Who
Manic Street Preachers
Super Furry Animals
Support
Public Service Broadcasting
Where
Swansea Liberty Stadium
When
28th May 2016
Price
£43.45
Who with
No-one
Position
Towards the front
Comments
Just 11 days after Brian Wilson, I continued the strong run of gigs that marked my first half of 2016 with yet another viewing of Manic Street Preachers. I suspected that The Holy Bible at Cardiff Castle may be the last time I'd get to see them but should have anticipated that the guys would pull another wonder gig out of the bag. Resisting a show at the Genting Arena supported by Editors was easy enough even if it was playing Everything Must Go, but I couldn't possibly resist Swansea Stadium when it was announced that SFA were supporting. It was confirmed pretty much straight away that Super Furry Animals would be on the bill, making a selling point that I'm sure helped to convince a good few fans that it would be worth the trip. In my eyes this was certainly another double-header, although Public Service Broadcasting completed a trilogy of bands with three-word names not preceded by The, but who otherwise have very little in common besides great talent! This was to be the seventh time I'd be watching the Manics and 18th viewing of the Super Furries, and also two consecutive gigs of SFA after watching them "supporting" Noel Gallagher in Birmingham. I had a much better feeling about this one though, looking forward to a great standing position, an outdoor stadium setting, and an enthusiastic Welsh crowd who would regard SFA as co-headliners rather than a mere support act. In fact this would be the second time I'd be watching these two groups on the same day, as at V99 I watched SFA play a life-changing show on the second stage before heading over to see the Manics do alright headlining the main stage, but apart from an early rendition of The Masses Against The Classes I completely regret attending that show, wishing I'd stayed put for James Brown.

I purchased a refundable hotel the other side of Swansea city centre the moment I heard about the show in November, ensuring I'd be able to walk back on the night rather than paying over the odds for an inconvenient hotel a few days later. Booking my hotel room within minutes of learning of an impending date is a new trick of mine that should serve me well in the future, and one I'd be repeating for The Stone Roses in Manchester the following month. I got a ticket for the show pretty much straight away and am disappointed that the Welsh fans struggled to make it a sell out. I'm really not sure if they did eventually shift all the tickets, but couldn't imagine a patriotic Welsh citizen of Swansea not wanting to attend and see the two finest Welsh bands going, as Catatonia and Stereophonics lapsed into shite after their short time at the top, and sadly Gorky's Zygotic Mynci show no signs of ever reforming or being appreciated by the masses. I can't remember selecting the option for a Print At Home ticket so suspect that they were all like that, which is a shame as the ticket stub is an ever-reliable souvenir that surely can't cost all that much to produce. In the build-up to the show I barely heard any SFA or MSP but the tunes are firmly encased in my mind already, and I was excited to extend my stay in Wales by another night with a stop in Newport on the way back, figuring that it was a good base to visit Caerphilly Castle as well as to look round Newport itself, which always looks so pretty from the train with its view of the castle and river. Also at £27 it was a considerably cheaper last minute option on a sunny bank holiday weekend than Cardiff or Caerphilly itself would be. Although I pre-booked my train tickets it was still rather pricey, reminding me I must check out the Megabus as an alternative, although I am annoyed to note that the huge city of Wolverhampton is nowhere on their timetables, making it perhaps more of an option for ludicrously expensive destinations such as Newcastle in the future when time isn't pressing.

