MANSUN - PRINCESS STREET GARDENS, EDINBURGH - 31ST DECEMBER

We met, we talked, we drunk lots, we watched the gods of very much…. We got to Edinburgh just after 10pm. And headed for Princess Street… The five of us (Pammy, Ashley, Debbie, Louise ) were casually walking about, armed with our new year cheer. All I could make out was the bassline to "Stripper Vicar" I looked at my watch, it was only 10.30 pm. I turned round to Pammy, "do you hear what I hear". Pammy did, then the rest of us… But up on Edinburgh packed Princess Street we could only hear Stove ??? we frantically tried to find the entrance to Princess Street Gardens, and everywhere we turned was mobbed L Then we could hear the bass line to "Being a Girl" Oh No ! how much have we missed !!. After all Paul had mentioned in NME that they were to play at 11.30pm… something’s fucked up somewhere…

Anyway we eventually found the entrance to the gardens, and they were playing "Mansun’s Only Love Song" No ! this can’t be happening ! that’s one of our favourites ! madly scrambling passed bewildered revellers, we got on to the steep path and ran all the way down, Oh No ! now you could hear the those chiming intro notes to "Wide Open Space" we located the stage and headed right for it…. we got near the front at Chad’s side to start off with… The lads all looked well, wrapped up cosy in lovely winter jackets, they had come prepared for the harsh Scottish weather ! Paul was using a (I think) ‘Liverpool’ Rickenbacker guitar, quite ironic… besides…

Unfortunately the crowd where we were stood, did not know who Mansun were and did not know their songs. This didn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves !. Next up "She Makes My Nose Bleed". We moved further over to the centre of the stage about 3 or 4 rows back. Then there was this snobby woman right beside us ! Glowering at us just cos we were bouncing about enjoying ourselves, she could see she was taking up room, and getting in the way of us, she continued glowering at us L We could have swung for her !! anyway to avoid more friction we moved back a couple of rows onto some steps, we were barely able to stand up (and that wasn’t the drink.. yet), just using the crowd to prop us up ! I couldn’t see any of the Mansun family beside where we were L they must have been down the front ! "Take it Easy, Chicken" ! that unforgettable intro riffs signified that it was time to go mental. "Take it Easy" was mental, well it was for us and the band ! we were jumping about, (which couldn’t be helped !) and some people appeared to be getting annoyed with us L L L... Fuck just because some of these folk don’t know who Mansun are, doesn’t mean that they have no fans… It looked like the lads were playing up a bit for the TV Cameras, but you don’t really know cos they have so much energy when they play….

Oh here we go "Taxloss" "what ?" "we want your money", ah.. no swearing there.. you could see it was hard for Paul to resist not saying "we want your fucking money".. Now wait a minute… what happened about Mansun not changing to suit commerciality requirements, etc.. I love that extended version they play, its so raw ! ooooooh. Some of the crowd didn’t have the same opinion .. there weren’t any real positive feedback from the crowd where we were stood….. boring bastards… so we cheered louder !

"thank you", said Paul, and with a swig of Bud, it was all over… we walked out from the bemused and bedazzled crowd, bedazzled cos they don’t know what fucking hit them ! We went to the left of the stage.. as we were exiting these blokes stopped us and said, "why are you not staying for the Pretenders" we replied, that was is for us, that was our highlight of the night !. These blokes started giving it "oh that band were shit" well why did they stand and watch them then ! keep your unwanted opinions to yourselves mate ! I got a bit defensive there…

I can see 1999 being a very significant year for Mansun, more so than 1998. At the end of ‘98 Mansun received lots of press and praise, earned good results in the Melody Maker "End of Year" polls too. They won "best live act 98" in the Melody Maker polls. Which is a title they definitely deserve. It is good that they get the press exposure they are worthy of, but as long as they are not the next "press darlings" we will be all very happy, cos we know what happens to press darlings……


Written by Genine - email : dandysgirl@yahoo.com