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New Model Army celebrating 30 years w/ special shows

by Bill Pearis

New Model ARmy

We have always been a band concerned with looking forwards rather than back. And, as we approach our 30th Anniversary, we find ourselves in an almost unique and privileged position: we can go on tour (the most recent Today Is A Good Day tour featured 90 shows in 20 countries) and play our current material with barely a nod to our long history and our audience accept and appreciate this. There is almost no other ‘old’ band who could make the same boast.

However, to mark the 30 years, this Autumn we will indulge in a moment of nostalgia and pride in what we have created. Each weekend we’ll be in a city for a two-night stand. The format of the shows will be two sets on each night – the first starting acoustically and building up over 50 minutes or so. Then a short 20 minute break before another full-on set of up to 100 minutes including encores. The following evening we will do the same but with 100% different material.

Our promise is to play at least 4 songs from each of the 13 studio albums (including the two B Sides/Lost Songs compilations). These will not be played in chronological order, or album by-album, but a random choice. It’s possible that we may also feature guest appearances from friends and former members on some nights but we make no promises at this point. We hope also to include a display of at least a small part of the New Model Army ‘One Tribe’ Exhibition of original artwork and memorabilia – depending on the nature and geography of the venue.

We will make further announcements as the shows get nearer.

Looking forward to it,
Justin Sullivan

Your chance in New York for this two-night look back at New Model Army‘s career will be September 3 and 4 at the Bell House. Tickets are on sale now, either $24 for individual days (Sept 3 and Sept 4) or $45 for a two-night pass.

One of the longest-running post-punk bands ever, New Model Army combined the political convictions of Billy Bragg, the anthemic force of U2 (or maybe the Alarm) and the dental work of The Pogues. Songs like “51st State” and “Stupid Questions” are still fist-pumping classics. And still going strong, as frontman Justin Sullivan wrote above. Jack Rabid, founder of The Big Takeover, said this of NMA’s 2005 album, Carnival:

Twenty-one years after their debut with Vengeance, Bradford, England’s New Model Army are still going strong. Their ninth studio LP and first in five years is their most direct, mainlined energy since 1993’s The Love of Hopeless Causes. The music sometimes takes you by force, but just as often is content to tease and beckon to you at the foggy, wintry, slower, preoccupied pace that saturates the second half.

All confirmed New Model Army 30th Anniversary shows and some videos are below.

New Model Army – 51st State (Live on German TV)

New Model Army – “Stupid Questions” Live 1988

New Model Army – “BD3”

New Model Army – 2010 30th Anniversary Shows
Sept 3rd & 4th: The Bellhouse, Brooklyn, New York
Oct 15th & 16th: Circolo Degli Artisti, Rome
Oct 22nd & 23rd: Rock City, Nottingham
Oct 29th & 30th: Whelans, Dublin
Nov 5th & 6th: Trabendo, Paris
Nov 12th and 13th: The Szene, Vienna
Nov 20th & 21st: E-werk, Koln
Nov 27th & 28th: Huxleys, Berlin
Dec 3rd & 4th: Forum, London

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