I set out early on the morning of the show after doing much of my packing the night before, luckily enjoying a smooth ride that didn't dig into the five hours or so between arrival and concert that I'd hoped to use for some sightseeing. I'd already explored Swansea back in 2010, which took the pressure off a bit, although back then I didn't take as many photos as I do now, so given unlimited time I probably would have been happy to do it all over again as my memory was limited. That had been a hugely successful three-night trip that had crammed in almost all the sights between Neath and Aberystwyth, but Swansea was a big city and obviously there was more I could see. I passed the Liberty Stadium just as I'd done the last time I'd gone to Swansea, then wandered into the centre and into St Mary's Church, which I'm shocked I didn't go inside last time, but my photos do hint that it many have been closed back then. This was a fantastic church that could easily be mistaken for a cathedral, and is worthier of that title than the actual Swansea Cathedral, which was a disappointing building with its doors firmly slammed shut on the outskirts of town. Although my backpack became a massive pain over the trip - mainly due to the laptop I was carrying to more conveniently surf the net and write up these notes - I didn't want to head to my hotel just yet, stopping at a pleasant-looking pub to enjoy a huge surf and turf washed down with a Welsh beer to get me through the long night ahead without the need for another meal. I also purchased the latest McFlurry before walking to the hotel, at which point I wondered just why I'd settled for a hotel on the other side of Swansea, but suspecting it had been the best option available at the time. Also Google had told me that it was walkable to Liberty Stadium within an hour, which is good going as it meant I wouldn't be stuck in the kind of queues after the show that had blighted The Stone Roses at Heaton Park and had stopped me from realising the full historic significance and absolute wonder of that concert until a short while afterwards when it started to sink in.

I found my hotel without an issue and checked in, by now sweating profusely as it was an intensely hot day and my backpack was heavier than ever. The hotel was small but very friendly, and I couldn't resist scoffing the free biscuit right away and getting changed/showered to go out again as soon as possible. The weather was forecast as thunder but some accounts said it would be dry, and given how hot it was I resolved to go out without a coat, and I definitely made the right choice on that count. I headed to the river and identified the bridge as being the dock area I'd happily wandered around last time, looking for the Norwegian church I'd read about, being surprised to note that this fantastic building was now being wasted as a nursery, and perhaps even more surprised to find I'd taken a photograph of it back in 2010 but for one reason or another hadn't gone inside. As I was now on the east side of the river I followed the road up to the Liberty Stadium, finding it tougher than expected as I climbed a large hill amongst countryside, before spying the river was still to my left and realising I was on the right track. The gates had opened at 5pm, and I arrived a little before then, which was perfect as I was relaxed about getting to the front. The outside of the stadium had been fenced off, as the nearby chain pub made a roaring trade with a huge overspill of fans enjoying the sun by sitting on the verges. I'd correctly guessed that as a football stadium they were capable of handling these crowds and the entrance was quite straightforward, with no Nazi searches to take away the small water bottle I'd carried in my back pocket with compliments from my hotel room. But that's the way it should be, as I'd researched the subject beforehand to find no indication that water was prohibited anyway. I was given a nice paper wristband and purchased a bottle of full fat Coke as a quick energy fix, taking a moment to check out the food stalls and clock the usual £25 t-shirts on sale.

In retrospect I must have been a little confused about the timings, as I'd thought it was 4pm but in fact gates were advertised as opening at 5pm, and as it wasn't that time yet it was no wonder that the inside of the arena was empty. Nevertheless, there was literally no signs anywhere explaining where the entrances to the arena were, and it's just fortunate that after experiencing a portaloo I merged into the crowd right near the gate, not fully realising it was part of a queue but not having much sympathy for this fact as if I'd been told to walk the other way round the stadium I'd had done so. As the entrance was wide everyone was just striding swiftly in, a few ignoring the instructions not to run on the white plastic surface protecting the pitch. I'd unwittingly entered at precisely the right time, and secured myself a position a couple of rows back in front of where Gruff would be, for once remembering his location accurately, although in turn forgetting that James would set himself up dead-centre for the main act. I can see a handful of performers have played the stadium in the past, including Rod Stewart, Elton John, Pink and Kings Of Leon, and I also noted that Lionel Richie would be playing just three weeks later, although no doubt that would be to a far more sedate seated crowd. This was the second premiership ground I'd been inside after seeing Macca at Anfield, although when I also consider I'd seen The Killers at Wembley and had The Stone Roses coming up at Etihad Stadium, and that these events are far more exciting than a bog-standard football match and with the added joy of making it onto the pitch, I think I've done alright! I developed some serious cramps by choosing to sit down at first, although I made perhaps my first ever mobile purchase of Bing Bong on vinyl from the Rough Trade website, after figuring out that as it was limited edition and I definitely wanted it, why should I wait? I'm certainly not a fan of phone internet, as it's a frustrating and slow way to check websites such as Facebook, but when you're on the move it is at the very least a tolerable option and useful way to while away the time.

