City Newspaper Archives - 4/2008
PUNK: New Model Army (4/15)
Published by Saby Reyes-Kulkarni on Apr 09, 2008
When New Model Army arose at the start of the 80's, the original punk movement had breathed its last breath and regenerated into burgeoning post-punk and new wave revolutions. Fittingly, NMA incorporated many of punk's best aspects while simultaneously moving beyond them. Literate, smart, and perpetually trying to break new ground, NMA famously brought as much fire and passion with acoustic guitars as the band's contemporaries did shredding on electrics. Since then, NMA has insisted on changing its approach for every album. Meanwhile, the music's political edge arguably packs more punch - or is at least more believable - because of the band's unwillingness to embrace strict political dogma. Frontman Justin Sullivan is just as likely to sing about blowing up the world as he is to extol the virtues of love or poltical awareness. Of course, NMA's penchant for singalongs doesn't hurt either.
New Model Army
w/Nyet and 5 Watt Bulb
Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Ave
Tuesday, April 15
8 p.m. | $10 | 454-2966
