New Model Army / Ned’s Atomic Dustbin (live at The Roundhouse)

London
11 May 2024

After what seems like an interminable winter, summer finally seems to have arrived in glorious sunshine, heralded somewhat weirdly by the Northern Lights appearing across London the previous night. If that isn’t a sign of the north marching south, I don’t know what is, so what could be better than New Model Army live at The Roundhouse?

And that is a bit weird as this is usually a Yuletide gig by tradition, in fact the last time I saw them was for the From Here tour back in December 2019, before you-know-what. But I’m not complaining as we go back a long way together and it’s always good to catch up with Justin Sullivan and his crew, much changed as they are over the (many years).

So, a quick pint in the Roundhouse beer garden before going in, and a good chance to check out the tribes as they gather. As usual it’s an eclectic mix of old punks, young punks, hippies and middle-aged indie kids all reminiscing about NMA gigs long past. I also see my first para clogs in what must be twenty-five years! A good portent for the gig to come, I’m sure.

First up are Ned’s Atomic Dustbin who, despite seemingly constantly touring throughout the early ’90s and playing at every festival going, I’ve never actually seen before. I’m assuming that they’ve recently reformed as they seemed to be celebrating the fact that all five are now back together. I’ll be honest, this kind of UK indie pop-punk from the late ’80s isn’t really my thing; but they certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves and are surprisingly bouncy and full of energy for guys who must be the wrong side of fifty. They also had a lot of fans in the crowd it must be said who responded very enthusiastically when they played “Kill Your Television”, which was the only song I know.

For NMA I’m in the photo pit for the first three songs and it’s a good place to experience the sheer warmth and sense of brother- and sisterhood that emanates from the crowd as the band stride onto the stage. Because this is a family, and this is always a reunion. First up is “Coming Or Going” off the new album, Unbroken, and it’s a good one to get everyone fired up, proper strident NMA with a pounding backbeat, a great riff and a classic singalong chorus. Awesome stuff.

Next is “States Radio” from 2009’s Today Is A Good Day, and I’ll be honest I was probably concentrating more on the photography at this point. A lot of great shapes were being thrown by the band and they had to be captured! Following up was “First Summer”, also off the frankly brilliant new album. This is admittedly a song that has echoes in previous songs the band have written: a tale of the road, and finding yourself in places that have recently been scarred by events, or that soon will be, and is obviously extremely relevant to the times. The line “We were dressed as pirates, just happy to be there” is perfect NMA and I think this song will become a live staple; it certainly deserves to be.

“Language” is next, another new one, propelled by a mean, loping bass line and punctuated by another great chorus. I’m not totally sure what it’s about but there’s a description of the Wild Hunt at one point; but overall, it seems to be suggesting we get what we want, not what we need and that is a “bad thing”. Fair point. Anyway, a cracking song and another that will surely be a live favourite.

“Winter”, one of the band’s best tracks from the last fifteen years, is up next, and as always is a cracker. Justin remarks afterwards that “After the first warm, sunny days of the year you probably didn’t want to hear that one!”; but he’s wrong. And as the best song about climate change I know, it’s always relevant, whether at the end of the warmest winter in Europe’s history, or at the start of what will probably be one of its warmest summers.

“If I Am Still Me” from Unbroken and “Stormclouds” from Between Dog And Wolf are next, both corkers, before the band launch into another new one from Unbroken, “Do You Really Want To Go There?” which is yet another new live classic in the making. One of those ones that starts kinda slowly but builds into a rumbling, yearning chorus. Whether it’s about a relationship or geopolitical stability it’s hard to tell; but that’s what NMA have always done really well, mixing the personal and the romantic with the bigger issues, with politics and world issues. Even if Justin does deny they are a political band still …

We’re going way back in time next to 1985’s “No Greater Love” off No Rest For The Wicked. And this is the perfect demonstration of what I’ve just said, a love song that sings of social deprivation and escape. It’s also good to remind yourself that NMA could do incredible ballads in their early days — it wasn’t all just shouty anthems and calls to man the barricades.

“Cold Wind” is next — or would be except for a power cut that brings things to a temporary halt. Justin wonders if the heat is to blame, especially when the computers take ages to boot up. However, it’s not too long before they get things going again. This is also a new one, and yes, another NMA meteorological song. I’m not sure it’s really about the weather; in fact it seems to be about ageing, not beating yourself up about past misdeeds, and being stronger than you realise. All good sentiments and a great track.

“Being a band that’s been going for eighty odd years there’s always an anniversary happening, and as such it’s been thirty-five years since we released this album”, Justin informs us before launching into “225” off Thunder And Consolation. Which makes us all quite old indeed. “225” is one of the band’s best songs in my opinion and they do it great service here. The crowd agree and we see the first full pyramid of the night.

Next up is the sublime “Green And Grey”, also off Thunder And Consolation, and another classic and firm fan favourite. Introduced as “the one we always have to play when we come down here” referring to “the land of gold and silver” of the lyrics. But that’s it for T&C tonight, anyone waiting for “Vagabonds” will be disappointed. Up next is “Idumea”, one of my favourite tracks off the new album, all yearning harmonies and tribal drumming, it works perfectly in a live setting, filling the Roundhouse’s high rafters with glorious sound.

“Do you ever feel like you’ve been robbed?” Justin asks the crowd next, “Because you have! Once in this country I had part ownership in the power, the gas, the railways and the housing and now it’s all been taken away!” With this he launches into “Reload” an aggressive change of pace, shouting “If I have to see another fucking Union Jack flying on the orders of the government, I’m going to be sick!”, the ranting reminding me somewhat of Kingsley Hall from Benefits.

This is a great track, an anti-capitalist broadside, screaming at the descendants of the slavers currently in power, while the country suffers ever-increasing economic inequality. Justin may not like NMA being referred to as a political band, but railing against injustice and inequality while shouting out for love and the things that bring people and communities together IS politics. Or at least what it should be.

“Angry Planet” is next, another passionate stomper, and another one that deals with the issues mentioned above. Following on is “Purity” from 1990’s Impurity and this again feels like a continuation of the previous two tracks in theme and intent. Though released years apart and in a different order the three tracks make a perfect triptych. “Wonderful Way To Go” from Strange Brotherhood rounds out the main set, somewhat appropriately.

For the inevitable encore we get three fan favourites: “Bittersweet”, “No Rest” and “Get Me Out”, before everyone heads for the exits. As usual a great gig from the band, supporting a wonderful new album. I can’t wait to see them again.

-Dave Pettit-