Buzzin Music

Manic Street Preachers, Brighton Dome, 2 June 2009

If gigs were football matches then the Manic Street Preachers’ show at Brighton Dome was a classic game of two halves.  Forty-five minutes of the new album in track order, a swift half-time turnaround, then a second half packed with glossy hits.

I’m a huge Manics fan so for me there was little chance of disappointment.  But what a master stroke to compartmentalise ‘Journal for Plague Lovers’ so it could be heard in its purest form.

Much was made of Richey’s contribution to the album – he wrote all the lyrics and left them in a handwritten songbook for his bandmates just days before he disappeared.  It’s hard not to be touched by what an emotional journey the album must have been, and bassist Nicky Wire said it felt like the four of them were on stage once again.

“We never wanted to be a three-piece, we really didn’t,” he told a hushed crowd.

The angst-ridden lyrics are unmistakably Richey’s and most of the songs would fit more comfortably on ‘Generation Terrorists’ or ‘The Holy Bible’ than their successors.

Forget horns and strings, these are raw three-minute masterpieces built to be fired off at speed …though James admitted Richey’s lyrics were a bit of a mouthful to get his tongue round at full pace!

Most of the audience were clearly big fans of the Manics’ array of commercially successful singles.  ‘You Stole The Sun From My Heart’ was the audience favourite but for me ‘Little Baby Nothing’, ‘Faster’ and ‘Motown Junk’ were the highlights.

The Manics have been dogged by sell-out accusations in the post-Richie years and cynics might say their two-part set was like watching The Buzzcocks supporting Guns ‘n’ Roses.

I’ve got no problem with people who love early Manics and find their later offerings a bit too slick and polished.  But I hold no truck with the accusers who say they’ve sold out.

Twenty-odd years is a long time in music and, while their changing style might not suit some, surely no-one can doubt their integrity and motivation?

‘Journal for Plague Lovers’ might win back some fans of their early sound, but for me they can hardly put a foot wrong.