Date: Sunday 24 August, 2008, 8.30pmVenue: Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester
Face value: £45
Support Act: The Guillomots and Editors
Gig buddy: Phil, Laura and John
Remember how we found a nifty parking spot that allowed a quick entrance to the LCCC for the Radiohead gig a couple of months back? Well, it seems that everyone has discovered it. Nevertheless, we parked up and took the back entrance to the LCCC to find that this time they had not put down the plastic sheeting on the ground and there was much less trash. Perhaps it's psychology at play here - people feel less inclined to care about discarding trash if the plastic is down because last time it was strewn with plastic cups and singapore noodles, yet this time barely a fag end. Weird. We catch the last of the Guillomots as we enter and proceed to check out the eating options, which are plenty. We're all attending this gig off the back of 2 nights camping and are starving. But first, back inside the ground for the Editors who play a fine set and get a good reception. I'm wishing I had shoes with a little more heel on them again - being a cricket ground, it's super flat and it's difficult for me to catch a glimpse of what's on stage.
Back to the bar between sets and I'm asked for ID. Yes, me. I should go camping more often - clearly the fresh air has done wonders for my complexion. And I mean wonders... I'm careening towards 32 next month. I'm so glad I could nearly hug the barstaff member who asked me. Stuffing ourselves with an assortment of Thai food before we head back in for REM, we pick a spot a little less populated with giants and enjoy the show. I've not been to an REM gig before (I think this is Phil's 5th or 6th) and I'm blown away by the performance. Though they are clearly promoting the new album - and it's good - they don't ignore the back catalogue at all, even playing my all time favourite: Bad Day. Others like Ignoreland and Losing My Religion make it in as well. Frontman, Michael Stipe speaks frequently to the audience and the stagework is well thought out - massive screens projecting arty imagery for each track.
Rating: 4 and a half political guitars.
And for the super-keen, here's the set list:
1. Living Well Is The Best Revenge
2. These Days
3. What's The Frequency, Kenneth?
4. Drive
5. Man-Sized Wreath
6. Fall On Me
7. Ignoreland
8. Walk Unafraid
9. Hollow Man
10. I’m Gonna DJ
11. Electrolite
12. Pretty Persuasion
13. The Great Beyond
14. So Fast, So Numb
15. 7 Chinese Bros.
16. The One I Love
17. I’ve Been High
18 Let Me In
19. Horse To Water
20. Bad Day
21. Orange Crush
22. Imitation Of Life
Encore
23. Supernatural Superserious
24. Losing My Religion
25. Mr. Richards
26. It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
27. Man On The Moon
*Thanks to Flickr's James Arnold for the picture.
