REVIEW:JAMES DEAN BRADFIELD, CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION, OCTOBER 22 WITHOUT his Manic Street Preachers bandmates, I expected a James Dean Bradfield gig to be a mellower affair, but his band managed to summon the musical energy that the Manics thrive on. The band

REVIEW:JAMES DEAN BRADFIELD, CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION, OCTOBER 22

WITHOUT his Manic Street Preachers bandmates, I expected a James Dean Bradfield gig to be a mellower affair, but his band managed to summon the musical energy that the Manics thrive on.

The band must have savoured the moment - however, the credit for the night's success lies with James himself - and an inspired setlist. Solo tracks Run Romeo Run and That's No Way To Tell A Lie were filled with an energy that the studio recordings lack. From Despair To Where was breathtaking, but his acoustic set demonstrated a sound that I'd hoped his solo album might have taken - Kevin Carter mesmerised with a sleepy, jazzy saxophone accompaniment. The chiming and joyous No Surface All Feeling concluded the night with a choice of song that I could not have predicted or known how much I would enjoy.

CHRIS BOLAND