Manic Street Preachers - Nottingham Rock City 24/05/07

Thursday 24th May brought me my second Manics gig of the three... Well, it wasn't as good as Wolverhampton Civic, but to be honest, I don't think anything will ever match that gig.


My phone broke on Tuesday, so I had no way of contacting Caz to organise the gig with her. This made me stress muchly as I didn't think I'd be able to go... I was utterly gutted. Anyway, Simons phone came through on Thursday which meant I managed to get hold of her. Thank god!!!

I got to Nottingham about 6.30pm, and went for some tea with Caz and her mate. We didn't end up getting to Rock City until around 8.30pm which I was feeling pretty shitty about because I was desperate to get in front of Mr Wire again. Anyway, the good news was that I managed to miss The Enemy, I'd have got annoyed by them again. The even better news...? Well that was the fact that somehow, I still managed to get onto the barrier! I don't know how. I've never been on the barrier for a Manics gig, but I was, and it was amazing! I got some faaaab photos!!!

The setlist was fairly similar to Monday night, apart from two changes. That was 'I'm Just a Patsy' instead of 'Winterloves'... good, but I reckon they should have stayed with Winterlovers, but that's more because I adore Winterlovers! Second change was No Surface All Feeling to Small Black Flowers, and I have to say I was pretty apathetic over that. Love both of the songs, so either was good! Was nice to hear both of them accoustically actually.

Little Baby Nothing was my favourite song of the night I think. Nicky's introduction was beautiful. I can't really remember what he said, but it was dedicated to Richey, and what he said made me realise just how difficult they must still find it without Richey. I think it suddenly hit me how fab it was for them to carry on after Richey's dissaperance, and how well they've done since then. During Little Baby Nothing Nicky also came down to the crowd which was very cool. Though I was a little pissed off as he didn't quite get as close as me! Grrr!!!

Setlist

You Love Us
Imperial Bodybags
Motorcycle Emptiness
I Am Just A Patsy
Faster
La Tristesse Durera
Send Away The Tigers
Everything Must Go
From Despair To Where
Rendition
Born To End
Ocean Spray
Your Love Alone
If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next
Small Black Flowers (Acoustic)
This Is Yesterday (Acoustic)
Sleepflower
Autumnsong
You Stole The Sun
Little Baby Nothing
Condemned to Rock and Roll into Motown Junk
A Design For Life

Photos

Roll on June 8th for Leicester! That's what I say!!!

Manic Street Preachers - Wolverhampton Civic 21/05/07

So I went to the first of my three Manics gigs on Monday. It was at Wolverhampton Civic. You know, I hate that venue, and yet both times I have seen the Manics there have been totally amazing. They are so suited to the venue, and the crowed just love every minute of it, so did the Manics for that matter!

The enemy were supporting them. They're alright, nothing at all special, and god bless them, they look about 1o. The music currently taking over the indie scene is shit. There needs to be some decent music back on the radio desperatly.

Anyway, the Manics came on at about 9pm, and started the set with You Love Us. I guess it's a relatively predictable song to start off with, but the crowd loved it, as always!

The third song into their set was Motorcycle Emptiness, which James actually dedicated to the venue: 'This might seem a bit abstract, but this ones dedicated to the Civic Hall, we've had so many fucking great gigs here'. As always, it was totally fantastic live!!!

A few surprises to the setlist were Sleepflower, Born to End and James playing the beginning of Condemned to Rock and Roll before Motown Junk. I never thought I'd get to hear Sleepflower live, and I can't even explain how amazing it was to hear it!!! It just utterly blew me away. It's become one of my favourite Manics songs again.

The new songs off Send Away The Tigers all went down well, although I have to admit I'm not too keen on Send Away the Tigers as a live track, think it sounds pretty crap personally the harmony just doesn't work live... Both Rendition and Autumn Song were totally amazing though, as was Imperial Bodybags.

The Wire came out wearing a very attractive skirt in the second half, which was very very attractive. He looked so unbelivabley hot!

I'd gone off the Manics a lot over the past two years or so. I've just not had the interest in them anymore, but since that gig on Monday night I have recognised why I always loved them, and why I became completley obsessed with them. Since then, it's all I've listened to, and since then I seem to have become re-obsessed. There were times in that gig that made me go totally cold, not in a bad way, but some how, some way, the manics always manage to send a shiver down my spine. They're the only band that have ever done that to me, they're the only band that I have ever been obsessed with, and they're the only band I ever want to be obsessed with.

Thank you Manics... you were always such a huge part of my life, and have successfully managed to introduce me into music, literature, and so much else, that no other band have ever managed to do. I will always love you.

Setlist:

You Love Us
Imperial Bodybags
Motorcycle Emptiness
Winterlovers
Faster
La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Send Away The Tigers
Everything Must Go
From Despair To Where
Rendition
Born To End
Ocean Spray
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
This Is Yesterday (Solo/Electric)
No Surface All Feeling (Acoustic)
Sleepflower
Autumnsong
You Stole The Sun Form My Heart
Little Baby Nothing
Condemned To Rock and Roll/Motown Junk
A Design For Life

I got to the second row back, right in front of Nicky, as per usual. The Wire was very happy that night :)

Photos: