Manic Street Preachers happy to be back

Positivus 2012

Salacgrīva, Latvia

June 21st 

Photo by Margarita Ogoļceva

It was four years back when Manic Street Preachers played on Positivus stage for their first time. Now the famous Welsh rock band can recall the venue very well and though their role is similar – the last headliners on the main stage on the second day of the festival – this time the crowd is much bigger, and agreeing with bassist Nicholas Allen Jones ‘it [the show] is gonna be better’.

It starts on this beautifully decorated stage with glittering pink cherry trees like at Japanese cherry blossom season and a picture of a blond girl with a crown on her head gazing at the audience from the back of the stage when the band suddenly appears, and the lead guitarist James Dean Bradfield vigorously announces the first song. It is Motorcycle Emptiness from Manics first album Generation Terrorists that immediately moves the audience followed by Your Love Alone Is Not Enough and Ocean Spray altogether ensuring a very powerful beginning. ‘It was easy to come back,’ confirms the lead singer.

The band continues with (It’s not War) Just the End of Love and The Everlasting where everyone joins in the catchy and nostalgic part In the beginning/ When we were winning, and the band goes on with Everything Must Go and Found That Soul. Then James Bradfield announces an old song written in 70s, and it is Suicide Is Painless. After that we hear You Stole The Sun From My Heart and Revol from The Holy Bible remembering and honouring Richey Edwards for the remarkable lyrics he has left behind. You Love Us comes next followed by The Masses Against The Classes, another socially meaningful piece.

Towards the end of the show we hear A Design For Life and Tsunami, and after exclusive introductions of every band member the very last song is announced. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next is performed by Manics and accompanied by everyone else in the crowd singing along. What an emotionally uplifting ending with youngs and olds coming together and Manics genuinely enjoying themselves having played another great show at Positivus!