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General Category => On The Road => Topic started by: Shush on December 23, 2013, 09:52:41 AM

Title: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Shush on December 23, 2013, 09:52:41 AM
Now they are all done, which gig did you enjoy most of 2013. ?

I managed five this year. I think my favorite was Northampton back in May. It was a long wait after Rock City back at Xmas, so I had been really looking forward to it.  Road Menders a smaller venue which I prefer. Manageable smaller pit at the front. Good after show party in the town. Enjoyed spending time with my mate Barty. We laughed  and joked all the way there on the train,  and again on the way back the next day, making up our own daft lyrics to the songs we heard the night before.

Great day from start to finish.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Spudthemariner on December 23, 2013, 10:06:58 AM
Devizes was a great show with a very different vibe. Because (I think) that the band were headlining Willowman in Yorkshire the next day, most of the Northern crowd went there so many familiar faces were absent. However, the place was still rammed (but not too rammed) because at least half of the crowd seemed to be made up of locals who had come purely because an 'interesting sounding band' were playing a town where 'interesting sounding bands' don't usually play. Top marks to the promoters who really pulled out the stops to plug the gig, and meant we were treated to a great show with a really great vibe! Also, the tickets were dished out by the local WI... ;D

Also Manchester. Ed played...  :D 
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Ragamuffin on December 23, 2013, 10:39:35 AM
Think I managed six this year. Can't decide between the double set at Nottingham last week or Manchester and Ed playing on Purity, one of my all time MAN tracks. Happy holidays!!  :)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: lupus225 on December 23, 2013, 12:31:04 PM
1. Hamburg
2. Hannover / Rostock
3. Berlin
4. Köln (for personal reasons)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: ian on December 23, 2013, 01:48:28 PM
Out of the 8 gigs I went to all were great but for me it was Devizes or Brighton but as I said all were great bar missing the end of the London show due transport issues that night.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: turnbuis on December 23, 2013, 02:27:29 PM
The Ritz in Manchester!!! By far the best for me. Ed appearing too.... wow.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: LCG on December 23, 2013, 02:52:31 PM
I've done Preston, Sheffield, Leeds, Buckley, Manchester, Bilston and Nottingham. For me, the Manchester gig was by far and above the best - not only of those 7, but for a long time before. Nottingham comes in a close second.

The pure quality and energy of the band aside, I'm not ashamed to say that I also love the social aspect of going to a New Model Army gig and on that basis, all 7 were just brilliant. For example, I didn't particularly enjoy the set in Leeds - for a variety of reasons - but had a fantastic night thanks to the great company!

I've done 5 After Gig Gatherings this year too, with Spanky van Dykes being the best ever!

Thanks for a great year of great music, great company and great friendships!

Happy Christmas and here's to 2014!

Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: comber on December 23, 2013, 03:05:02 PM
I also loved the Northampton gig.First time at the venue and to hear a couple of the new tracks for the first time was great.Having said that...Manchester was excellent for all the reasons that have been mentioned!
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Barty on December 23, 2013, 04:37:25 PM
Northampton for the whole 24 hour period - as Shush says.
Performance wise i'd say Manchester or Rock City.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: paul74 on December 23, 2013, 04:55:05 PM
My top 5 out of the approx 10 gigs

Manchester - everything seemed perfect in a chaotic way

Kohl - decent set by the levs and then a blinder by the band

Nottingham - double set

Blackpool - just enjoyed the punk vibe surrounding it - great set by Neville Staples beforehand - thursday night on after midnight - again perfectly chaotic

Zurich - personally first time I had seen them on a tour in europe other than the xmas shows.

what a year:)

Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Marloes on December 23, 2013, 05:32:20 PM
As for the gig itself:                  Manchester!
As for 'the whole thing' :           my weekend in Spain with 3 gigs, good weather and amazing friends
As for 'the most unexpected' :   my very last minute visit to Brighton

But every gig has it's own good thing; weither it is the songs, the audience, the food, the travelling, the
friends you meet, the sightseeing you do while being abroad, the fun and of course, the weather ;-)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Pazza on December 23, 2013, 09:02:31 PM
Spuds assessment of Devizes is right on the money, wotta great night but so many great nights this year.

