Manic Street Preachers, Southampton Guildhall

THERE aren't many rock stars who could get away with jumping around on stage in a leopard-print jacket that could have been one of Pat Butcher's cast-offs.

But Manics bassist Nicky Wire proved the exception at a packed Southampton Guildhall.

Southampton band Delays had the honour of kicking off the Manics' 12-date tour.

Aaron Gilbert's soaring voice danced across highlights from the group's debut album, Faded Seaside Glamour, as well as harmonic new track Sink Like A Stone.

Unfortunately the talented four-piece missed out the homecoming welcome they deserved as they were forced to begin their set as soon as the doors opened.

Instead, the crowd saved their energy for the grand entrance of the Welsh trio, which was somewhat cut short by drummer Sean Moore forgetting his drumsticks.

"It's gone wrong already!" laughed James Dean Bradfield, pictured.

They performed an array of new and classic tracks in the polished set. Surprisingly, the single The Love of Richard Nixon didn't feature in the set. Instead, songs such as 1985 and Cardiff Afterlife were performed from the new album Lifeblood.

Older tracks such as You Stole The Sun From My Heart and Motorcycle Emptiness got the best crowd reactions - perhaps a sign that their new material lacks the boiling musical passion of earlier releases.

Other highlights included a powerful acoustic version of Everlasting and the first ever live performance of If White America Told The Truth For One Day Its World Would Fall Apart.