I went to see the Manic Street Preachers this week, playing a very very special gig at the O2 Arena to celebrate the release of their new singles compilation ‘National Treasures’. They played the entirety of their back catalogue of singles to a sold-out crowd, along with a whole host of special guests, so it really was an incredible night! Luckily they mixed up the order of the songs, otherwise there would have been a predictable lull somewhere in the middle. Hearing some of their best tracks playing out to an adoring audience over 3 hours just confirms to me that the Manics are still one of the greatest live bands. We were left with smudged eyeliner, covered in stray feathers and smiling as we walked back to the station. What a night to remember.

The (lengthy) setlist was:

You Stole the Sun From My Heart
Love’s Sweet Exile
Motorcycle Emptiness
(It’s Not War) Just the End of Love
Everything Must Go
She Is Suffering
From Despair to Where
Autumnsong
Empty Souls
Let Robeson Sing
Faster
Life Becoming a Landslide
Kevin Carter
Little Baby Nothing
This Is the Day
The Everlasting
Indian Summer
Stay Beautiful
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
—————————
Australia
La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Found That Soul
There by the Grace of God
Some Kind of Nothingness
You Love Us
Suicide Is Painless
Revol
The Love of Richard Nixon
Ocean Spray
The Masses Against the Classes
Roses in the Hospital
So Why So Sad
Postcards From a Young Man
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
Slash ‘n’ Burn
Tsunami
Motown Junk
A Design for Life