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NEW MODEL ARMY
+ Kyle Landman
@ Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
9th May 2025
(Live Review)

Review and photos by Colin Reid (@cdrimagery)

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NEW MODEL ARMY / Photo – @cdrimagery

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In the mid-1980s New Model Army were hands down my favourite band.  Living in the UK I was lucky enough to see them several times.  On each occasion crammed into hot sweaty clubs; loud, dark spaces full of black clad post-punk, goth crossover punters, the kind of people who came out for Death Cult, Killing Joke or Sisters of Mercy and the like.  If I can steal from NWA’s lyrics, I’ll reminisce for all those whisky nights so far away!

Fast forward forty odd years and NMA are playing a series of gigs across Australia and NZ for the first time ever.  Sadly, ticket sales haven’t been great and the last 3 dates in Auckland, Adelaide and Perth were all parred down to a duo version of the band featuring guitarist Dean White and Justin Sullivan, the only constant in the band’s 45-year history, on vocals and acoustic guitar.

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KYLE LANDMAN / Photo – @cdrimagery

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Opening up at the Lion Arts Factory was Kyle Landman from local punk stalwarts Young Offenders.  Kyle played an energetic 45-minute set mixing originals and covers.  I reckon that if you are into alternative music of an indie punk flavour in Adelaide then there is a very strong chance that you would have seen Young Offenders at some point either at their YO Fest or opening up for a major touring band such as Less than Jake, Dropkick Murphys or The Wombats.  The crowd was small, maybe only 120 or so, but they responded energetically to Kyle’s calls for audience participation on the Billy Bragg and The Clash numbers that he played towards the end of his set.

The crowd drew in close to the stage and applauded Justin and Dean with as loud a greeting, full of genuine warmth, that any band could have wished for.  The crowd may have been small but it was one that really wanted to let the band know how much that they appreciated them being here.

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NEW MODEL ARMY / Photo – @cdrimagery

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NWA opened the night with an electrifying version of ‘Before I Get Old’ from the 1990 album ‘Impurity’.  Justin’s voice growling out over the chord from his acoustic guitar as Dean’s electric regularly punctured the night with a sonic shock.

It seems impossible to believe that Justin will be turning 70 next birthday.  He remains lean, solid and powerful. Everything he does exudes power, passion, intensity and is 100% genuine.  “We’re happy to be here, I’m sorry that it has taken us 45 years and that only two fifths of us made it”.  He jokes about the weird and dangerous creatures in Australia and passes comment on the recent general election noting the result to probably be “the lessor of two evils”.

The set list covers tracks from at least twelve of their sixteen studio albums and provides an illustration of their longevity and quality.  This isn’t a golden oldies setlist or a singles-only set list.  Indeed there are only a couple of songs from the first three albums.  ‘Poison Street’, ‘The Hunt’, ‘Vengeance’, ‘No Rest’ and ‘Christian Militia’ are all missing from tonight’s set but we do get treated to fabulous versions of ‘51st State’, which seems more relevant today than when it was released in 1986, and also ‘Notice Me’ which Justin notes was written before the advent of social media.

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NEW MODEL ARMY / Photo – @cdrimagery

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For a two piece they generate such a volume of sound.  Dean occasionally alternates between guitar and keyboard and Justin sometimes brings the harmonica into play.  Everything that they do is so powerful; there is power in the lyrics and the music, in the volume and the delivery.  In between songs Justin has all the time in the world to talk to the audience; he is genuinely interested in us and in Australia and seems totally shocked to find that nearly everyone at the gig is an ex-pat.  He takes time to explain some of the songs and their meanings as well as conveying the complexity of performing as a two piece as opposed to the full band.  He even shares that one of the songs that they played is one of the first songs he ever wrote but that it has never been issued on any studio album as they have never been able to fully give it an arrangement that does it justice.

The intensity of the song ‘Fate’ with Justin delivering lyrics such as ‘putting hands into roaring flames’ and ‘I’ve killed the things that I love the best’ is offset by exquisite guitar work from Dean.  Next comes ‘WipeOut’ which Justin describes as a surfing song, “do you surf?” he enquires, only to get a very lukewarm response, “why not” he presses the crowd “small waves and big sharks” comes the reply from the crowd!

It has been a small venue and a small crowd but that hasn’t dimmed NWA’s passion or enthusiasm.  This feels more than just an intimate gig, rather it feels really special and Justin’s warmth, humour and genuine interest in the crowd has made it that way.

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NEW MODEL ARMY / Photo – @cdrimagery

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They finish the regular set and though no encore is printed on their set-lists they return to play three more songs.  They are in no rush and continue to deliver, comminating with an intense, almost spiritual version of ‘Green and Grey’.

I really doubt that they will come back to Australia again which is sad but I’m so glad that I was part of the small but appreciative crowd that witnessed this special gig for playing live is where NWA really shine.

New Model Army concluded the tour in Perth before returning to Europe to play various dates across Holland and Germany in June.

Young Offenders play the Three generations of Punk Rock Show with The 745 and The Skunks in Adelaide at Jive 17th May.

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NEW MODEL ARMY / Photo – @cdrimagery

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Check out Colin Reid’s (@cdrimagery) full gallery of this event HERE

Check out Adrian Thomson’s (@_awii_) full gallery of the Perth event  HERE

Check out Alec Smart’s (@alecsmart_fotos) full gallery and review of the Brisbane eventHERE

Check out Dan Turner’s (@dapperdanphoto) full gallery of the Sydney event  HERE

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NEW MODEL ARMY / Photo – @cdrimagery

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..Troubadour Presents:

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AMNPLIFY – DB