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Elly Roberts reviews
Down-sizing their venues from the familiar huge arenas,it was Liverpools turn to see the award-winning Manics at a more intimateRoyal Court Theatre.
In one hour forty five minutes, the sloganeering Welsh super-grouprocked the 67-year-old Art Deco building to its foundations. These boys donthang about: they get on, and get on with it.
Opening with a rasping Found That Soul,they set the tone for the night.Chunky guitarist James Dean Bradfield was dwarfed by towering bassist Nick Wire,as the pair fronted the trios stage antics of air-splits and leaps, which addedto the electrifying energy of the night. Thumping away on the sticks, drummerSean Moore was almost un-noticeable in the background.
Visually theyre an odd combo. Bradfield looks the military type: short hairand beefy. Lanky Wire added the tacky glamour. With a feather boa wrapped aroundhis mic stand and glittered eye make-up, hes a peculiar contrast to his band-mate.With his low-slung bass, long arms and legs, Wire loped around the stage likea lost soul, occassionaly dipping in to a little foot routine.
As a unit theyre one of the best Ive heard, with all songs sounding sharp:the balance was perfect. Bradfields powerful vocals engulfed the theatreand, for a change, they were crystal clear, unlike many rock singers.
The set was a mix of singles and album tracks, and surprisingly they dropped theirfirst major hit Design For Life as the second song, which sent the twothousand crowd into raptures. From then on they couldnt go wrong. They rompedthrough the 23 songs at a blistering pace.
Highlights were anthemic hits You Stole The Sun From My Heart, If You TolerateThis Your Children Will Be Next, with mellower Let Robeson Sing andEverlasting making just as much impact. Finishing with araucous Paradise City/Motown Junk they left the stage without an encore.
No need: a job well done. 10/10!
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.