Happy Nieke Year!
Jan. 23rd, 2011 09:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
askygoneonfireI went to see the Manics last night with Becky and Harley.
It was SPECTACULAR.
One of the best performances I've seen them give. James was in spectacular voice and hitting notes hitherto unheard by human ears.
Drank vodka in the queue - as is the Manics fans way - and talked to some people who had flown from continental Europe for the gig.
In an unexpected turn of events, Tolerate made me cry. The first bar was played and I knew with the absolute physical certainty you have the moment before you throw up that I was going to burst into tears - completely involuntary, somehow more than mere emotions - and pow! I was sobbing my heart out, alternately sobbing and smiling so broadly I thought my ears would crack. Tolerate has never made me cry before, I wonder if it is an expression of my sublimated fears regarding the political instability and social reorganisation this country is currently experiencing. Whatever it was, that song is epic and it absolutely overcame me last night.
Currently nursing a back and legs covered in bruises from various crowd surges but overall the Nicky pit was as stable as it ever is.
I just can't put into words how seeing them live - when they are on form as they were last night - is a transformative experience. Body and soul altered and shaken. I came away alternately smiling and feeling as though I was going to cry again. Harley and I were both on that adrenaline high that only the Manics provide and both of us only managed 6 hours sleep last night - finally coming down around 1pm today while we were having lunch. I woke up with a great big smile on my face and laid back just letting it all come back to me.
Becky has never really been into the Manics but I asked her to come with me in the hopes of converting her. I don't know that she was converted, or that she enjoyed it - although she tells me she enjoyed some parts of the set. She asked me why people were so obsessed with them and expressed shock at the fact that at one point during the set she looked around her and found that everyone was crying. I'm not sure I have a sufficiently large vocabulary to put into words why that happens - but I know with absolute certainty what those other fans were feeling who surrounded Becky.
The Manics are, and were last night, greater than the sum of their parts - quite literally when they play live given Richey's absence - and that really is as much explanation as I can give as to why I, and many many others like me, find ourselves in tears in front of the stage, mid gig, singing every line as though it is our last.
I'll leave you with a couple of links to blazzingly short video clips....
Nicky's unfeasibly long legs from 00:21
May your gods be with you
And the set list;
ETA: Review from the Independent.
It was SPECTACULAR.
One of the best performances I've seen them give. James was in spectacular voice and hitting notes hitherto unheard by human ears.
Drank vodka in the queue - as is the Manics fans way - and talked to some people who had flown from continental Europe for the gig.
In an unexpected turn of events, Tolerate made me cry. The first bar was played and I knew with the absolute physical certainty you have the moment before you throw up that I was going to burst into tears - completely involuntary, somehow more than mere emotions - and pow! I was sobbing my heart out, alternately sobbing and smiling so broadly I thought my ears would crack. Tolerate has never made me cry before, I wonder if it is an expression of my sublimated fears regarding the political instability and social reorganisation this country is currently experiencing. Whatever it was, that song is epic and it absolutely overcame me last night.
Currently nursing a back and legs covered in bruises from various crowd surges but overall the Nicky pit was as stable as it ever is.
I just can't put into words how seeing them live - when they are on form as they were last night - is a transformative experience. Body and soul altered and shaken. I came away alternately smiling and feeling as though I was going to cry again. Harley and I were both on that adrenaline high that only the Manics provide and both of us only managed 6 hours sleep last night - finally coming down around 1pm today while we were having lunch. I woke up with a great big smile on my face and laid back just letting it all come back to me.
Becky has never really been into the Manics but I asked her to come with me in the hopes of converting her. I don't know that she was converted, or that she enjoyed it - although she tells me she enjoyed some parts of the set. She asked me why people were so obsessed with them and expressed shock at the fact that at one point during the set she looked around her and found that everyone was crying. I'm not sure I have a sufficiently large vocabulary to put into words why that happens - but I know with absolute certainty what those other fans were feeling who surrounded Becky.
The Manics are, and were last night, greater than the sum of their parts - quite literally when they play live given Richey's absence - and that really is as much explanation as I can give as to why I, and many many others like me, find ourselves in tears in front of the stage, mid gig, singing every line as though it is our last.
I'll leave you with a couple of links to blazzingly short video clips....
Nicky's unfeasibly long legs from 00:21
May your gods be with you
And the set list;
ETA: Review from the Independent.