MSP slogans were projected onto the side screen and changed between each band, although unusually for the Manics the source of the quotes weren't cited. I was nicely settled into the second row but a glance to my left indicated that I could access the toilets within the stadium rather than having to go all the way outside to endure the portaloos again. Also it seemed that many of the lower seats were reserved for standing fans, which I find amusing as if you have the good sense to stand up you not only have the best views but also find the finest seats in the arena have been set aside for you too. Although I was fast, as I returned Public Service Broadcasting were taking to the stage earlier than I'd expected, so after a photo of the grounds from my higher vantage point I headed back into the crowd, edging my way back near my previous position on the second row without any drama. A backdrop of a satellite dish with bright striped colours had already been set up onstage, and I had no idea at all what to expect from PSB, although it's amusing that they share their acronym with the wonderful Pet Shop Boys, which is even more confusing than SFA also standing for Scottish Football Association or MSP expanding to Member Of Scottish Parliament, as at least those abbreviations relate to fields outside the scope of music. I had no idea what to expect from the band but was very impressed by what I saw, in particular their humour which came across in a way that is very hard for an audience not to love. PSB rely on samples and computers for all their vocal needs, and have extended this logic to also cover all their onstage banter. It was so amusing that even the band couldn't help chuckling along, as the computer thanked us and asked us how we were doing, inserting the name of Liberty Stadium in a deliberately clumsy manner to play up the fact it was computer words spliced together. Also as I've stated at length in my Prodigy review I find crowd hyping to be tiresome and off putting, but it became endearing when delivered by a computer, as the voice asked us if we were looking forward to both bands, then asking for a second cheer because (of course) the first one hadn't quite been loud enough!

The music was fantastic and compelling, with a definite space theme as a replica of Sputnik was raised above the band, and another amusing moment was when one of the group abandoned his keyboards to get out a little camcorder and carefully film his bandmates, with the footage forming part of the montage on the side screens. The musical highlight was almost certainly Go!, which consisted of a pre-landing check on a moon flight, as the band brilliantly set the long list of instruments being checked and the affirmation that they were "go!" to music. It also made sense of a band t-shirt I saw that had a list of their tour dates with "go!" written by each one, and they are one of those rarest of unknown support bands who I could genuinely see myself going out to watch solo should the opportunity arise. The guys were insanely smart, all wearing ties and sporting glasses, but they weren't especially lively, which made it all the more wonderful when three brass players appeared a few times to add some movement to the stage. I shot two videos, and at the outset of the second video I captured a wonderful moment where the guy in the middle ducked to allow the other two players to high-five each other. Absolutely wonderful! I think this video was during the song Gagarin, which had a very compelling tune and featured plenty of Soviet imagery. Also the last song was genuinely educational, as it explained that Mount Everest was originally called Peak 52 until the 1850s when it was discovered to be the tallest mountain on earth. Although Wikipedia suggests the actual title was Peak XV, so someone may be wrong here! It was only at the very end of their compelling set that had won everyone over that one of the band actually picked up a mic to thank us, and it was mentioned that they're from London, and I suspect that this would be their biggest show to date and they were here thanks to the patronage of the Manics, who demonstrated good taste in selecting them. The drummer departed with the aid of a crutch and we gave them a warm sendoff, as although some people clearly were fans already I think just about everyone else must have been won over by the end too.

