17/12/14 London Roundhouse

[sculptureofabloke]

As far as queuing and pushing in goes, I can't be arsed with queuing and I'm tall enough with with good enough eye sight to get a decent view pretty much anywhere without having to weave through and push in, so I guess I'm lucky in that respect. Hate it when people do push in like that anyway, not gonna do it myself. Just a shame there are so many selfish and rude people at gigs.

[Miss Pear]

Originally Posted by NasalScarecrow

Seconded. Someone who ran in a minute later actually said they were gonna try 'blagging' the same next time. Ridiculous.

I've seen that before. Back when we were doing loads of recordings, a comedian had a group of female fans who really took exception to us for some unknown reason (God knows what we did), and got narky that we got in before they did. So they started bringing their elderly/incapacitated friends/relatives to recordings purely so they could get on the front row. It's amazing how useful the disabled population can be to certain folks... (Funnily enough, as soon as that comedian got engaged, they stopped coming.)

[Finn]

Now THAT is batshit crazy.

[Routine Builder]

As someone who used to queue for the barrier, I just don't see the attraction anymore. I know this might sound offensive but when I see people at the barrier these days, they look jaded and bored. If the band were playing big gigs, I could see the point, but if you don't queue you get close enough to the front that the sound is the same and you soak more of atmosphere in with the fans who try give as much energy as the band do. As far as I'm concerned Manics live and die on they energy of the crowd and from what I can see very little of that comes from the front row.

But if you queue, you deserve your spot. I don't think anyone who queues becomes holier than thou, they just quite understandably get pissed off when a latecomer tries to steal what they've spent 12 hours earning. The queue nazi thing is overblown, it was just attempt to ensure that those who queued and spent their time waiting got the place they earned.

[Takk]

Quite frankly, sitting was the best seat in the house literally. Great view, people were still singing, pointing, and dancing, i got to see the whole venue, the crowd, the band...and the sound was amazing.

The idea that queuing earns you anything is pretty british lol.

[Lowri]

I stood this time but I think next time I'm gonna sit down. I'm too old for this! (I'm ahem, 26...)

[Autoluminescent]

(I think I'm late to this, but) a nice gig to end the tour with, I really enjoyed Divine Youth (I do enjoy Nicky singing it but this made a change!), and You Love Us with Andy Cairns was really cool (a longer/additional solo section to make the most of it would have been great but I have no complaints! ).

[sculptureofabloke]

Originally Posted by Takk

Quite frankly, sitting was the best seat in the house literally. Great view, people were still singing, pointing, and dancing, i got to see the whole venue, the crowd, the band...and the sound was amazing.

The idea that queuing earns you anything is pretty british lol.

It's an odd one really. Queuing is (well, should be) quite polite, but when you're in London manners are weird

[iamjustapatsy]

Well that was all really quite special last night wasn't it? So good to see the band on such good form - just they just continue to impress me very time I see them.

A few observations:
a) I was stood at the back for the majority of the gig next to the sound desk and noticed that the crowd thinned quite considerably after the end of the first set
b) gutted about the ommission of 1985 - whilst Postcards isn't a bad tune it's not a patch on the former
c) was Andy Cairns actually playing yesterday? I noticed that he 'took' the solo in YLU but I couldn't audibly hear it, noted JDB look over at the side of the stage and 'nod' to someone in Andy's direction before finishing off some of the solo himself...well that was my take on it all anyway...
d) why was Georgia Ruth's vocals so quiet in Divine Youth? She did seem to get lost amongst the noise of the rest of the band
e) Sean is a drumming legend. End of.

[The Black]

Best gig of the 3 Roundhouse gigs, that's for sure!

[il_capo]

Originally Posted by Routine Builder

.... but if you don't queue you get close enough to the front that the sound is the same and you soak more of atmosphere in with the fans who try give as much energy as the band do ...

The sound sure is great down the front : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONcibjvCDXU

[Nikolai]

I know I'm coming out of self imposed forum retirement (again) here, but there's no way that I can miss out on posting my thoughts on this fucking stupendous gig!

Last night was my 11th MSP gig, over an 18 year period, and was almost certainly the best that I've ever seen them. It was mind blowing in its intensity and sheer brilliance. I felt hugely proud to be a Manics fan last night. 'Ifwhiteamerica...' and 'Mausoleum' stunned me with their pummelling potency and I'm not embarrassed to admit that I had a tear or two in my eye during 'This Is Yesterday'. That was some seriously powerful stuff. I also agree with what some other folks on here have said about that possibly being the best live rendition of 'You Love Us' ever. As a big Therapy? fan, it was bloody fantastic to see Andy Cairns up there rocking the fuck out with them on that one.

We were at the show on the 15th too and, poorly Bradders woes aside, that was a pretty good gig, but last night was on a whole other level of Manic magnificence.

I feel like a right silly sod now for ever doubting if they could pull these Holy Bible gigs off as they absolutely frickin nailed it! The intensity, the ferocity, JDB barking out those lyrics with complete and utter conviction: it was all there in absolute fucking spades. It was immense to witness and something I'll never forget. A massive thanks to the four Manic Street Preachers for making it possible for nights like last night to happen.

Right now a first ever visit to Cardiff next summer is feeling very, very tempting...

[Takk]

Andy Cairns was a bit of a non-event, really.

[Dext37 Fielding]

If anyone near the front in the middle saw a balaclava with 'Dex' on it, then you can guess that was moi. Throughly enjoyed the tour.... and the bitching.

[relic]

I would like to queue again, one day, if my health permits it, because it's fun to chat to people and get to know new people. This year's gigs have been 1) Barrier right at the end Nicky's side because there was still space there when I strode in at doors. Wonderful. 2) Seated, front row, had a brilliant gig. 3) Five or six rows back, Nicky side, just behind a hectic mosh. Ace gig. 4) Right at the back, next to the desk, leaning against a pillar, staring at James in a sailor suit. Lovely. It's nice to mix things up. Also, I have my own 'barrier rule', if there's someone behind me who is shorter than me, I give up my barrier place at ADFL so they can get a good look at the band for a few minutes. To be fair, there aren't many people shorter than me, which I why I try for barrier when I can.