Manic Street Preachers
Liverpool Guild of Students, 8.10.2010

This will be a short one (promise!) since I can not get myself to be objective here. This band is and always will be a favourite – no matter what critics around the world in their bubbly happy free music world might say about “Postcards From A Young Man” or every album that will hopefully follow.

When you are a music fan and move to a new city, maybe even to a foreign country, the best way to get into your new home and surroundings is, of course, a concert. In the young love story between Liverpool and me, the first impressions I got from its concert scene was the Manic Street Preachers’ gig at the University.

Support came from British Sea Power, who did one very impressive thing: they managed to keep another bands fans focused on them and not leave them in excited, nervous pre-gig drinking moods. This can be counted as success. Or is it just the audience that’s different to what I’m used to (German coolness stiffness)? Possible.

It is no wonder the audience was mostly old enough to remember the first album coming out. These are the people who don’t give a damn about negative record reviews. The good thing is: the Manics themselves don’t seem to care about it either.

The evening was a healthy self celebration, starting off with “You Love Us” and letting the audience sing the chorus in “Motorcycle Emptyness”. Even the lyrics to songs from the new album were already burned into the peoples minds – true love it is between the Manics and their fans. They gave us a little bit of history (including “Empty Souls”, “Tsunami” “You Stole The Sun From My Heart” and “A Design For Life”) and we gave them back our support in form of enthusiastic singing, fights for first row places, a lot of sweat and beer showers. For a couple of minutes I had the chance to stand close enough to the stage to see Nicky Wires eye make up. I’m sorry to say but this might be the only thing about the Manics I will probably never get used to!

Now, one week later, I am still psyched.
That's what gigs are for.