The Juxtapozed With U box was wheeled out to herald the arrival of SFA and sadly it's looking tattier than ever, but I kept my place, perhaps moving slightly to the left to be in front of Gruff, and was looking forward to my third time watching SFA since they'd "reformed" in 2015. The DJing was mostly anonymous but I picked up on Liberty (Is Where We'll Be) by Gruff and Absolute Beginners by Bowie, and the crowd had quietly filled up nicely, and in such a way that there was next to no pushing or twats chucking pints. Although I'd feared that an Everything Must Go tour may attract the twattier side of the Manics fanbase, fortunately most fans were in a positive mood and ready to appreciate whatever was coming their way. I was wearing my Furrymania SFA top, which has quietly become my unofficial gig clothing of choice, and was pleased to see the SFA OK reg plate gracing the equipment as usual, and I also noted from my photos afterwards that an orange amp was graffitied with the phrase "smokin". The stage was set and the intro for Slow Life was started up, then the band appeared in their white lab outfits to a heroes welcome, as the side screens were now fully booted up to film their performance. This was my second consecutive occasion not at the front for an SFA gig, but if anything I almost wished I was further back, as without a backdrop there wasn't much to see, and the band were so spaced out that they were difficult to photograph in the same shot. Cian started off on guitar with his back to us, but as he's the technical wizard of the group and was wearing a fantastic coloured hat I won't hold it against him. Gruff was wearing a bobble hat and was in sunglasses, as was Guto, and clearly the full beard phase was behind them as Cian and Bunf were sporting comparatively light facial hair, and Gruff was wearing a layer of fuzz that suited him well and wasn't over the top. It didn't seem that surprise was to be the order of the day when the guys launched into (Drawing) Rings Around The World, and as the atmosphere was enthusiastic but relatively calm I felt safe enough to shoot a video of almost the entirety of Do Or Die, which featured great sound quality and demonstrated just how close I was to the band.

They nervously announced that this was their first ever gig in Swansea, and it is difficult to fathom that they've never ventured to their second city just down the road, but with Cardiff a shortish train ride away perhaps they've never felt it necessary, rather than it being a snub down to regional rivalries. It was difficult to tell how many of the crowd were local and who had travelled, but perhaps the boos when the Manics mentioned the football and rugby teams who share this stadium suggested that a mass migration had taken place, and that there were at least as many outsiders here tonight as locals. However the band were received very warmly, and as I surmised the Welsh connection made this a far more positive atmosphere than the closed-minded Noel Gallagher crowd had created in the West Midlands. Perversely the first rain of the day fell during Hello Sunshine, and Gruff stopped the song to ask us how we were all doing, and the ever-unnecessary Demons again featured no trumpets, making me wonder why they hadn't borrowed some from either Public Service Broadcasting or Manic Street Preachers. I shot my second video during Juxtapozed With U, as Gruff fought against the blue box as his vocoder shorted out on him, before eventually settling into the chorus and casually leaning against the box to serenade us with one of the greatest choruses of all time. The crowd prompt signs have become a permanent fixture of SFA gigs, and perhaps my favourite one is the Prolonged Applause sign that Gruff marches up and down with as Juxtapozed nears its climax. However, so far there had been no surprises, and this has been a constant frustration with recent SFA, a band who used to be the most innovative and forward-thinking on this planet. I suspect that the repetitious nature of their live show is aimed at providing a crowd-pleasing greatest hits set and perhaps a fear to drop well-worn routines, but the moments they do stray off the well trodden path are almost always the best. I'd heard their new single Bing Bong a short time before although for one reason or another hadn't rushed to hear it like I had with All For One by The Stone Roses, which is a fantastic song but I hope it will be the She Bangs The Drums of the new album and will ultimately be surrounded by stronger songs with greater emotional depth, and more importantly much better lyrics!

Although Bing Bong received far less fuss from everyone - even me! - it is an absolute revelation, although lyrically the band don't seem to be saying too much! However, the video is fantastic and the chorus is infectious, and as I suspected it demonstrated that SFA are still pushing the boundaries when they set foot in the studio, and their collected and individual genius shines so strongly that they just can't fail to amaze. As this was a show at a football stadium in Wales, it was therefore the perfect time - perhaps the only time? - to play Bing Bong, and it made a bonkers live debut, even though I suspect much of the crowd didn't realise it was about the football, and Gruff didn't go down the obvious crowd-pleasing route of explaining that fact. I'd been wondering where the red Power Ranger helmet had gone, as again it was missing for Slow Life, but it made an unexpected appearance for the duration of the song, as Gruff sung the entire tune through it. Although part of me wanted to embrace the moment and go mad, my finely tuned SFA instinct soon told me that this was an intro I'd never heard before, and so I shot a video of almost the entire song from my fantastic vantage point. The sound turned out well but I'm always a bit shy about posting these things on YouTube, and the ending where the band repeated the title phrase and harmonised was just fantastic, before the song suddenly morphed into The International Language Of Screaming. This was followed by Golden Retriever, and since Juxtapozed the guys were on an unstoppable path of hits and surprises that I wouldn't ever wish them to change. If they dropped Slow Life and Rings for a more original start - or constantly mixed their intro up - stopped playing Demons completely and alternated If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You with one or two other mid-tempo songs they'd be onto a winner. Perhaps an unpredictable start followed by a home run of unmissable hits - plus of course the reinstatement of Calimero - would tip their set back into the realms of perfection. I am not prone to exaggeration and praise when it's not due, and despite my love of SFA I have only once ever awarded them the perfect 10/10 for a live show in 1999, a record that they share with just The Flaming Lips, who also attained a perfect score for three shows at their absolute peak.

