Only a certain calibre of band is given a Friday night spot at the Wedgewood Rooms and tonight it was sold out, ready to welcome New Model Army. Currently celebrating their delayed 40th year anniversary, NMA certainly have an illustrious back catalogue to pull from.
There’s also more to a New Model Army gig than purely what’s going on stage. With their dedicated following, many fans travel around Europe to attend numerous shows along the same tour.
As for the Wedge, a couple of songs in and there was already a mosh pit full of middle-aged men with their tops discarded. It was a beautiful sight to behold, comradery among friends. Meanwhile, others were supported by their ankles, standing upon shoulders without once being ushered down by the accommodating security.
I mention the latter part of the above as at a lesser gig, this sort of behaviour is sometimes frowned upon. Although, when it came to New Model Army, everyone knew they were in safe hands.
New Model Army – Wedgewood Rooms 2022
As for the band, Justin Sullivan led his infantry through a cross-section of classics. Albeit a setlist that had to omit as many great songs as it included. As is no surprise for a band that has 15 studio albums to pick from, but as always, the “family” in attendance clearly know every track.
New Model Army themselves were on top form. Musically tight with Ceri Monger holding down some wonderful baselines, alongside the ever-present tribal drums. There was, of course, a brief nod to troubles over in Ukraine. However, this was a night for an army backed by peacekeepers.
The main set then ended with “Angry Planet” to rapturous applause, and after the encore had been and gone, the Wedgewood Rooms atmosphere was still on a high.
The band have had a fair share of touring members during the first half of their career, but at its core, NMA continue to remain a united force. The current and well-established line-up has played an integral part in the band’s history. One in which the fans would quite happily follow the group through another 40 years in the business.
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