New tour!

[NeverWantAgain]

Originally Posted by rosetree

I get what you mean. I have seen the Manics quite a few times over the years and occasionally I've gone alone. I really love the atmosphere and I think people filming can be in the way often though, The last thing I think is what the setlist should be or why they're playing something. I'm glad fans manage to get videos and I think some know people want to see the band, I guess that kind of thing happens. Though i'm on holiday, I'm looking forward to see them in Manchester and I'd still love seeing them live, if they played the same set.

I completely agree! I have nothing against people who want to film gigs, I just think they should go to the back of the room and film it from there, or sit upstairs if there is one. Personally it ruins the gig for me if all I can see is a dozen phone screens in front of me.

I also go to most Manics gigs alone, I only know one other person who likes them as much as I do so I’ve travelled to Glasgow, Leeds, York, Manchester etc to see them on my own.

[mishima]

Was at the Barras last night, thought the band were stupendous. Loved the setlist. Didn't enjoy continuously being shoved by people as they went to and from the bar during the set, without so much as a 'excuse me'. Manners deffo gone down hill!!!!!

Looking forward to Manchester.

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Lovely post on Instagram from Dave Eringa about stepping in for Nick Nasmyth, which also puts the setlist discourse into perspective seen as he practiced 6 hours a day for a month! https://www.instagram.com/p/DIZJYq4t...pzZmJtMmlkcjly

[LA ex]

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

Lovely post on Instagram from Dave Eringa about stepping in for Nick Nasmyth, which also puts the setlist discourse into perspective seen as he practiced 6 hours a day for a month! https://www.instagram.com/p/DIZJYq4t...pzZmJtMmlkcjly

Interesting! I always had Dave down as a pretty accomplished performance for some reason - I'm sure I've seen very old footage of him doing live stuff with the band (or maybe James solo).

With his comments about his performance level though I wonder how that has affected the songs they've picked for this tour - I'm not nearly accomplished enough to work out how complex Naysmith's contributions on different songs are. I wonder if She is Suffering / Peeled Apples being played as a three piece is due to this or if it was the plan all along.

(Please note: This isn't a complaint about the songs being played - on the contrary I'm quite happy with the selection)

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Originally Posted by LA ex

Interesting! I always had Dave down as a pretty accomplished performance for some reason - I'm sure I've seen very old footage of him doing live stuff with the band (or maybe James solo).

With his comments about his performance level though I wonder how that has affected the songs they've picked for this tour - I'm not nearly accomplished enough to work out how complex Naysmith's contributions on different songs are. I wonder if She is Suffering / Peeled Apples being played as a three piece is due to this or if it was the plan all along.


(Please note: This isn't a complaint about the songs being played - on the contrary I'm quite happy with the selection)

I'd be pretty confident in saying that the majority of the set had already been decided on given that how similar the sets have been to the preview gigs.

Dave previously played on the GATS tours (and i think he may have also sung backing too). He's also played some keyboard parts on the recorded versions of songs already in the set like IB and People Ruin Paintings. He's done it before so he's clearly good enough!

I'm even more fucked off that about how the set was rotated now I know he had a month to rehearse

[Routine Builder]

Suspect this is the video you're thinking of :

https://youtu.be/zYijmX8UzQ0?si=HRqMvreMovaAB43z

This was while he was playing keys on the GATS tour. I suspect he hasn't done much live work since which is a different beast to doing stuff in the studio where you don't have protools or Nasmyth to come in and do a better take . Speaking of which, sending good vibes Nicks way, coming up soon on his 30th anniversary with the band. Probably doesn't get enough credit from the fan base for what he contributes in the studio especially on Lifeblood and TIMT.

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Originally Posted by Routine Builder

Suspect this is the video you're thinking of :

https://youtu.be/zYijmX8UzQ0?si=HRqMvreMovaAB43z

This was while he was playing keys on the GATS tour. I suspect he hasn't done much live work since which is a different beast to doing stuff in the studio where you don't have protools or Nasmyth to come in and do a better take . Speaking of which, sending good vibes Nicks way, coming up soon on his 30th anniversary with the band. Probably doesn't get enough credit from the fan base for what he contributes in the studio especially on Lifeblood and TIMT.