It was a delight that this show was a bit longer than they'd played for Noel, and the three extra songs were all highlights. Along with the call to arms of Bing Bong and testament to their continued brilliance, it was also wonderful to hear Receptacle For The Respectable back in the set as I shot a fourth video of that genius guitar solo near the end. I cut it short before the guys rubbed their guitars together as it was a bit blurry and it's ultimately the photos that I treasure, but this is a moment that the band seem to savour and which always gets the crowd going. Next up I was surprised to hear God! Show Me Magic, which I hadn't heard them perform for a full seven years, although the usual lack of Calimero was again a disappointment. I thought they'd promised to play it until the end of time, so I'm astonished and saddened to realise that I haven't heard it performed live since 2005. By this point I realised that there was some excitement in the crowd, firstly for something happening to my left that I never figured out, and then for the emergence of James to the right of the stage to casually watch the band. And why not, it must be deeply frustrating as a main act if you can't enjoy the support band you've hand-picked for their excellence, so he kept his head down and didn't acknowledge the waves for attention to enjoy the show just like the rest of us. The excellent set ended much as you'd expect with The Man Don't Give A Fuck, and quite a long rendition of it too. I shot a final video of the break when Cian was left to his own devices, although it seemed like he was improvising and I much prefer it when they stick closer to the original Steely Dan sample or wander off into a different song. However, when the band leave the stage before returning as yetis, then hold their poses with guitars forever as I stop shooting a video to capture the moment on camera, it's always worth it. Much like for Noel, a few silly fans screamed at the moshers for enjoying themselves, and I always love how SFA seem so much more free and energised the moment they put on those yeti costumes. Gruff must have worn his out though, as he now donned a white fluffy outfit. At the end they soaked up the applause, thanked the Manics for having them, and Gruff and Bunf held up the sign saying thank you. Interestingly there'd been no Welsh language songs, so the anniversary of Mwng had been put behind them, but it was clear that the Manics would struggle to match them.

As the stage was dismantled I took a shot of Gruff's guitar rack, which he used to spend hours choosing from during gigs before it was put out of sight and that duty was handed over to a guitar tech. It seemed that the same foul guy who I'd been unfortunate enough to share space with at two Happy Mondays gigs was in residence tonight, as someone produced a smell so horrible they could only had soiled themselves, then for good measure did the same thing again a short time later! Meanwhile, the curtains at the back of the stage were pulled down to reveal three back screens, and this was good to see as the support band setup had lacked height, which made for some mediocre photos for me so far forwards. However I felt good and wasn't anticipating a crush, so I stayed put, as once I find myself in an excellent position it seems tragic to lose it, and I feel I should stick it out for at least a while. Some cameramen were inciting the crowd to cheer for some photos, and interestingly the official photographer Mitch Ikeda only showed up for a couple of shots to the right of the stage a few seconds before the guys came onstage, although he could well have been out and about shooting elsewhere as I've never spotted him before. The usual two Welsh dragons graced the amps behind Nicky, and a string section appeared just before the band took to the stage. As it was May and the show was starting at 8:45pm, much of the first half was performed in daylight. There was also a blank version of the Everything Must Go logo on the drum kit and a Welsh flag being waved to my right, and a roar of approval greeted James as he stepped out alone and launched into Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier. It was a wonderful way to start as it's a slow burner, and when Sean and Nicky quietly appear before it builds up it gets everyone going. I shot a shortish first video, also capturing the three back screens and Nicky dressed in black doing a scissor kick as the song hit its chorus. As far as I can tell it's the first time I've heard the guys play the song since 1998. It's the same with No Surface All Feeling, whereas the other three singles besides A Design For Life I hadn't heard live since 1999, excluding the Singles Night at the O2 Arena. Yes, it was certainly fantastic to have another chance to hear these songs!

