There are bands who soundtrack your moments and bands who change your life.

Twenty two years after the Manic Street Preachers - then four kids from the depressed former mining town of Blackwood, dressed in home sprayed shirts and drainpipe white jeans - made their explosive entry onto the music scene, they've proven themselves the latter: still here, playing sold out tours to new generations.

At the Apollo: two guys in their 50s sit behind me, on my right there's a couple in their early 30s, on my left a pair of mates who probably weren't even born when the Manics were in their pop prime scoring hits with Everything Must Go.

"Bradfield's solo spot remains a highlight, this time giving a special nod to The Holy Bible album - which turns 20 in August - with This Is Yesterday and a glorious version of slightly older single From Despair To Where"

Who could have picked that they'd be the survivors of that early 1990s indie scene, growling rebelliously into view as the Stone Roses faded out and before Oasis barged in? Probably not me, even though they've maintained my loyalty - just as they have a good number of the 2,500 or so people here tonight.

How? Because as this show proves, they've never lost that authentic sense of excitement. Be it the thrill of seeing 45-year-old Nicky Wire scissor kick in a mini skirt (tonight he keeps the outfit tame, mind you, in a sharp sparkly silver jacket), watching Sean Moore indefatigably smash the drums, or hearing James Dean Bradfield's angry punk howl spill over into his otherwise sweet vocals - they've never given less than absolutely everything they can.

It's there from the off with glorious singles Show Me The Wonder and You Stole The Sun From My Heart, it pours over poignantly in the old studio footage on the backdrop featuring original guitarist Richey Edwards during Motorcycle Emptiness (despite the addition of two extra live members, his space on stage remains unfilled), and in the dark energy of the rarely played Die In The Summertime.

Bradfield's solo spot remains a highlight, this time giving a special nod to The Holy Bible album - which turns 20 in August - with This Is Yesterday and a glorious version of slightly older single From Despair To Where.

A rolling VT highlights the often political agenda in their stirring anthems. And there are a great number of their agit-punk best bits played, from many decades: If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, This Sullen Welsh Heart, You Love Us, Archives Of Pain, 30-Year War.

And particularly in old fave Motown Junk, masterminded by Nicky and Richey back in 1991 as they set their sights on securing a "smash hit at 92", and the incendiary closer A Design For Life.

"The powerhouse, the metropolis, the great northern light," chirps Bradfield about Manchester, a city that's always turned out to support them.

When someone is still putting on a show this sharp, why would anyone ever stop coming along?