17/12/14 London Roundhouse

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke

Alright, this place populated by fans and ex fans of Manic Street Preachers. Sure it'll be the same on Facebook, tumblr, twitter, the physical world and whatever else. Not sure there's a great distinction between a forum and its members.

I think it was your 'this place' comment that made it sound like you were singling out FD in particular. Truth is, Manics fandom and fandom in general can generate these sorts of discussions. I've seen very similar discussions on other bands' official forums in the past and well, pretty much any post-gig discussion on the internet. If you stick several thousand people in a darkened room together all squashed up (and in some cases, all boozed up), someone somewhere is going to get annoyed by another person; it's just human nature.

Originally Posted by mank

After all, we were all at the gig (and the other gigs too) because of the same reason. People need to remember that.

This I do agree with. However, bear in mind the entire discussion about queuing etc only began because some people not even on this forum (as far as I'm aware) had forgotten this and in turn ruined the gig for others who do post on FD. Those people affected by others' selfishness should be allowed to vent about it in threads like this without being accused of starting unnecessary drama and failing to see the big picture. I think the basic feeling was 'don't be a dick to each other', but sadly the world has lots of dicks in it and some of them happen to attend Manics gigs; that's just the way it goes. Discussions like this have happened on here before, just not for a long time.

Originally Posted by Miss Pear

Compared to twelve years ago, this "bitching" is nowt! Old bitchers v new bitchers; Melody Maker would have a field day (RIP)

Yeah, seriously, I wouldn't even consider this thread 'drama' compared to stuff that has gone down in Manics fandom in the past

Anyway, that's enough on fandom politics, I've still not actually said much about the gig itself!

We left work early on Wednesday afternoon, so it was a bit of a mad dash round London after our train was delayed, but we arrived at the venue with about an hour to spare before the band came on and managed second row on the left side, which is better than I was expecting to get. I wasn't sure what it was going to be like on the second row in terms of the crowd, but it was mostly ok round us. People were enjoying it and doing shouty pointy etc, but without shoving everyone out the way in the process (except one drunken student guy, who looked so out of it I don't think he even knew where he was or what he was doing, but he soon disappeared into the middle somewhere after trying but failing to nab my spot). As this was the third time I'd seen the THB set, whilst the initial excitement of hearing it all for the first time had faded, it was nice to just take it all in a bit more. I've also decided the version of This Is Yesterday they've been playing on this tour is WAY better than the versions they've played on recent tours, as were other THB regulars; they all sounded so much fresher and vital. Mausoleum and P.C.P are still my two favourites of the first half and I had so much fun going mad to them both.

As for the second half...Show Me The Wonder, in hindsight, seems so ridiculous to follow on from P.C.P But it was fun (and as James put it, their "wedding reception song") and nice to have something different to the Manchester gigs. Dreaming a City still remains one of my favourites of the second set and I had it in my head in the days following this gig. I never thought I'd enjoy an instrumental this much, especially in a live setting. Postcards was a bit of an odd choice...I don't mind it like and it's one of a handful of songs from that album I actually like, but it wasn't particularly exciting. Same for Divine Youth tbh...I thought Georgia Ruth was drowned out by the music and the song in general just bores me (I saw a fan video clip someone took at one of the Manchester gigs and you can see me on the front row looking rather bored and I spent half the song taking photos instead ). As for You Love Us and Andy Cairns, whilst he might not have added much to the song, it was all good fun and I suspect the guest appearance was more for the band's benefit/enjoyment than ours. And that's fine by me, especially with it being the last night of the tour. ADFL with the confetti was an absolutely perfect way to end the gig/tour and I had a definite case of goosebumps from the whole occasion Although, I seriously don't think I've ever seen so much confetti at the end of a gig in my life! We were being DROWNED in the stuff by the end of ADFL I nearly choked on a piece and even after getting back to our hotel and having a shower/change of clothes, I still kept finding bits everywhere. I got my purse out my bag to pay for some shopping today and another bit of gold floated out.

So, in a nutshell, I've had a great time on this tour and the band have most definitely done THB justice and done themselves and Richey proud. Now let's hope they get a nice rest over the next 5/6 months, so they're ready to do it all again in the summer (I suggest we wrap James in cotton wool and ban him from going outside). Not that I expect Nicky to keep to his word, but Comfort Comes at Cardiff Castle would be amazing.

