NEW MODEL ARMY ::

NEW MODEL ARMY
planet music / vienna, austria
14th november 2005

there are some acts that always linger there on the borders of one's perception but never really make it into focus. until something happens. and then you realize what a fool you've been and that you should've taken interest way sooner. NEW MODEL ARMY is one of these bands. a couple of years earlier i found a live recording of the band at my best friend's place. she is a big admirer of NEW MODEL ARMY. so i popped the cd in. after a while i started realizing that i had been missing out on one of the most intense bands ever. at home i dusted off the few bits and pieces of NMA that i had, gave it another listen-through and decided that i had to stock up on NMA material.

fast forward a few years. NMA are back again, new record in the making and touring. that was october 2005. finding out that there also was tour slot set for vienna really made my hard skip a beat. i grabbed the phone, ringed up larissa (the best friend with a love for NMA) and told her about it. some hours later tickets were secured and anticipation grew immensely large.

my recollection of the concert itself is a bit blurry, but there are a few things that remain alive within my mind. one thing was the thumping, almost archaic rythmic qualities of the band. even the softest folksy parts sounded fierce, much like a subdued wild animal, sedate but not to be trifled with. another thing was the heartwarming emotional side of it all - the shout-along choruses, the metaphorical hands reaching out for other hands to hold in union, an unbendable idealistic will to go the long and hard way and try for a better world. and finally and most vividly i remember the charismatic figure of justin sullivan. standing on stage, an elderly man, but still glowing with wild passion and justified anger. it was truly aweinspiring to see a man with as much experience as sullivan honestly and sincerely representing and living all those sentiments that we foolishly think of as the prerogative of the young. he has probably become wiser over the years, but definitely hasn't given up on any of his outspoken political ideals. justiv sullivan is a man of conviction and i'll be damned if he didn't fill the entire venue with that conviction. one of the best concerts of 2005.