in them. -
Manic Street Preachers
yes. God save in a world in which the presence of a piano and a melody automatically renders music to keanedom. Empty Souls is one of the most passionate, affecting songs of recent times.
in other news, i'm disappointed that the manics arn't trying to throw the critics barbs back at them. they seem to have already cut the much slated but often rather brilliant Know Your Enemy out of their history... with the exception of six new songs the recent setlists could be from 1998, which is a shame.
and given the muted reaction to lifeblood, who's to say the new album won't be similarly cast aside...
populism's a bitch. -
Manic Street Preachers
On the whole KYE wasn't too bad - sure Wattsville Blues made me cringe (Lesson - never let Wire near the mike EVER EVER again) but beyond that, it was quite good - again, a huge change from TIMTTMY, and i would have loved 12 Masses Against The Classes - that would have blown everything out of the water.
And to respond to Zoo1, lets hope to god that Lifeblood doesn't get forgotten - with songs as good as 1985 and Glasnost, it'd be criminal if it did -
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>Wattsville Blues made me cringe (Lesson - never let Wire near the mike EVER EVER again
I don't know - did you ever hear Ballad Of The Bangkok Novotel? That was funny. -
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But, y'know, I'm not sure I ever needed to hear Wire say "masturbation". EVER. -
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Ha that was a god awful Bside to something wasn't it? Oh Nicky, it must be so difficult being in a world famous band and staying in hotels for a couple of months a year. And they say nurses have it tough.
I seem to remember theres a great song on KYE called 'Agnostic' something orother, very Sonic Youth. they should have gone thataway. -
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Intravenous Agnostic? terrible song. The lyrics made "Psued's Corner" in Private Eye :D -
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Bangkok Novotel wasn't too bad compared to Wattsville.., but lets be honest, he's no JDB, now is he? -
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shit lyrics yes, but fucking superb music. actually my favourite manics' rocker. even better than faster! -
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amen, mooseman, but (unbelievably) they don't even play Glasnost now!
i swear, if Glasnost had been the lead-off single, Lifeblood would have sold twice as much. -
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what he said -
Manic Street Preachers
What?! they seem to do that (not play the better album tracks live - see Ready for Drowning, slepflower etc...)
not sure if i agree about the Glasnost comment - sure Nixon was a shocking choice of single - it doesn't really fit the album at all - however, i'm sure Empty Souls will give the album a boost - also if they don't release 1985, i may just lose all faith in humnaity all over again. -
Manic Street Preachers
'Intravenous Agnostic' is my favourite song on 'KYE'. Better than that 'Let Robeson Sing' shite.
I'd agree that recently they seem to take the worst from the album and release it, and then not play the truly gripping songs from the album. I'm quite glad I didn't buy 'Lifeblood' to be honest. -
Manic Street Preachers
and im quite glad i went to see asmz at the rescue rooms and gave my mum and sister the tickets i had for the notts manics show -
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To be fair Ready For Drowning was played for a long time around the period of This Is My Truth etc. This tour they've been wheeling out stuff likes Yes, Enola / Alone and No Surface All Feeling a lot while forsaking a few of the 'lesser' (only lesser by the Manics standards mind) singles...
I was at this said gig and it officially pissed over every other band I've seen raved about around these parts this year :) -
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I've said it once now i'll say it again....'Know Your Enemy' was a great album and perhaps apart from 'The Holy Bible' my favourite Manics CD -
Manic Street Preachers
i really wish i could of enjoyed the birmingham gig. but i guess i'm to fixated on the 1st 3 albums even though they did play alot off the holy bible i still wasnt satisfied i just got pissed off.
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