Saturday 19 April 2025

Saturday 19 April 2025. MANIC STREET PREACHERS live at Shepherds Bush Empire . This was the second of their two sold out SBE shows . I am back again to see them for a second time. Another mainly middle aged crowd . Lots of very loyal hardcore fans down the front of stage . THE ANCHORESS and band played another good 30 mins set. She wore a different colour trouser suit tonight. MANICS again on at 8.45pm for their 1 hour 45 mins set. As expected , there was a couple of setlist changes . The overall sound again is just fantastic. Even better on the big tracks such as ... Australia (not played on the first night) You Stole The Sun From My Heart Motorcycle Emptiness ( amazing guitar from James) A Design For Life Motown Junk' If You Tolerate This ,Then Your Children Will Be Next This time it was James Dean Bradfield to talk fondly of the time they spent in Askew Road , Shepherds Bush and how they were regulars at St Elmo Fish Bar ( i used to go there too). Another really great show. -------------------------------- -------------------------------- Friday 18 April 2025. MANIC STREET PREACHERS live at Shepherds Bush Empire. Manic Street Preachers head out on tour in support of their fifteenth studio album ' Critical Thinking' . Tonight was the first of two shows at SBE. Both these shows sold out very quickly. I have seen The Manics over a dozen times , with the first time being at The Hibernian Club, Fulham in August 1991. This was a few months after ' Motown Junk' came out , and before their debut album was released in 1992. All three original band members are still there . All of their albums have been released via CBS/Sony/Epic. --------- The venue is rammed solid sold out tonight As usual , the Manics have a huge guest list of over 100 folks. Support act THE ANCHORESS are on at 7.45pm for 30 mins. Welsh born female singer , and her three band mates. They play some good tracks from her three albums . MANIC STREET PREACHERS on at 8.45pm for 1 hour 45 mins. For most of the show the trio are joined by a second guitarist and a keyboard player . They have a nice big screen showing pre-recorded footage and slogans . The setlist was a nice mix of new album tracks, rarities and half a dozen big Manics classics. James Dean Bradfield played some nifty guitar licks , on his trademark white Les Paul Gibson, and he used other guitars , including a black one for a stunning 'Motorcycle Emptiness'. Ticker-tape confetti cannons were used twice in the show. Near the end, Nicky Wire gave an emotional speech about how when they first started off with Richie Edwards , they based themselves nearby in Askew Road , Shepherds Bush. A really great show. Full MANICS setlist played tonight... Tape Intro - Critical Thinking (remix) 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 ( with The Anchoress) (tour debut) Hiding in Plain Sight (with Lana McDonagh) Autumnsong A Design for Life Ready for Drowning ( James Dean Bradfield solo acoustic; first time live since 2019) Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky ( James Dean Bradfield solo acoustic) The Everlasting Dear Stephen Sleepflower Your Love Alone Is Not Enough International Blue (followed by band introductions) People Ruin Paintings Motown Junk ( with 'Rebel Rebel' intro) If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Thursday 17 April 2025...6.45pm to 10.15pm... BETWEEN THE BRIDGES - opening night - The Queen's Walk, London SE1. The location is between The London Eye and The Royal Festival Hall, on the huge site where i went to Underbelly a couple of times. A massive crowd of around 1000 folks here , yes a 1000, and amazingly they have seats and tables for most of them . Two areas have djs ...one is playing Garage and r n b etc and the other is Guilty Pleasures djs, who are much more to our liking , as they are playing well known tracks and folks are dancing... a very lively atmosphere here . Some of the areas are covered, and some are open air. There is maybe a dozen different food operators. The extensive drinks list is pretty incredible . As it is opening night some drinks companies are giving out free samples. As press we are given vouchers for drinks and food, so maybe 100 here are press related, and the rest are paying customers. I stuck to rum and whiskey with mixers . The food i had ... Patty & Bun - Their Don Burger was delicious Every Fish Bar - Their Cod and chips and mushy peas was fab. Crumble London - a nice big tub of Apple Pie with Custard and lots of crumble was yummy. It is free entry , and you just buy your food and drinks. www.betweenthebridges.co.uk - Visit their website here for more info. -----------------------

Posted 18th April 2025