Watch: Audience joyfully belts out Wales football song at Manics gig

It might have been a Monday night but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the thousands of Manics’ fans who were in fine voice at this evening’s gig at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

There was a celebratory air about proceedings especially given the much loved Welsh rock ‘n’ roll icons had secured their first number one album since 1998’s This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours, with their 14th studio album The Ultra Vivid Lament.

And what better way than turning their Cardiff gig into a giant singlalong than with a passionate rendition of ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’, the song made famous by Andy Williams and which for years has been adopted as a Welsh football anthem.

‘I love you baby…’ @Manics pic.twitter.com/4VIEmyzVoR

— James Cuff (@jamescuff) September 20, 2021

The second date of two shows to benefit the NHS saw young Cardiff band Himalayas fulfil a dream by supporting their heroes.

Handpicked by the Manics they opened the show and won over plenty of admirers with a typically robust set of storming songs.

The Manics took to the stage in a blitzkrieg of stunning visuals and poignant quotes from NHS founder Nye Bevan put together by long-term band collaborator, Welsh filmmaker Kieran Evans.

Fourteen studio albums in to a 35 year career they ably demonstrated why there’s plenty of gas left in the tank yet – and why vintage models get better with age.

‘You Love Us’ they may sing, but we certainly love them.