Nicky Wire recently likened the Herculean perseverance of the Manic Street Preachers to them becoming the “arena Fall.” What must be their billionth gig in the Olympia reveals that just as John Peel said about Mark E. Smith’s mob, the Manics are also always different, but always the same.
Hardcore Manics aficionados squeal with delight as James Dean Bradfield launches into what remains their best song, ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, as a surprising curtain opener. ‘Ready for Drowning’ and ‘Your Love Alone is Not Enough’ follow. You’d almost wonder if the Manics have simply forgotten that they’ve got a new album to promote.
They eventually get stuck into that dog of a new single ‘Show Me the Wonder’ (it sounds far too much like the Neighbours theme tune for comfort). ‘4 Lonely Roads’ sees Cate Le Bon take to the stage as Nicky Wire touchingly dedicates it to Seamus Heaney.
Heaney is not the only absent friend honoured as Wire recalls their debut Dublin show when he ended up in hospital after some hazy misadventures with Richey Edwards. No doubt the former guitarist, officially presumed dead in 2008, would wholeheartedly approve of a raucous ‘Revol.’ ‘A Design for Life’ closes the show, in line with recent Manics tradition. I’m still not too enamoured of their new album, but they’ve a cracking catalogue, with tunes to burn.