More about: Manic-Street-Preachers

Manic Street Preachers have hardly made their dislike for playing festivals a secret. From declaring Glastonbury a “shithole” in 1994 and calling for a bi-pass to be tarmacked over the site to even selling merch declaring their festival fatigue, they have always been vocal in their appraisal of such events as a necessary evil. And as teens with faces daubed in day glow face paint scream at each other across the quite stark looking Derbyshire hillside, observed and heckled by large packs of drunken blokes, worries grow that it may not be one of the better appearances by the Manics. In fact, if it wasn't for the presence of a small cadre of kohl eyed feather boa wearers at the front and the Baner Cymru emblazoned on the bass amps being wheeled onto the stage, you could be forgiven for thinking you might be in the wrong field.

But all these worries quickly melt away as singer James Dean Bradfield bounces on to the stage and shouts “Y Not, how the fuck are you?” into the mic and takes the awaiting audience from 0 to 120 MPH with the opening riff of 'Motorcycle Emptiness'. Having throttled through the lengthy song, the Blackwood boys immediately press into 'International Blue', the recent single which seems to unite hard-core fans and casual listeners alike who all chant the chorus as one to the utter delight of lanky bassist Nicky Wire whose Hollywood smiles shines from underneath his huge sunglasses. As drunken throng of festival goers pogo along, I can't help wonder how many realise that the song is referencing the work of pioneering artist Yves Klein who developed a new shade of blue in his monochrome paintings chasing ideals of purity – a recurrent theme in their music. And therein lies the magic of the Manics, perhaps the only band to successfully take concepts from high art, literature and history and somehow compress them into three and a half minute songs that can still thrill and astound whether you are aware you are being given a micro lecture or not.

A shout comes from the crowd for 'Sleepflower', a fan favourite from third album Gold Against The Soul which the band rarely revisit, which is quickly shot down by a curt “No” by Bradfield and they launch into the far more familiar single 'You Stole The Sun From My Heart' instead to be followed by 'Everything Must Go', the titular single from the album that truly launched them into the public glare in 1996. The two songs may be over twenty years old, but are played with more power and passion than all of the day's previous acts combined. And though these two songs may occasionally slip into the realms of cabaret, with James playing to the crowd to solicit responses leaving the touring session players to pick up the slack, given that this is a festival slot rather than their own gig in front of an audience of their fans only, it is understandable.

Bradders takes a break from the set to tell us that it will be drummer Sean Moore's fiftieth birthday in two days and the revellers regale Happy Birthday to the mute percussionist who responds with a wave after-which the singer introduces the next song; “This is something we certainly won't do; People Give In.” which had only been released as their latest single early this morning. They immediately shift the set back up a gear with a rousing rendition of 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' during which Wire sheds the shades to giggle and prance around the stage. Having learnt 'In Between Days' for their appearance at Robert Smith's Meltdown, the Manics play The Cure cover once again which ignites the audience to the sheer delight of Nicky. There can be no denying it, Manic Street Preachers are having fun at a festival.

The rain which has threatened to pour all day finally starts during 'Kevin Carter', but does little to dampen the spirits of spectators. The stage lights turn the stage red for 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next', a song which tells the listener to shoot fascists at a time when liberal media discusses whether it is moral to punch a Nazi or not. The polemic is chased by 'You Love Us' which sees Bradfield prowl around amps and mic stands like a stalking tiger before pouncing on its prey. Buoyant, he declares “Y Not, you're proving to be brilliant!” before playing Hold Me Like A Heaven.

With the set drawing towards the finish, they unleash their rabble rousing early incendiary single 'Motown Junk' which has the guitarist and bassist muster the energy from their younger years and break records with the height of their scissor kicks. 'Tsunami' reminds us that it is less than two months until the twentieth anniversary of This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours and the band finish with 'A Design For Life', which never fails to serve as the perfect ending sees Wire give a thankful wave to the hardcore fans at the front before they retreat to the backstage, perhaps to plan the celebration shows of their fifth record later in the year.

Manic Street Preachers played:
'Motorcycle Emptiness'
'International Blue'
'You Stole The Sun From My Heart'
'Everything Must Go'
'People Give In'
'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough'
'In Between Days (The Cure)'
'Kevin Carter'
'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next'
'You Love Us'
'Hold Me Like A Heaven'
'Motown Junk'
'Tsunami'
'A Design For Life'

“I don't know what I want. I think I'm Looking for the song that love me back.” - I. McCulloch

More about: Manic-Street-Preachers