Manic Street Preachers Bringing 'The Holy Bible' To Metro

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 28, 2015 5:35PM

Manic Street Preachers, photo by Mitch Ikeda

Revolutionary music that manages to combine the anthemic with the acidly angry to create work that sounds “commercial” yet remains politically transgressive is a rare thing. In 1994 Manic Street Preachers managed to tie all those things together when they released The Holy Bible, an album that initially sold poorly but in the long run set Manic Street Preachers up to be superstars in just about every corner of the world. Tomorrow night the band brings that album to Metro for a full run-through of the classic work plus a few newer hits at a rare Chicago show.

The Holy Bible is still a bracing listen today over 20 years after its release. It’s a vibrant and furious work, that still carries much of the anger felt by a generation who felt betrayed by the Reagan and Thatcher years. Oddly wrought, based on the current political climate, much of its emotion feels strangely current amidst the turbulent political climate many feel today.

The Holy Bible was also the last appearance of the band’s then guitarist and primary lyricist Richey Edwards, who disappeared in February of 1995 and has long been presumed dead. Perhaps his departure allowed the band to lose a bit of the venom that ruled The Holy Bible, leading the groups wider commercial success, but it’s also arguable that his influence is still heavy in the approach of remaining members James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore. The current tour sees the band playing The Holy Bible in its entirely, followed by a brief collection of the band’s more recent hits. We think that when you hear all of this material side by side you’ll agree that even as the band has polished their sound, they still manage to keep enough raw emotion coursing through their music that the angry young men on The Holy Bible still beat and breathe fire into the heart of the band, even today.

Manic Street Preachers rarely tour the U.S., and they are only playing a handful of shows stateside, so tomorrow’s set at Metro is an incredibly rare chance to see the influential band in relatively cozy confines.

Manic Street Preachers play Wednesday, April 29, at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., 8 p.m., $28.50 Adv. / $30 Day Of, 18+