It was this one of Sleepflower i had in mind, pretty sure he's on backing vocals in the chorus too.
https://youtu.be/GFo3iUOv2Vo

I've never been the greatest Nasmyth fan, ever since he blanked me the first time I saw the band live (a TV appearance) and have traumatic memories of his keyboard parts before they had a second guitarist as rhey stood out more, but I do wish him well and hope he is okay at least and look forward to seeing him back on tour soon.

Shame Sean Read wasn't available, I really loved his versatility on keyboards, percussion, sax/trumpet and backing vocals. I've worked with him in the studio and he's a genius.

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

I suspect the majority of songs were already chosen as well, seen as Nicky shared titbits about what they were rehearsing on Instagram months ago (even before the Kingston gigs, I believe) but still, it should really serve to manage people’s expectations that they’re not going to suddenly pick stuff out of left field from night to night (which they have never tended to do anyway). Personally, I don’t get pressed about setlists of gigs I wasn’t even present for though…at least it means I haven’t missed anything of note.

[Porco]

Originally Posted by Routine Builder

The thing is that having someone else's phone in your eyeline stops you from being fully there in the moment. Your enjoyment of a gig is being impacted by someone blocking your view of the stage constantly recording videos that are a) likely never going to be watched b) put on YouTube to be watched by 5 people because the sound and quality are so crappy. People take time off, spend money on tickets, travel and hotels to go to gigs and it's really f**king annoying to build up your hype for these gigs to be spoilt by people who refuse to acknowledge that the Manic Street Preachers are playing a gig in front of them, for them but instead focus watching them through a phone. Not all people who do this are as indiscreet, Emily Hyatt is able to do this without sticking their phone in people's faces. I also appreciate not everyone can attend these gigs for many unavoidable reasons, but it is a live show and that's the experience people are paying for. The tickets say Manic Street Preachers, not Manic Street Preachers hiding behind a dozen smart phones.

Fair enough points, I really wasn’t meaning to sound dismissive of it sometimes being a genuine problem for some people who made the effort and spent the time and expense to go to gig(s).

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

I’d never been to the Barrowlands before (we had tickets on the TUVL tour, but husband’s broken arm meant we had to change our tour plans), so it was great to finally tick that one off my list. The band seemed happy to be there (James apologised for not being able to do his signature one leg spinning move due to an injury, which he stressed was not age-related

Isn't it such a perfect venue for them? I'd read the name for years before my first Manics gig there (2013) but didn't know much about its legendary status and immediately loved the place. It's a good size, the sound has always been good in my experience, I love the old dancehall vibe and iconic ceiling, it's always a top atmosphere.

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

The Everlasting started off with just James on electric guitar then the rest of the band snuck onstage and they went full band from the solo onwards, which actually worked really well. People tend to turn their noses up at that song, but I think it’s an underrated guitar solo and it was nice to see them re-jig the live arrangement.

A polarising song but one that remains a favourite of mine. I've seen James play a few memorable solo acoustic versions, but unless he and the crowd are really singing at their hearts out, it can lack something. A full band version though, just the ticket.

Originally Posted by mishima

Didn't enjoy continuously being shoved by people as they went to and from the bar during the set, without so much as a 'excuse me'. Manners deffo gone down hill!!!!!

Yeah, that can be incredibly annoying. I've seen a fair few discussions online about audience etiquette getting worse especially after Covid. Physically barging past a minute before a band starts or back and forth to the bar was always annoying as it was but I've noticed more people talking during films in cinemas, more talking or shouting or arguing during quiet songs at gigs, there was even a couple booted out of some theatre production after disrupting the show. And the worst thing? Some of those think it's justified because "they paid for entry so they're free to do what they want". Sad to say but it's a pleasant surprise and a relief when an audience is respectful.

[Mumbojumbo]

Originally Posted by Routine Builder

Suspect this is the video you're thinking of :

https://youtu.be/zYijmX8UzQ0?si=HRqMvreMovaAB43z

This version was the first time I'd heard Motorcycle, ever! Its great.

[CraigFairlie]

Edit

[Europa Gluten Free]

So wish I was going to the London gigs.

[rpmacmurphy]

So buzzing about the two London shows -cant wait !!

Look out a tubby oddball wearing a black du rag, - for that will be my humble self xxx

[ZiZi]

Play Critical Thinking live ffs.
Best track on the album. Unimaginable it wesn't on the setlist in Glasgow.