Manic Street Preachers review: Era-defining trio still at their rousing, politicised best

One of the many pleasures of seeing the Manic Street Preachers live is to be had in hearing the brilliant voice of James Dean Bradfield.

At his best, the Welshman is one of rock’s great vocalists. Last night, battling a “horrible lurgy”, he was at only half his normal capacity and was heavily reliant on the crowd.

Still, lurgy or no, there’s a reason the Manics came here fresh from picking up the “Inspiration” gong at the Q Awards: they’ve written some era-defining songs.

Your Love Alone Is Not Enough cued an impassioned call and response between band and audience, while the pummelling Kevin Carter was the Manics at their rousing, politicised best.

For reasons unclear, Bradfield decided to play Faster, a standout from their very loud 1994 album The Holy Bible, in acoustic mode. Just as baffling was the decision to include the unloved Tsunami and Ocean Spray in a set lacking so many favourites. Still, at least they finished with the soaring A Design For Life.

It’s not often that the Manics are the most moderate band on the bill. Then again, support act Sleaford Mods are something of a special case. Raving at the rich and bristling at Brexit, the boisterous Grantham duo are not for the faint-hearted.

Vocalist Williamson — think the lovechild of John Cooper Clarke and Johnny Rotten — spat his invective while manically touching his head. In B.H.S, he used the decline of the titular department store as a metaphor for the collapse of the country. “We’re going down like B.H.S,” he barked over bludgeoning beats. It wasn’t easy to listen to, but then, the truth rarely is.