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I've got a little more time this morning so I'll post a better review than I did last week.

Well it's been a while since I've been to the MEN Arena - the last time was slightly different circumstances as it was to see Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends  They were using just under half of the arena space but without the upper seating tier. The large space available meant we were treated to the full expanse of the new arch screen and also both Skippy and the Pig were let out for the night.

The acoustics of the arena are a bit of a let down but I guess that's the price you pay for having the larger venue. It's only now that I realise how good the acoustics were in the small intimate Bradford St Georges Hall last week. The 2nd half sounded a bit better so I don't know whether they made some "adjustments" or maybe it was just my perception.

Seats I had this time were not as good as Bradford where we were 4 rows from the front, as this time we were off to the left in the tiered seating - our lass is only 5 foot so she probably wouldn't have been able to see in the stalls  The crowd were a lot more vocal than Bradford which made for a much better atmosphere.

The set list was the same as Bradford with the exception of Pigs rather than Sheep, for the record.....

SOYCD  (1 to 5)
Learning To Fly
Money
Us & Them
On The Turning Away
Gunner's Dream
Take It Back
Brain Damage
Eclipse

Astronomy Domine
What Do You Want From Me
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
Time
Great Gig In The Sky
Nobody Home
Pigs
Wish You Were Here
One Of These Days
Another Brick In The Wall (pt 2)
(Band intros)
Comfortably Numb

Hey You
Run Like Hell

High points this time (for me) where WYWH - everyone was singing along and it was just fantastic even though I've heard it before. Then "What do you want from me " - a slight odd choice for me as it's not one of my immediate favourites but hearing it live again sounded great, particularly the backing singers, you realise just how good these girls are, they blew me away. Unfortunately after this song (or maybe during Set the controls) we lost one of the girls - the 2nd from the left, I can't recall her name but she didn't reappear unfortunately, not even for the intros so I hope she's ok.

I did take a few pics and vids on my camera but haven't had a chance to review them yet. I was probably too far away so if they're no good I'll not bother putting them up - others do the band more justice I'm sure.

It's hard to imagine a better way of spending ?25 for a live gig, another great performance and I'm sure everyone left very happy.

Funniest part of the night - the old dear sat across the aisle from us trying to get everyone to light up their cigarette lighters during WYWH and the joker behind shouting "There's no smoking in here love !"  ;D

BTW not sure if I've seen this elsewhere but they had leaflets on the seats advertising the Southport and Liverpool gigs - both will be performances of DSOTM.

A big up to Paul Bonney for having a St Georges flag on his podium (for the first half anyway).

Hopefully pinkfossil will pop in here and give us his thoughts also.

What, she just wandered off and was found later living wild in the jungles of Borneo?  She was struck by lightning?  She was abducted by aliens?

The second from left is Emily.

thanks for the review Ian !  Ive never particularly liked the MEN Arena as a venue - those steps are too bloody steep for a start ! 

Didn't see any aliens, although it was raining last night I don't recall any claps of thunder and I'm not sure she's had time to get to Borneo yet, but yes - she disappeared never to be seen again

I'm sure someone in the know will enlighten us.

Maybe she left the gas on.

Also, forgot to mention - Shame on you MEN Arena - ?8 to park that's a ****ing rip-off you robbing B******s.

Only ?3.50 over the road !