Perhaps the strangest thing was to hear A Design For Life at the start of the show, but it worked nicely as a way of warming the crowd up, and although I stuck with my semi-retirement from moshpits I was loving the atmosphere, although I found myself shooting another video, but I did calm down a bit with the camera after this point. The cameraman on the left kept coming in front of my view of James, which was a little annoying, but James looked very smart in a suit, and it was clear that the band were continuing to age gracefully. I feel that the crowd got a little too rowdy moshing to Enola/Alone, which is a pleasant song but hardly a rocker, although I do love it when its ending is drawn out a bit. Meanwhile I still can't feign any enjoyment for Everything Must Go, which is either just not very good or has been forever ruined by my over-playing it before the millennium. James was left alone for Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky before Nicky and Sean rejoined him for The Girl Who Wanted To Be God, which I don't believe I've ever heard played live before but it was an absolute belter. I'm a little unclear whether it should be spelled as The Girl Who Wanted To Be God or The Girl That Wanted To Be God, but nevermind. Removables was excellent, and perhaps its success on The Holy Bible tour had encouraged the band to perform the album in full. However, it had already blown us away once, which sadly took away the element of surprise. Australia was renamed Ospreylia after the rugby team who play at the Liberty Stadium, but most of the crowd didn't seem to be fans and I can't claim any enthusiasm for that dullest of sports. James made light of the boos by asking why we can't all just make love and get along, but the tune itself is an absolute masterpiece which for me is nearly the equal of A Design For Life, and it's sad that it was ever dropped from the Manics setlist. I shot a slightly shaky video of James playing like a guitar hero in front of us, and by now the suit had come off and he was working up a bit of a sweat. However, after playing The Holy Bible I'm sure the band regard this tour as a crowd-pleasing bit of light relief by comparison.

Interiors (Song For Willem De Kooning) and Further Away are nice enough tunes which are most notable for the fact I've never heard them live before, however neither are essential listening. For No Surface All Feeling James rather recklessly encouraged us to mosh, but I again resisted, in part because my feet were hurting from all the walking and standing up that I'd done over the day. It was a strong end to a great album, and the guys announced that they'd be taking a quick break before returning to regale us with some greatest hits and other bits. By now I'd practically ran out of my water, but as I was quite sensible, had eaten well and had the benefit of being outside I was still in good mind and body for the rest of the show. Interestingly the band pretty much stopped using the three back screens at some point during the second part of the show, and whether this was deliberate or technical issues I could not say. However, especially down the front nobody minded one bit, as the growing darkness led to an increasingly enthusiastic atmosphere. There was one drunk twat though who was picking a fight with someone, but he at least had the quarter of a brain required to calm down before security ejected him. There was also another guy who nearly threatened my glasses, and I thought I'd got rid of him when he attempted to crowdsurf, but I can't say I was entirely annoyed when he fell to the ground with a huge satisfying crash. Unusually he continued to be a wanker before suddenly departing the crowd during a highlight, so who knows what was going on in his little mind! James returned to the stage - again by himself - for a take on Ocean Spray, followed by Can't Take My Eyes Off You, which reminded me of the fantastic footage of him performing it at the Millennium Stadium and the crowd going mental and embracing the party mood. He teased that it was the Euro 2016 song, and it's intriguing that a few snippets of it in fact are carried over into both. Next up was Motorcycle Emptiness, which I've heard a few too many times so I was a little annoyed by the frantic moshpit that greets what is essentially a mid-tempo number. By now it was raining quite a bit but the day had been hot, and the need to protect my camera from the moisture and getting a bit wet was a small price to pay for not having to lug a coat around all afternoon.

