01/04/2014 - Manchester O2 Apollo

[Europa Gluten Free]

I enjoyed the gig tonight. Best one of the tour. See you guys on Thursday night!

[Son of Stopped]

And a splendid time is guaranteed for all!
Thanks for the updates.

[Takk]

Great setlist.

[jenvidg]

Thanks for the updates once again!! Been shyly lurking in the background every night.. Will catch the shows in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, so this is as great as warm ups get!

[Europa Gluten Free]

Originally Posted by jenvidg

Thanks for the updates once again!! Been shyly lurking in the background every night.. Will catch the shows in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, so this is as great as warm ups get!

Welcome! Please post more! The Scandinavian gigs will be mega!

[hummingbird]

THEY PLAYED MY FAVOURIITE SONG!!!!

7 years i been waiting for die in the summertime !

oh i'm a happy manics fan

Nicky was still subdued but he seemed to warm up a bit in the second
half. He played fine..whatever's wrong i dont see them cancelling anything

[Mr Richey]

He's at least tweeting again.

[hummingbird]

Crowd response was great

[riot_star]

I am so jealous of this setlist, it sounds like it was a great night!

[MaNiC-BiZ]

Mega gig, not quite on par with The Ritz but still great to hear the new songs as well as DITS etc. Looking forward to the new album now.

Thought the gig was going to be partly ruined by some nutter at the front who was either massively happy, drunk, high or all three. Let's just say I've never seen anybody so happy and overwhelmed to hear EMG live.

[relic]

That's as close to a religious experience as I'm every going to get.

I got the feeling from the setlist pacing and the long acoustic set that Nicky is getting a chance to rest a bit, but he was much, much more engaged and active than he was at Cardiff. The crowd were on brilliant form, and although it wasn't hot and sweaty and mad near the back where I was standing, there was still a lot of enthusiasm and singing going on.

Fantastic setlist, I can't believe we got Die In The Summertime, Archives of Pain and Enola / Alone. Any bugger who claims the Manics always trot out a Greatest Hits set is going to have to eat this setlist. It's wonderful to hear so many RTF songs, because I honestly love that album to bits.

Futurology is growing on me too.

And yes, although James is never going to admit it, the crowd were hands down better than the Cardiff one

[MSPKYE]

Wonderful, fantastic gig. Brilliant setlist, Brucie bonus acoustic song. If Nicky's suffering then he didn't show it and was on great form, bless him for soldiering on.

Tonight was the first time I could actually hear Futurology properly. The other nights I haven't been able to grasp it as Nicky's bits especially were getting lost in the mix, but tonight with the Apollo's excellent acoustics I could hear everything and I love it! It sounds huge, can't wait to hear it on record.

And what more can I say about Bradders, the man's just an absolute hero.

[Elvis Impersonator]

I don't know if I'm missing something, but that was one of the flattest gigs I've ever been to. Opening with Wonder was a mistake, beyond the big hits and THB stuff it was just dragging, then Rewind The Film just killed it absolutely stone dead. There was just something funny going on, Stay Beautiful sounded off for some reason and the only songs that really hit home were Motorcycle Emptiness, This Sullen Welsh Heart, Masses, You Love Us, Tsunami and Design For Life. The audience around me was dead for the vast majority. I got to say hey to James when he was on the way to the bus, but other than that it was a totally underwhelming experience.

[Manic Street Mike]

Fucking phenomenal night. One of the best of my entire life.

I mean... fuck.

We heard them soundcheck DITS and almost had a fit.

Didn't expect TIY and AOP as well.

Top form.

Nicky was obviously still suffering but he soldiered on. He didn't want to stop to sign our shit and to be honest I don't blame him. The guy's only human. Anyone who badgers him, particularly in that state, is a knob.

I bought them all Easter Eggs and gave them to the security guard to hand over. They must've thought I was fucking bonkers, particularly as they were melted in the unusual Mancunian weather. Hope they thought it was a nice gesture regardless!

[Marwood]

TONIGHT WAS ABSOLUTELY FUCKING IMMENSE!!! Really amazing gig. The setlist shake up worked really, really well. Oh, and can I just say DIE IN THE SUMMERTIME!!! THIS IS YESTERDAY!!! Eat it fuckers!

I went batshit insane to Europa and DITS and... well, most of it. I suspect I'll be in support bandages for the rest of this tour.

Nicky is clearly not on top form but he was sooooooo much happier than he was at Leicester, and looked a lot more comfortable. So, so happy that he seems to be feeling better! I'd been worried sick about him all day.

James was beyond amazing. He really gave it everything tonight. I think there's something vaguely indecent about a man of his years having so much energy.

The crowd were brilliant. They were roaring out the lyrics. It was ferocious. It was fantastic.

Ah, Rach on one side and Cri on the other. Best barrier buddies in the world, wish the three of us could be together at every gig.

Tonight was without question the best night of this tour so far, and possibly my second-favourite Manics gig of all time. So happy right now.