Mansun – Six Tour – 1998

October 15th 1998 – Leicester Poly Arena

Supported by: Gay Dad

Mansun were a rock band, from Chester. Paul Draper (vocalist/rhythm guitarist), Stove King (Bass), Dominic Chad (lead guitarist/backing vocalist), and drummer Andie Rathbone.

Their first album was a great success, “Attack of the Grey Lantern” getting to No.1 in 1997, so we had been waiting a little while to see them and their second album “Six” had been released a month or so earlier.

Gay Dad

Gay Dad were from London. The line-up of the band has included Cliff Jones (guitarist/vocalist), Nick “Baz” Crowe (drummer), James Riseboro (keyboardist), Nigel Hoyle (bassist) and Charley Stone.

I’d never heard of them, but they were vibrant and commanding on stage. I remember hearing “To Earth With Love” which was a single (I didn’t know that at the time) and went out and bought their album “Leisure Noise” after this show.

Their career started really well and their second album was also a great success. Ultimately though, their controversial name closed doors in the industry and they would disband in 2002.

Mansun

Really loved the sound of Mansun, a bit different, a little bit eerie and Paul Drapers vocals were added to the strange feel of the songs.

This felt like the move on for me in music from New Romantics and David Bowie, but with a strange indie undertone. Some really strange guitar and piano playing underlying the music gave it a unique sound.

It wasn’t a great concert to dance around to, it was more a stand and watch and immerse yourself in the music, sound and atmosphere.

Somewhat different from many of the gigs I was going to at the time, so no chance of coming out of this one a sweaty mess, just enjoy! If anything, I got more out of support bands at Mansun concerts than maybe I did the band themselves.

Strangely for me, I felt this band came across better on album than live, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it and would see them again.

Set List (something like)

• Stripper Vicar
• Everyone Must Win
• Shotgun
• Wide Open Space
• Television
• Mansun’s Only Love Song
• Six
• She Makes My Nose Bleed
• Taxloss
• Encore: The Chad Who Loved Me, Drastic Sturgeon, Legacy, Take It Easy Chicken