Some water was distributed but none came my way and I was alright with that, but knew that the moshpit wasn't for me tonight, as I edged back a little. It seemed that alcohol or just misplaced enthusiasm provoked a massive moshpit for Walk Me To The Bridge, which had been unnecessary at Cardiff Castle and was even more unwelcome tonight as I'd hoped they'd pull a completely different setlist out of the bag to demonstrate the breadth of their back catalogue. It was the same with Your Love Alone Is Not Enough, which in my view should be saved for when James has someone to duet with. I was far more interested to hear the live debut of Together Stronger (C'mon Wales), which was such a patriotic moment that I actually doubted whether my loyalty should lie with the ever-disappointing England or with the Welsh at Euro 2016. I shot a short video of a verse when it was a bit calmer, and in a football stadium with rousing video footage I felt like I was experiencing what could well be the absolute high point of the Welsh campaign! Although the SFA Euro 2016 tune is far more original and interesting, I must praise the Manics for writing a genuinely rousing song that deserves to be sung on the terraces. And by now Nicky was dressed in white with a sailor hat! Next up was the completely unexpected Nat West-Barclays-Midlands-Lloyds, although it would have been nice if they'd saved it just for us as I now read that it had been played throughout this tour. Nicky mentioned coming to Swansea University with Richey and performing in the city to five people, and this little reminisce demonstrated that they had a genuine reason to be in Swansea rather than choosing the second city just for the sake of variety. I shot a short video to capture the moment, and the delight of the new followed by the unexpected old made this the highlight of the Manics set for me, although I also give special credit to The Girl Who Wanted To Be God and Australia. I merely tolerated You Stole The Sun From My Heart, feeling disappointment that the band couldn't be a bit more imaginative in their setlist, but I felt much happier to hear Roses In The Hospital, which features one of the greatest outros ever committed to record.

Show Me The Wonder meanwhile passed me by, but picks up a bit of kudos as apparently I've never heard them playing it before. Next up James talked about buying the song on 7" vinyl, and I just barely recognised (Feels Like) Heaven by Fiction Factory, which for me was a cover version which has no emotional resonance. When introducing the band James claimed Sean to be his brother, although I'm pretty sure that in reality they are cousins! Nicky of course received the loudest cheer, and he brilliantly took off his trousers to reveal a dress underneath for the grand finale. The band burst into You Love Us and I suspected it was the end, and this may have been the point where confetti was unleashed. However, I'd enjoy You Love Us a lot more if they played the Heavenly Version, and the fact they never do always spoils it for me. I really thought that was the end but the band were sticking around, so I fully expected they'd play Faster. I was surprised to hear If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, but it's a classic tune and after the disappointments of the second set it was a good place to finish. By good fortune I captured the excellent shot you see above of Nicky doing a scissor kick, and as the band left the stage fireworks were set off overhead. They'd done much the same at Cardiff Castle, and I must applaud them for choosing landmark venues and playing genuinely compelling event shows. I was surprised that The Holy Bible was completely overlooked tonight, but after hearing it in full I don't mind that at all. I crave variety, so for me the second set was let down by a combination of unwanted oldies and mediocre new songs, and also the crowd reaction to some of the numbers was out of all proportion. I made a very easy exit to the left of the stage, and after taking a few photos of the lit-up stadium I followed my map and the crowd on the path into Swansea. Apart from a few random bits which were blocked off to pedestrians - and a badly lit up part that I almost fell down as it had become a slippy slide in the mud - I made it back to the city centre without an issue.

