The Stone Roses At The Etihad Stadium

For anyone who was at the legendary Spike Island gig back in 1990 tonight's gig was like a second coming. Playing the last of 4 nights in Manchester, the weather might have been typical Manchester weather (it was raining) but it made it even more special.

The band released their début album in 1989 and it was hailed a classic. The band had trouble following up the album but they have recently recorded some new songs such as All For One which they performed tonight.

The band kick things off with I Wanna Be Adored and the smoke flares of red, blue and yellow are set off from the fans standing on the pitch. The singing from the audience was so loud it could have probably be heard in the centre of Manchester a mile or so away.

"Best city in the world" declares lead singer Ian Brown to the home crowd. Apart from that and wishing his dad a happy Fathers Day he does not say much in between the songs, preferring the music to do the talking.

The stage set is simple: apart from the huge video screens behind them and a few lasers later on in the gig, but they still manage to reach to the back of the stadium.

The tracks off the début album are predictably the best received of the night, although the last single All For One goes down well.

Fools Gold, She Bangs The Drum and Waterfall all from 1989 are greeted like long lost friends by the audience. You might expect the stadium to be full of men in their mid 40's but there were a huge amount present who were not even born in 1989.

I am the Resurrection is the last track on the album and the one which closes the gig as fireworks light up the Manchester sky.

It was an atmospheric night and it felt like everyone had come back together again to remember those hazy days back in the day. Great to have them back.