Definitely Not A Relic! The Manic Street Preachers Blow Away The Packed Shepherds Bush Empire!

The Manics prove that they are just as relevant and explosive as ever as they deliver a no holds barred blistering performance at the first of their two sell-out shows at The Shepherds Bush Empire!

The Manics have built their illustrious career of more than three decades on being a band that walk their own path, fearlessly political and patriotic to their Welsh roots, they always have been and they still are, the thinking man’s rock band! And if for even a moment their devoted fans were worried that their Welsh rock heroes might have lost their gritty, outspoken and rebellious edge, they didn’t need have, because from their very first track, ‘Decline & Fall’, from their 2024 album ‘Critical Thinking’, they were on fire!! With Shaun Moore’s bouncy disco drum beat, it was an upbeat start to a night of incredible music and top-notch showmanship!

As Bradfield welcomed the crowd he told them, “I know our time has come and gone, but at least we blazed a trail and shone” as his warmth and humble side shone through! But despite Bradfield’s words, if tonight’s performance is anything to go by, the Manics are far from gone, in fact I would argue that they are more relevant and perhaps in the current political climate, more needed than ever! There is a genuine warmth and authenticity to the Manics. Despite their years of fame and popularity, they came across as more down to earth and more real than ever! It’s no wonder that their fans love them like they do!

The second track of the night ‘Enola / Alone’, was another masterpiece where Bradfield’s emotion drenched lyrics were sheer perfection and the power in his ageless voice had to be seen to be believed.

And the incredible music just kept coming! During the achingly beautiful ‘La ‘Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)’, the video screen behind them flashed up the lyric from the much-loved track ‘ “I am a relic” and the audience exploded into ecstatic applause because it was clear that they were anything but!

The dynamic between the band was effortless as it is always is, they looked like a band who have played together for ever, and in many ways they have! Bassist Nicky Wire cut a cool figure in his white dinner jacket and navy blue eye make-up, giving  a nod back to their younger days, the years may have passed, but the Manics have never lost their cool card, in fact the whole band, didn’t just sound ‘pinch yourself’ incredible, but they looked edgy and effortlessly cool too!

Support was from the sublime ‘The Anchoress’. The Welsh-born multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter had certainly earnt her place on the stage tonight. Her elegance and spellbinding performance left the audience captivated! Utterly unique, the complexities of her every track were bursting with emotion and musical prowess. She was utterly remarkable and the audience adored her! She had a stella band behind her, all clearly excellent and accomplished musicians in their own right! She later joined the Manics on stage to duet with Bradfield on the fabulous ‘Little Baby Nothing’! Her and Bradfield had a beautiful dynamic between them and it was a definite highlight of their stunningly orchestrated and carefully considered set, which was about as close to perfect as it’s humanly possible to get!

The most breathtaking spine-tingling track of their incredible set tonight was without doubt the magnificent, ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’. As the video for the track played on the video screen behind them, there was the feeling that we were all experiencing something truly magical, a shared moment that would never be forgotten!

Another highlight of this incredible night was when Bradfield played too beautiful acoustic numbers, ‘Ready for Drowning’ which he sang partly in Welsh and ‘Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky’. It was the first time on the tour that the Manics had played ‘Ready for Downing’ and you could feel the emotion in the air. Bradfield is a man who wears his heart on his heart on his sleeve and at times his emotion was clear to see making him more likable than ever!

At one point in the show, the incredible Lana McDonagh joined the Manics to duet with Nicky Wire on ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’. McDonagh who is part of The Anchoress’s band delivered an absolutely breathtaking performance much to the joy of the enthusiastic crowd and her voice complemented Wire’s beautifully.

And the exhilarating moments and blindingly great music just kept coming thick and fast! There was the rousing rendition of ‘You Stole the Sun From My Heart’ which had the entire audience singing along at the top of their voices, the catchy as hell, ‘Your Love Alone Is Not Enough, another track where the audience couldn’t help but sing along at the top of their lungs and the scorching closing track of the night, ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’ which was uttering stunning!

There is an urgently to the Manics that has never left them, their music is a call to arms that demands to be heard and the years may have passed but this has never faded. This is not just evident in their earlier tracks, but in their new material too! This gang of eloquent non-conformists are more vital and relevant than ever and I for one can’t wait to see what’s next!

Photos of The Manic Street Preachers

Photos of The Anchoress

Words and photos by Louise Phillips Music Photography

All photos are owned by Louise Phillips Music Photography and cannot be shared without consent

https://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/

https://theanchoress.co.uk/

Setlist:

Decline & Fall
Enola/Alone
La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Brushstrokes of Reunion
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
She is Suffering
Peeled Apples
Motorcycle Emptiness
Little Baby Nothing
Hiding in Plain Sight
Autumn Song
A Design for Life
Ready for Drowning
Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky
The Everlasting
Dear Stephen
Sleepflower
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
International Blue
People Ruin Paintings
Motown Junk
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next