Everything Must Glasto - Melody Maker, 3rd July 1999
Title: | Everything Must Glasto |
Publication: | Melody Maker |
Date: | Saturday 3rd July 1999 |
Writer: | Peter Robinson |
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That a band whoring themselves at most of the summer's big events should produce a T-shirt bearing the slogan "Too Many Festivals" would ordinarily draw such cries as "You wankers! You might be bored already, but I've forked out over £80 specifically to see you, fuckers! Don't take me for granted!", were it not for the fact that the band in question tonight is the Manic Street Preachers, possibly rock's most forgiven band. So James is forgiven for changing his tunes and his vocal inflection, just because he can, and Nicky is forgiven for a centrepiece skipping solo during "You Love Us", even though it's been wheeled out at every possible opportunity since Christmas. They're forgiven for a ropy reading of "Baby Love" that careers into "Motown Junk", forgiven for a weak joke about British Airways - "your safety is our concern" - after the set is temporarily hijacked by a request for the audience to step back "a bit". And how could we deny these three little pumpkins their right to keep their fans amused with a greatest hits set and an admission from Nicky that he's on the verge of pissing himself? We could not. From the Patrick Jones intro to the fact that Nicky is apparently sporting the Rachel look two years too late, we would expect nothing else. Thanks, guys. |