I'll post some photos when I get chance (presuming they're not all shit); I've not got any of them off my camera for this gig or either Manchester dates yet. I seem to have either been asleep or at work or preparing for Christmas since I got back from London.

[Takk]

Oh I just remembered the guy who was crowd surfing and fell back down into the crowd so his legs were sticking up in the air - and seemed to remain like that for ages. Someone must have been holding him but it looked so ridiculous

[Little Troll]

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

As for the second half...Show Me The Wonder, in hindsight, seems so ridiculous to follow on from P.C.P But it was fun (and as James put it, their "wedding reception song") and nice to have something different to the Manchester gigs.

I felt like Show Me The Wonder went down really badly. Everyone around me was just looked bored and I couldn't see anyone standing near me singing along which was a real shame because I thought it was really good. I think I was surrounded by drunk guys who just wanted to jump up and down though which would explain why they didn't appreciate it.

[The Gutless Wonder]

That's a shame! I plan to be singing my heart out to SMTW at Wolvo if they play it!

[Takk]

It didn't sound as good acoustic as it could, i think.

[Marwood]

Abstract nails it with every post in this thread

I've been wanting to write up proper reviews of the six gigs I went to for days, but I'm still half dead with tour flu. Ah well. Bottom line is this has been a fucking brilliant tour, but emotionally and physically draining. Wednesday was amazing though and a great way to wrap it up.

Do agree with comments on Show Me The Wonder, much as I adore the album (second favourite) and was pleased the album got a respectable showing over the course of the tour, SMTW fell a bit flat. Apparently Trumpet Bale was in the building on Tuesday, and I think it's a real shame they didn't arrange for him to appear on the Wednesday. As for Andy Cairns, I saw him walk onstage but once they started playing I don't think I looked over once. Couldn't have done if I'd wanted to, as everyone was going a bit batshit down Nicky's side

[Miss Pear]

SMTW kinda bores me musically but I think it was okay on the night. Dreaming A City I fucking LOVE and it was fab live. I'm not too struck on the modern and slightly electronic direction the band have taken of late TBH (gimme guitars, baby) but the newer stuff comes over pretty well live.

I still have gold confetti in my purse.

[framedadolescence]

Well, what a couple of nights that was. I wrote up on it here if you want to check it out

http://yekimmikey.wordpress.com/2014...en-roundhouse/

Basically, shortened it would read WOW

[relic]

Originally Posted by nozzer

I had a couple literally right infront of me eating each others faces off the whole way through Tolerate... what a fucking awesome love song that is!

Originally Posted by Finn

Oh dear...

Originally Posted by hummingbird

how about Suicide is Painless? A snogging couple obscured my view of James throughout most of that song in 2002

Manchester 11th, a couple just in front of the mixing desk snogged their way through Mausoleum. It was very, very strange. 'Wherever you go I will be carcass
Whatever you see will be rotting flesh.' 'Slurp slurp, snog snog ...'

[Miss Pear]

The Intense Sucking of Faces

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Thanks to everyone who's posted photos/videos/reviews.

Here are a few of my pics:

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

[Sandrine]

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

Thank you for all your pictures in the different threads!

[Jimi A]

Fucking ace gig. Really nice chatting to everyone in the queue all day. Best fucking toilets of any venue - ever!

And as for the couple snogging, I bet it was Die In The Summertime that must have initially got them in the mood. If you take away the lyrics and just listen to the music it's the Manics sexiest song.

Oh that's just me then? Right...

[Nikolai]

Originally Posted by mank

Days later and I'm still buzzing from the gig. I haven't seen the Manics in 12 years and I probably won't bother going to see them again but I feel truly honoured, privileged, touched and awestruck at seeing The Holy Bible, in full, live, played with such anger, emotion and sheer fucking passion. That is what I loved about the Manics when I discovered them in my early teens and that was reinvigorated on Wednesday night.

Ahhhhhhhhh man, I wish I could have articulated my thoughts on the gig(s) as well as this. Beautifully put and those are also the exact same reasons why a young Nikolai because such a huge MSP fan in my teens.