What Happened to your Critical Thinking?
Nicky Wire has said recording the latest album was the one of the first times he had gone into a studio without anything pre-written and just went for it. The title track, Critical Thinking, is about the way that we are bombarded with phraseology that infects our lives and that we lose the ability to question. Wire, in a recent Q&A referenced former (and never departed) friend and band member, Richey Edwards.
Richey is a touchstone for me when it comes to critical thinking. He had these counterintuitive views of the world which he was so brilliant at managing.
And I can empathize with that. Maybe it’s an autistic thing, but I have always seemed to go against the flow of where normality says I should be.
It had been six years since the Manic Street Preachers graced Birmingham and the Black Country, so this date at the Halls in Wolverhampton was not only long overdue, but very welcome. And these days, after refurbishment, what was formerly The Civic Hall is now among the best in the country. Not only in design, but the sound has gone from one of the worst to best.
Launching with Decline and Fall from the current album, it took less than five seconds of James Dean Bradfield’s vocals to get why I love and have missed the Manics play live. This song is as good as any from the past 34 years, and all the new songs fitted perfectly in a strong set of classics, monsters and even the lesser played. But that’s the thing with the Manics; each song is as important and recognisable to the fans. We did not get You Love Us, Everything Must Go or Australia, but that did not matter when you were treated to Enola/Alone and Peeled Apples.
It was quite a crush in the pit and Bradfield stopped proceedings as Wire was about to deliver Hiding in Plain Sight when a young woman needed to be rescued from the crush. Always nice to see concern and support from the artist, even if he did jokingly shout, “Don’t steal anything from my Green Room,” as she was wheeled out. All looked good in the end, though, and we continued.
Other numbers on the night included You Stole the Sun, Motorcycle Emptiness, Autumn Song (First time I’ve heard it in many years), Your Love Alone, International Blue, Let Robeson Sing, and Motown Junk. Although there was no interval, the gig was split with the first half ending in confetti at the end of Design for Life. For many years, this song has been a show closer, but the Manics are never afraid to change. Or even be counterintuitive. Bradfield remained center stage for his acoustic numbers, Sullen Welsh Heart and Small Black Flowers, the latter reminding us of the ever presence legacy of Richey. At the end of the night we had more confetti, this time to If You Tolerate This, a message which will always be relevant.
James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire were as always, accompanied by (the finally greying) Sean Moore. Completing the touring band was Wayne Murray on guitar with long time producer, Dave Eringa stepping in on the keys due to the late unavailability of regular, Nick Nasmyth.
This was an explosive and magic show from start to finish and nobody will have gone home disappointed. The Manics show no sign of waning, and I am so glad for that.
Cheers.
Antony N Britt - Author 