For one night at least, American late-night television felt like London in the ’90s as both Blur and Manic Street Preachers performed live on separate talk shows. Blur, riding high on the success of comeback record The Magic Whip, played The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in their first US TV gig in 15 years.
About an hour later, Welsh rock and roll survivors Manic Street Preachers made their stateside TV debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden, playing 1996 hit (over there, at least) “A Design For Life,” off Everything Must Go. It’s been 26 years since the Manics released their first single, but last night was the first time they ever played on television on this side of the Atlantic.
Figures that as soon as the Manics finally get their American TV spotlight, Blur have to come in an play an hour earlier.
Watch both performances below. Damon Albarn and company will play a free Converse Rubber Tracks Live show at the Music Hall In Williamsburg tonight in New York, while the Manics are currently on their 20th anniversary tour for The Holy Bible, which hit the Sinclair in Cambridge a week ago in a Vanyaland Presents show.
Blur — “Ong Ong”
Manic Street Preachers — “A Design For Life”