Bristol holds a special significance for the Manic Street Preachers. It was here at the Colston Hall that many of the band saw their first gig, Echo and the Bunnymen.

Once upon a time, the Bierkeller charged the Manics £100 to perform at a pay to play evening, which led Nicky Wire last night to dedicate a punky You Love Us to the All Saints Street venue.

And there were further reminisces from Wire to playing at the Fleece and Firkin where they were once the support act to The Family Cat.

Bristol is also home for both Manics drummer Sean Moore and tour keyboardist Nick Naysmith.

This date of their current tour saw a new chapter in the band’s history as following a shout from the crowd, James Dean Bradfield performed (I Miss The) Tokyo Skyline from new album Rewind The Film live for the first time.

Yesterday’s gig sold out months ago, and soon slipped into a rough pattern of new song followed by old song.

Two Welsh flags were strategically positioned behind Wire, and the Manics were joined by Welsh singer Cate Le Bon for Four Lonely Roads, featuring a few discordant chords and the melody carried by the Naysmith’s piano.

The newer numbers were more stripped-down, while the old songs could have formed a greatest hits set, starting with Motorcycle Emptiness, finishing with Design for Life and along the way taking in Your Love Alone is Not Enough, You Stole the Sun From My Heart, If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next and Kevin Carter.

There was no need for such frivolity as an encore after such a consummate lesson in rock and roll.