MSP: AOL Session, London - 2nd April 2007

I leave the office in a hurry! The e-mail from Snoo says we need to be at The Hospital on Endall Street, Covent Garden for 6pm - It's already approaching 5:35pm as I arrive at Farringdon tube station. The train to Kings Cross seems to take forever to arrive (as it always does when you're waiting for it!). Finally it arrives, and I cram on in the usual rush hour style. The live version of 'I'm Just A Patsy' comes onto my mp3 player, and I feel a little rush of excitement about what I'm going to see. Snoo has managed to get us on the list for the Manic Street Preachers AOL session. An intimate mini-gig for a handful of lucky fans.
I emerge from covent Garden tube station at 5:50pm, and after getting my barings, find my way to the venue. There's already a queue (I say that like I'm suprised...) but I'm pleased to see
a lot of the usual suspects that I recognise. It's nice to catch up with everyone again. It feels like ages since the Winter Wonderland gig in Manchester! We stand and chat, and share bags of chips until a couple of guys from the venue come out and ask if everyone can go away and come back later, as things are running late, and the band won't be ready to perform until 8pm, and they aren't insured to have crowds of people outside the venue. They're met with a rather stoney silence, and Snoo tries to explain to them that people don't queue all day for a good view, they queue for the BEST view! (I get the impression that this is the first time that these guys have come into contact with hardcore Manics fans. We finally come to an agreement, and they let us wait in the gallery. It's nice as they're only about 30 people there, it's all very relaxed and people come and go as they please. We continue to chat and study the photos on show of what certain celebrities wanted to do for a living when they were young (Linford Christie wanted to be a fight pilot apparently...) until we're ushered downstairs at about 7:50pm. The studio is small, with no stage. We're in the front row, and about 10 feet away from the band. We have to stand behind a line so that the cameramen can get passed. The 60 or so fans easily fill the place up! We're given quick breifing about what we can and can't do. We have to do a test cheer so they can gauge the levels which is a bit odd! The guy says that we're not allowed to take flash photos. I ask if we can take photos without flash, and he says that that should be ok. I'm very happy about this, as it's a prime opportunity, and I'm very relieved that I brought my camera despite what the e-mail said. I do try to not take too many though, and try and just enjoy the show!

The band take the (non-existant) stage shortly after the briefing, and James does his usual introductions before they launch into You Love Us. It's a bit awkward to begin with as we can't really jump around or sing too much, but everyone seems to be having a good time. I Am Just A Patsy follows next, and James jokes about how people have already been 'cruelly rewriting the lyrics to I am just a Pasty, not a Sausage Roll...". They seem to be in god spirits despite the slightly staged surroundings. I Am Just A Patsy sounds great live, and just as punchy as when they debuted it at Winter Wonderland. After a very tight performance of Motorcycle Emptiness, it's time for another new track. James takes on vocal duties, despite his "Joe Cocker" voice he's been left with after yet another cold, of two people for Your Love Alone Is Not Enough. The live version is much heavier than the studio version, and definitely has the live presence of '...Patsy' and 'Autumn Song'. I think having just James singing also makes it "sit" better as a Manics track. Another older song comes next in the form of From Despair To Where. This is one of my favourite Manics songs, and I never tire of hearing it live. The live debut of Underdogs is next. I'm undecided on this track still, but I think it'll really get the crowds going on tour - perhaps even as an opener. At the end of the song, Nicky's delivered a large glass of white wine, and announces to the crowd "That's us done, we'll leave you with Jimmy D." before disappearing of stage. James closes the show with a cover of Johnny Thunders' 'You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory' on acoustic guitar. We're all herded out of the studio fairly quickly, and mill around at the bottom of the stairs. Lindz speaks to Liz, who says she'll find out what the band are up to. After about 10 or 15 minutes, Nicky and Sean emerge from the dressing room area. There's only about eight or so people waiting which is nice, so we actually get to chat to Nicky and Sean properly. It seems that Nicky and Sean have been browsing FD which is pretty exciting! Nicky ends up having a big rant to Sam, Amanda and Lindz about a certain member on FD (I'm not sure who). I think Nicky enjoys being wound up - it would explain why he likes to make such outrageous comments about people on stage! James comes out after about another 20 minutes, and we have a chat with him as well. He signs CD etc and poses for photos. They always seem very approachable which is nice. Finally, we all say our "Goodbyes" and "See you in May"'s and they head off. Snoo and I say our goodbyes to everyone else, and head outside. It's gotten pretty chilly - Still not summer yet, sadly. Hopefully come May and June it'll be really warm after the gigs! I phone Jeanette, and she says that she's already put the setlist (that I texted her earlier) on the forum. I tell her all about Nicky's rantings, and about the show. She says she's very jealous, and I say that we both wish she could have made it! We're hungry by this stage, so we head to a Wagamamas just off The Strand. I've never been to a Wagamamas before - it's cool though. I like the layout.I have the Chilli Chicken Ramen, which is like a massive bowl of chilli soup, with Noodles and big chunks of Chicken in! I can only just manage to eat it all! I also have the fresh Apple and Orange juice which is really nice. After dinner, we wander down to Embankment station and get the tube home. We arrive back at the flat, and the internet is still down - AHHH!! I download, and crop some of my photos, and then we head to bed at about 11:30pm. It's been a great evening, and I'm really excited about May!