A roaring welcome for Nicky Wire on his return compassionate leave and exhilaration all-round as Manics slay on Southbank

Having recently lost his mother to leukaemia, many wondered if bassist Nicky Wire would be present at tonight’s gig. And so, as the towering generation terrorist walks out on stage there is a real roar of love and support from the diehard fans as the band quickly let rip into ‘International Blue’, the lead single from their current album. Despite being billed as a seated event, many rush to the stage as everyone else rise to their feet. The song glides like some of their most commercially successful tracks and serves as a perfect introduction for a rousing set which incorporates a wide selection of their best-known numbers and their new material.

With the adrenaline riding high, our favourite Welsh agent provocateurs plunge headlong into ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’. Having been their first real hit single, the song still doesn’t fail to command the attention and enrapture both the loyal devotees of Britain’s biggest cult band and the cultural aficionados Southbank members who seem to have come more out of a curious interest. A pang of pleasure kicks in with the opening riff of ‘No Surface All Feeling’ before throttling through with the giddy thrill of a loose train about to career from the rail, dispelling any remaining stuffiness of the theatre. As the lost single from ‘Everything Must Go’ builds to deafening finish, we are then treated to Bradfield’s emotive exploration of the current political landscape ‘Distant Colours’.

Given that it is Robert Smith’s Meltdown, it would only be right that the Manics would turn their hand at one of their favourite songs by The Cure. And so, we see them launch into a perfect rendition of ‘In Between Days’ which matches the boy’s knack for combining post punk poise and a good old beery chant. Many had hoped for a cover of one of Smith’s darker songs amidst a set which drew from the Manics more wrought and acerbic albums ‘The Holy Bible’ and ‘Journal For Plague Lovers’, but this set is more a joyous celebration rather than an acidic existential crisis put to music and their version of ‘In Between Days’ truly makes excellent use of touring guitarists Wayne Murray and Gavin Fitzjohn plus Nick Nasmyth which fans often complain are turned up way too high in the mix.

Having returned to their own material with ‘You Stole The Sun From My Heart’, the boys welcome The Anchoress to the stage following her excellent set of baroque pop. Clad in a leopard print suit, Catherine Davies is every bit the fellow conspirator they have been desperate for since their early days of hyperbole which saw them make a bid to have Kylie Minogue duet with them for ‘Little Baby Nothing’. But Davies is able to inhabit a poise and attitude which Kylie never could and as she points to the crowd with the rallying cry of “Culture, alienation, boredom and despair” she once again proves exactly why she has become a de facto new member. Remaining on stage for ‘Dylan & Caitlin’, we can only hope that Wire makes good on his promise to keep her in the Manics camp.

Davies’ appearance typified the spontaneous passion and energy which marked the moments which made the set truly exceptional. The return of early singles ‘Motown Junk’ and ‘You Love Us’ were a vital injection of good old raucous punk rock attitude which was perhaps missing when Bradfield allows the session players to take more of a lead in songs like ‘Slash ‘n’ Burn’. Plus, I have never understood the acoustic version of ‘Faster’ which has now become somewhat of a sing-a-long campfire song.

But these gripes fade into the distance as we are bombarded with repeated anthems which show off the bands intellectual acumen and live prowess. ‘Hold Me Like A Heaven’ is proof that the band remain as vital as ever and the set climaxes with their triumphant declaration of working-class pride; ‘A Design For Life’.

Setlist

International Blue

Motorcycle Emptiness

No Surface All Feeling

Distant Colours

In Between Days

You Stole the Sun From My Heart

Little Baby Nothing (+ The Anchoress)

Dylan & Caitlin (+ The Anchoress)

Everything Must Go

Motown Junk

If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Faster (Acoustic)

You Love Us

Walk Me to the Bridge

Hold Me Like a Heaven

Slash N’ Burn

Kevin Carter

People Give In

Tsunami

A Design For Life

“Everybody needs memories. They keep the Wolf of Insignificance from the Door” – Saul Bellow