My walk back was easier as the organisers had wisely closed off the roads around the stadium to allow the fans to spread out, before reintroducing the traffic after we'd all thinned out. I was tired and my feet were hurting, so after a few photos of the castle square I headed straight back to the hotel. The square was quite poorly lit up so I didn't fancy going all the way to the docks in case it was the same there. My ears were whistling and would remain so for a few days, and also my watch was badly steamed up, which was frustrating as it's supposed to be waterproof to 100m, and I don't understand how it getting splashed a bit at Waterworld a while beforehand could have caused a problem that has yet to go away. I'd meant to write up some notes but I was tired and just wanted to sleep, and I had a lot I wanted to see tomorrow and didn't want to miss my breakfast either. This is a shame as my mind had been swimming with incidents from the gig, and I do fear I've forgotten some details completely. What's the loss of two hours sleep compared to the recall of a memory that will be immortalised forever in this review? I also resisted eating any more food, although the wonderful hotel breakfast I enjoyed the next morning upset any balance if my aim was to be eating healthily! I spent some time writing up my notes directly onto my laptop, which is such a pain to carry I think I may have to leave it at home in future, even though it's nice to make a head start as I usually don't touch my notes again for a week or so after the gig. I then headed out and walked all the way to The Mumbles, which was a pleasant walk, and worthwhile largely thanks to the lovely Oystermouth Castle. I was quite fucked off to reach Mumbles Pier to find it 100% closed, as the website had made no mention of this, seeming to think that as the amusements on dry land were operational that it wasn't important enough to tell us the entire length of the pier was closed off. I could still take photos and on balance it was probably worth the effort, but it was a bitch on my feet and I would have liked to have been told more honestly that it was closed before heading out. Although I'd partly wished I'd taken the bus there, I was shocked to pay an outrageous £4+ for my return journey, and due to the poor location of the bus station I barely made it to the train station in time.

In the afternoon I left Swansea, heading past Cardiff to Newport, and I must say that despite an abundance of the same kind of scumbags who plague Wolverhampton, this was a fantastic city with a lot going for it. I nearly died rushing up the hill to the cathedral before it closed, then wandered down the river to peer at the Transporter Bridge. I admired the buildings and castle in town and had a Spoons tea before heading north to the Ibis Budget Hotel, which shockingly proved one of the best decisions of my life as a DeLorean was randomly parked outside!! It was the first time I'd ever seen one "on the road" so I was elated, and I suspect it had come from Eurofest, which was a massive gathering of the cars in Belfast that I'd annoyingly not heard a thing about until it was actually happening. A couple of my friends claimed to had seen the exact same car in Scotland or France, but there are in fact thousands of them scattered about, so I doubt that very much! Luckily the car was still there the morning after so I shot some more photos of it, and was then motivated to head out early and walk all the way again to the Transporter Bridge. Although it was a pain with my backpack it was one of the most terrifying and thrilling sights I've ever visited, and I'm now compelled to visit the few remaining examples of these wonderful attractions wherever I can in the world. I then headed to Caerphilly to explore the fantastic castle on a beautiful bank holiday Monday, and drew to a close a most successful weekend filling in my gaps in south Wales. I really struggle to imagine what MSP can possibly do to lure me back in, but the guys have a knack for special shows, so who knows. The wonderful support bands and sightseeing had made this a glorious weekend, although I was a little annoyed with the quality of the Manics second set. If they want to play some classics then bring out La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh), Suicide Is Painless (Theme From MASH), Motown Junk, Autumnsong or Little Baby Nothing. If they want some more unconventional delights, then try Prologue To History, Sculpture Of Man, Judge Yr'self, Stay Beautiful, Spectators Of Suicide, Life Becoming A Landslide, Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children, Europa Geht Durch Mich or Jackie Collins Existential Question Time. If this does turn out to be the last time I see the Manic Street Preachers however, then I must salute them for playing such fantastic event concerts and giving me so many great memories when I keep writing them off as a spent force.
Setlist (Public Service Broadcasting)
London Can Take It
Signal 30
Night Mail
Korolev
Valentina
If War Should Come
Spitfire
The Other Side
Go!
Gagarin
Everest
Setlist (Super Furry Animals)
Slow Life
(Drawing) Rings Around The World
Do Or Die
If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You
Hello Sunshine
Demons
Juxtapozed With U
Bing Bong
The International Language Of Screaming
Golden Retriever
Receptacle For The Respectable
God! Show Me Magic
The Man Don't Give A Fuck
Setlist (Manic Street Preachers)
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
Ocean Spray
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Motorcycle Emptiness
Walk Me To The Bridge
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
Together Stronger (C'mon Wales)
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

Mark: 9.0/10