I have been
looking forward to Thursday 28th of June for a long time! New Model Army at
Bradford’s newest live venue!
It started
for me last week when I was able to interview Justin Sullivan and chat about
the forthcoming gig. The interview is available on Soundcloud and will be
transcribed in the blogs soon.
The day
itself starts off early as I meet a Spanish friend who I met at a New Model
Army gig in Barcelona some years ago. We head to Centenary Square which is one
of the meeting points for “the family”, that amazing bunch of New Model Army
fans who travel all over to see the band. My friend Nacho and I are one of the
first to arrive and are sitting outside as a trickle of New Model Army Shirts
start to appear. I am amazed at the brotherhood among New Model Army fans, all
these people of different nationalities brought together by a band.
I am a New
Model Army fan but not in the same league as the family gathered, that doesn’t
seem to bother them however and I am soon made to feel very welcome and part of
the group. It’s fun to be among all these people sharing their stories of NMA
times and people’s ideal set list. One girl wants more purple NMA clothing and
is discussing ideas with one of the merchandising team. One guy is in the
industrial clogs that all NMA fans used to wear at one point, Nacho tells me
that you can see him in the crowd in videos from the eighties, although he had
hair then ;).
It’s not
long before it seems we have “taken over” the bar in centenary square it’s a
sea of NMA t-shirts.
Bit of
disappointment amongst the German contingent as they are knocked out of
Euro2012!
Then we
head up to Utopia, the venue. NMA had announced yesterday that it was possible
that Justin and Dean would do a short acoustic set before the main gig. We are
there in good time in case and are not disappointed as they take to the stage
to perform the set.
I think this has to be the first time I’ve seen a mosh pit
form for an acoustic set, but New Model Army fans are into the gig from word go
and already people are on each other’s shoulders. Great set and the venue is already full for
it.
The venue
is packed, there is a general feeling that we’re part of something special as
there aren’t a lot of venues in Bradford for a hometown gig and who knows when
we might get one again. The full band is on now kicking off proceedings with
Get Me Out. It’s a dream of a set list, I’m sure everyone must have their
favourite in here somewhere. I was positive that if there was one song they had
to play today it would be Green and Grey and wasn’t disappointed. It was followed by one of my favourites, Ocean
Rising. There’s song’s from all the different era’s of New Model Army’s 32 year
career. It was great to hear “I Love The World” in the encore – it seems that
half the world is in here.
A few of us
go for a meal afterwards, goodbyes are said with many already planning the next
journey. A grand day out indeed.
What a fantastic write up of a fantastic day. If only Bradford had a decent music venue we could have this day again. Long gone are the days of bradford gigs. How about an outdoor gig like the guys did in Leeds, many moons again now, but I still remember the sound of the clogs arriving to gather 😀😀
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