From: "Bryan McPhail" (mish@tendril.force9.net)

Manchester - arrived at the venue about 7, having avoided any curry ideas in favour of McDonalds. Craig was hanging about in the bar as was a disheveled Billy Duffy (on closer inspection it was Mike Peters). Unlike the Astoria there was no crash barrier or security so I managed to plonk a space right in front of the stage. In fact I must admit that when the crew came to adjust the monitors I pushed them right back again when they turned around (to give me more space :)

Crazyhead (doesn't their guitarist look like Elvis Costello..) played a longish set, so long in fact that someone got pissed off and turned the PA off on them. From my front of stage position I managed to snaffle a setlist. AAE were very impressive again, with the band looking like they were having a great time. Due to time constraints they had to cut a song from their set, though they did play some different songs from the London gig. I tried to snaffle a setlist and only ended up with a bit of gaffer tape.. Damn.

The roadies setting up the Mish gear seemed slow (5 minutes to tune the acoustic..) and the intro tape started about 15 minutes late. The set was again great and the band looked to be having a great time. Wayne almost stood on my head several times and repeatly dripped sweat on me (eww!). Sacrilege was played rather than Crystal Ocean. As previously reported by the encore there was condensation dripping from the ceiling! At the end I managed to snaffle Mark's setlist by rudely plonking my arse on stage to reach past the monitor..

Anyway, I can't wait to see everyone's photos! (Did anyone record or video any shows?)

--Bryan

From: "Mike Williams" <(Mike@jwill.freeserve.co.uk)

Hi people,

Got to Manchester at 8.15PM and saw Wayne signing an autograph in the main foyer, didn't ask for one myself as I was far too scared and *starstruck* besides I needed a pint of cider..!

The university has just been drastically done up all posh so it was interesting seeing how it has all been altered. Anyway back to the gig. It took ages to get served so by the time I had a pint in my hand AAE were only a few minutes away. I noticed that from the time schedule AAE were only to play for half an hour, boo hiss. Julianne and the boys gave an incredible performance but you could tell that they were playing a shorter set than the previous two nights because as they were about to go into a song a bloke ran on stage and said something to Julianne who henceforth leaped to her band mates who stopped the intro and went into Flowers....

Then came the Mish who as always were on top form, I was singing my little heart out down the front and dancing too..!

The gig lasted for an hour and a half with the boys coming off stage at a quarter past eleven. At this point we headed off back into town to enjoy a few more beers......The bus which took us there was packed with mish fans singing and talking about the night...

Ta ta for now..

Mike.

From: Tony (Tony@tlmort.demon.co.uk)

Hiya ppl,

;-) Here goes ... I'm knackered and but just can't got to bed 'til this is done!!! If this makes sense it'll be a miracle ...

No idea where ‘Crazyhead’ got to, didn't play as far as I'm aware!? Prolly they got more lost than us, on the way into Manc; trying to get to the venue *sigh* what a bloody fun game *that* was! NOT.

Anyway a cheap SU bar {as promised} WOW! Have some of that.

‘All About Eve’ stared *just* as we get in, bloody hell it’s packed out ... standard flanking movement down the left hand side I think chaps *GO* ;-)

Set list ...

Ummm I'll go fer ... ‘Phased’/’Strange Way’/’In the Clouds’ /’Freeze’/ ’Every Angel’/’Shelter From The Rain’/’Flowers’// ... but not *really* sure :-S

Was ’Our Summer’ played!? Don't *think* ’Outshine The Sun’ was played!? Arghhh ... no order :-S

Only 40 mins tops! Julianne was on amazing form (as were the band, considering such a long out of it) her girlish looks, enthusiasm, her coy smile and just her overall natural radiance of serenity *all* still remain! I'm blinded.

‘The Mission’ ;-))) SHIT me ears still ringing! ... real power, raw energy and major loudness *BIG GRIN TIME* ... hehehe just like the old days, ‘Eves’ supporting too WAHHHH flash backs. What can be said, just ‘awesome’, blown away! ... as were a lot of ppl, u could tell just by ppl’s faces.

Random 'things' now ... OK mainly Wayne things then!!

Wayne *still* looking the part, if shorter hair, massive energy and alcohol fuelled tonight, non stop ... faster, faster!

No arsey security, I don't *think* there was any security full stop!?

Wayne's first comment, ‘F’kin Hey!’ ... or sommat like that ;->

Wayne saying he’s ‘sweating his bollox off and Craig’s sweating his head off, yet Mark {Thwaite} is just so chilled, reckoned he must have had a shag before the gig!’

Wayne unhappy, says 'U know what I can see from my hotel room window?' And I just *KNEW* what he was gonna say ;-) 'Fucking Old Trafford' to which the crowd {me defo included!} booed ... *mainly*

... And like how many drum sticks did Scott get through! Hitting the bloody drums so hard! Crazy amerikan man.

Sacrilege 8-} THANK YOU Wayne!!!!! Hey, I *would* have bought a T- Shirt, but they weren’t any left!!! Arghhhhh.

'No encores, were not going off' {Yeah, right} ... but they did! U ‘ickle liar Mr.Huss!

Mike Peters on fer ‘Deliverance’ near the end ... *kewl*

Getting rained on from the condensation above!!! I kid u not totally incredible!?! Only at a Mish gig I tell u! Almost like being in a light shower by the end of the night! Hope the band stayed dry! ;-p ... I reckon Wayne wouldn't have noticed anyway.

Set list ... Prolly *not* in order, but not far wrong!

‘Intro’/‘Beyond The Pale’/’Hands Across The Ocean’/’Into The Blue’/ ’Butterfly On A Wheel’/’Raising Cain’/’Swoon’/’Garden Of Delight’/ ‘Sacrilege’/’Severina’/’Blood Brother’/’Tower Of Strength’/ /’Can’t Help Loving You’/’Like A Child Again’/’Wasteland’/Deliverance’/ ’Like A Hurricane’/’Crystal Ocean’/‘1969’//

‘Over The Hills and Far Away’ too!?! Hmmm dunno!? Don't think so. DEFO no ‘Dancing Barefoot’ ... though a full acoustic ‘Like A Child Again’ ;-) with only a little ooops, halfway though ;-p

Think I'm outta here ... gonna fall asleep at the keyboard *again*

Love, peace and respect, c ya

From: "Luis Maldonado" (pygmallion@hotmail.com)

Yes it's true that it started "raining" inside the venue. It's also true about the joke on the "All I see from my hotel room is Old Trattord..." but I still prefer when Wayne refused to leave the stage after the "normal" show was over (I mean after "Deliverance") and said something like "At this moment we're supposed to leave the stage and have some cocaine while you're shouting, MOOOOORREEEE, MOOOOOREEEE...I won't leave the stage but please shout MOOOOOORREEEEE, MOOOREEEEE". This time thanks go to the 2 girls who were in front of me (near the left speaker) because I annoyed them the whole concert taking pictures. No idea of the names but both were wearing laminates. Cheers girls!!! ended up in Jilly's until hell knows what time...thanks for the lovely time there Craig!!!!, hope Joanne didn't wake up when we arrived!!!!!