Many have forcast the end of the Manics, even today a review of their set in the Yorkshire Evening Post had some one hinting that they're about to split up. Their reason? Well, they played superbly and also didn't concentrate solely on their newer album.

For me, the fact that they were on such good form is reason enough to stay together, even after the upcoming (eventually!) new album and greatest hits.

Set:

You Love Us
You Stole The Sun From My Heart
La Tristesse Durera
Found That Soul
Little Baby Nothing (Acoustic ish)
Kevin Carter (with the trumpeter from Cuban gig!)
Motorcycle Emptiness
Motown Junk
Let Robeson Sing
Archives of Pain
Royal Correspondant
Miss Europa Disco Dancer
Everything Must Go
It's So Easy
Tsunami
Ocean Spray
If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next
Design For Life
Masses Against The Classes


The set started with an energetic "You love us", an opener which got the crowd near frenzy already, in a blur of boas and glitter.
"You stole the sun" kept the high energy going, with James voice broken in and singing superbly.
"La tristesse durera" came next, in my opinion one of the best songs the Manics have made, and it sounds as good live as it does on the album, with the crowd remembering more of the words than James, as usual!
Song off Know Your Enemy next, "Found that Soul", proving that the Manics haven't lost it, with the new material fitting in perfectly with older stuff.

Next a surprise, at least for me. I've not seen the Manics play "Little Baby Nothing" before so it was a highlight for me. James singing the female part of the song as well as his own. He did it well, showing just how good a singer he is.
"Kevin Carter" next, with the trumpet solo provided my the man from the Cuban gig. A solid performance again, with
Nicky bouncing around, in his short dress and knee high socks.
"Motorcycle Emptiness" came next, with James asking the crowd whether they'd prefer to ride on a miniscooter or motorbike before launching into it.

Then the band started to play a cover of Van Halens "Jump", with James singing the first verse before entering "Motown Junk", driving everyone around the stage wild with excitement. I miss the customary Sweet Child/ Baby Love but Jump was cool too. We even got a "We live in urban hell, we destroy rock and roll" at the end too. Bonus!

After all the energy of the songs so far, it was time for a slower number, "Let Robeson Sing", the new single, which again let James voice shine through as he played the acoustic guitar.
Straight back into the action then, with a brilliant "Archives of Pain", with James saying it contained the longest guitar solo he's ever recorded in it. The song's another one of the sets many highlights, lyrically and musically it blows away most other bands.
Another accoustic performance, with "Royal Correspondant" next, dedicated to all those who look upon the Queen Mum as a surrogate mother!
"Miss Europa Disco Dancer" and it's full blown disco next, setting off a minor occurence of hand jiving in a few people.
"Everything Must Go" came after, with the audience shouting back the words in a mass kareoke experience, the atmosphere was superb.

James homage to one of his influences next, and possible inspiration to the Stay Beautiful chorus, with "It's So Easy", by Guns 'n' Roses, played to the crowds delight. James' guitar work shone through here, emulating Slash's style perfectly and adding his own touches too.
The more mellow "Tsunami" and "Ocean Spray" followed next, before a beautifully played "If you tolerate this..." coming
next, almost bringing tears to my eyes.
Probably the most well known Manics song next, "Design For Life", getting the crowd ecstatically intense again, before the final song, "Masses Against The Classes" rounding off one of the best performances of the festival, if not the year.

The Strokes may be heralded the new saviours of Rock and Roll but there's still life in the manics yet, a hell of a lot of it, this performance is testament to this.

The one thing that was perhaps missing was Nicky speaking to the audience, but James made a few nice comments that partially made up for it.

Overall, the set was awesome, on par with the Millenium Gig, the band were full of energy and seemed happy to be playing.