Manic Street Preachers bought their Ultra Vivid Lament tour to the O2 in Bournemouth on Sunday and delivered a set bursting full via frontman James Dean Bradfield and the ever-energetic Nicky Wire.

Lord knows how these two natural performers coped during lockdown but the stage is the perfect outlet for their abundance of enthusiasm as they deliver some of the greatest rock songs written in the last 20 years.

Having said that the new stuff was just as well delivered and received, this is a band that are still at the top of their game and show no signs of slowing down.

Bournemouth Echo:

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As soon as they took to the stage and the opening bars of Motorcycle Emptiness rang out you just knew it was going to be a great night, the Manics always promise much and never fail to deliver with tonight being no different.

This was billed as a tour to promote their latest album Ultra Vivid Lament with the hits thrown in. Sure enough we were treated to Your Love Alone Is Not Enough, You Stole The Sun From My Heart, Everything Must Go, If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next along with some excellent newer songs.

Bournemouth Echo:

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Some shouted requests led to a response of “I’m not a jukebox but I might take suggestions” followed by a cacophony of shouted songs leading to an acoustic version of La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh).

We then went from acoustic to full on rock with a cover of Guns and Roses Sweet Child of Mine immediately followed by Tsunami. This was an evening of almost non-stop entertainment with a few introductions thrown in as the only break from the music.

Bournemouth Echo:

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The set finished with a rousing delivery of You Love Us and A Design For Life, two songs that helped establish and define the Manics as the group they are today.

Bournemouth Echo:

No matter how many gigs I go to the sense of excitement and belonging I feel when a band like the Manics play the songs that have been part of my life for so many years never fades.

That’s the power of music, especially when it’s this good!