Live report NEW MODEL ARMY & SEEWOLF, Große Freiheit 36, Hamburg – March 20th, 2024

Sometimes good things just take time and so tonight is the first time I’ve managed to see New Model Army live. I’ve been following the band since 1986 when they released ‘The Ghost of Cain’ album and, fascinated by their sound, all of their longplayers adorn my collection at home. Now it’s time to experience New Model Army live.

On their current tour, the band with frontman Justin Sullivan is stopping at Hamburg’s Große Freiheit 36 and, unsurprisingly, the place is sold out. But before the British folk punk rock legend gets to work, it’s a talented young band that opens the evening. Even though the band’s name sounds German, Seewolf are from the Netherlands and it’s 8pm sharp when the lights go out in the venue. The four-piece from the neighboring country gets 40 minutes of playing time tonight and it’s a newer song called ‘Someday’ that opens the evening. It is immediately clear that the guys have a good command of their instruments and it is the warm sound of the 70s that fills Große Freiheit 36. Inspired by greats such as Van Morrison and The Grateful Dead, the band presents a show that partly has the character of a jam session with Kuiken’s and Bijma’s guitar solos taking center stage. Even the fact of their drummer Joop can’t join due to broken a wrist can’t stop the band and it is Jochem Knoef who stepped in and delivers a very solid beat.

Seewolf put on a good show and even though everyone came to Große Freiheit 36 to see New Model Army, the guys received a well-deserved round of applause and clearly enjoyed their performance.

But now to the main act. New Model Army play in Hamburg on a regular base, which also becomes apparent during the short applause-voting regarding venues. In the middle of the set, Sullivan gives a choice of three locations that best suit New Model Army, and it was Markthalle that gets a lot of applause. But first things first.

Justin Sullivan and band kick off the evening with ‘Coming or Going’. It’s a song from the new album. It shouldn’t be the only one, as the band plays a total of eight tracks from ‘Unbroken’ and it turns out that these songs also stand out perfectly when played live. ‘First Summer After’ in particular is a highlight and it’s not strange that the atmosphere is immediately at a peak.

Fans and band are a unit, as can be seen in the classic ‘Green and Grey’. A fan climbs onto his buddy’s shoulders and sings the entire song standing there, bare-chested, while virtually at eye level with Sullivan. It is a bizarre ‘duet’ that has hardly ever been seen before.

Tonight is also about attitude, which is underpinned by ‘If I am Still Me’. New Model Army, that also means very rhythm-driven music and for this reason bassist Ceri Monger takes over a second small drum kit at the edge of the stage, which reinforces the heartbeat of ‘Idumea’ and ‘Stormclouds’. It’s also noticeable that Sullivan is in great voice and songs like ‘Purity’ are simply timeless classics.

With ‘Poison Street’, the encore block begins with a song from ‘The Ghost of Cain’ album and anyone waiting for hits like ’51st State’ and ‘Vagabonds’ will be waiting in vain, as these are not included tonight. Even if you would have liked to hear these anthems, they are somehow not missing and emphasize the individuality of the band. Instead, ‘Get Me Out’ is an energetic song at the end of the encore and, almost unexpectedly, there is a little extra with ‘I Love the World’.

New Model Army delivered a great set, fans are happy and I can finally can tick off having seen one of the most iconic bands live on stage.