Manic Street Preachers – Leeds Arena, 20th May 2016

It’s 20 years since Everything Must Go was released and to mark the fact the Manics are touring and playing the album in its entirety. Tonight’s show happens to be on the anniversary of the actual release date.

In my view there’s a real problem with playing whole album shows and that is that choosing the running order for an album is completely different to selecting a live set. I think, with that caveat, the first part of the show worked reasonably well, despite a slight impression that the band weren’t entirely convinced!
The second half was excellent and I was pleased to hear NatWest Barclays Midlands Lloyds, from Generation Terrorists, particularly as I’d been listening to it earlier in the day. A standout was the cover of Fear Factory‘s Feels Like Heaven. It was also interesting to hear Nicky Wire reminiscing about playing the Duchess Of York pub/venue back in 1991.

I don’t like arena shows but sometimes what choice do you have if you want to see somone? As arenas go Leeds is the best I’ve been to.

Set list:
Part One: Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier; A Design for Life; Kevin Carter; Enola/Alone; Everything Must Go: Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky; The Girl Who Wanted to Be God; Removables; Australia; Interiors (Song for Willem de Kooning); Further Away; No Surface All Feeling
Part Two: Ocean Spray; Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head; Motorcycle Emptiness; Walk Me to the Bridge; Your Love Alone Is Not Enough; Nat West-Barclays-Midlands-Lloyds; You Stole the Sun From My Heart; Roses in the Hospital; Show Me the Wonder; (Feels Like) Heaven; You Love Us;
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next