And so, Pompey and Sheffield were particularly good as was Bilston and Brighton was an amazing night capped by Ellen Cox supporting.

Thought Rock City last week was epic with the acoustic warm up set, and last night at the Melkweg was pretty damned good too.

Devizes for being my son's live debut gig

I would say out of all those great nights Bilston, everyone was so darned happy that night, really positive vibe of bonhomie and love, peace and the Army!

Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: arne on December 23, 2013, 11:23:44 PM
I saw them in Leeds, Frome, Nottingham and Koeln. Koeln was big and energetic but Nottingham was the best. The acoustic set was pure beauty (I've loved the acoustic sets since the Nobody Else tour in 98, and this one was wonderful), the main set was dynamic, the crowd was great. It was magic, one of the best that I've seen. No Ed, but you can't have it all... Pity I missed Manchester and Amsterdam. Well, next time...

I liked this tour a lot. The new album really came alive, the rhythmic new songs added musical variety, and the mix of the new material and the energy of the older songs worked well. Over the past 20 years I've usually just been to one gig on each tour, at most, and I went to wherever was the closest gig near the places that I lived in (from Germany to Hungary, Canada, now UK..). This was the first time in ages that I went to several gigs within a month, and it was great! Thanks so much to the band and the people I met. Looking forward to next year!
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Bill B on December 23, 2013, 11:24:56 PM
For me it's between Dresden - hot as hell and a blistering performance - and last night in Amsterdam. Seeing The Price again after 25 years...won't forget that moment in a while...
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Amandistan on December 24, 2013, 02:39:12 AM
Thessaloniki - it was a very good performance, setlist and I got to meet Greek fans and some very nice Bulgarians.
Falmouth had the least crowded  pit of all the gigs i have seen. that's good because i could actually get in there without fear of being  accidentally knocked out by very large men.  plus it was very intimate.

The band is always good so it's usually other things that make the "Best gig of the year" for me.

I did the entire uk tour plus some Greek dates last month. Those were the best and the worst were London and Cambridge.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Jibberish on December 24, 2013, 07:18:19 AM
It's a toss-up between Manchester and Munich. Both gigs had a really great noisy crowd (not from talking, for a nice change) and the band fed off that. And Ulm, too, in the circus tent with the soft rubber floor and the giant bonfire after the gig. So many great gigs, it's hard to choose...
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: kinkyjinks on December 24, 2013, 08:44:10 AM
I only did 2 dates this year, Bilston and Notts.  Both rocked but I think my best gig out of the 2 was Bilston.  It was my first visit to the venue and has made me totally reassess where I see future gigs.  I usually see the band at Rock City or festivals and really enjoyed watching them at a smaller venue.  Bilston was a completely different atmosphere. 

Next year I'll do my usual Rock City gig but I'm planning to go see them at least twice in a smaller venue. 
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Red on December 24, 2013, 05:08:30 PM
I did 6 this year:

Northampton

Sheffield

Leeds

Thessaloniki

Athens

Nottingham

Favourite was Thessaloniki purely because it was the first non UK gig in 26 years and meet some new followers and had a great weekend

Performance wise had to be Nottingham again, always seem to be good shows, I remember the May Day all dayers and they were always great then, just something about the place that always seems to be a great show.

Roll on part 2 of the tour.

Booked Stockholm and hope for a few more UK dates. can't do full tours as I used to in the late 80's early 90's so have to pick and choose as finances and annual leave dictate

Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Shadowsire on December 25, 2013, 08:32:52 AM
This years little list included -

Northampton
Sheffield
Preston
Willowman
Leeds
Buckley
Manchester
Bilsdon
Nottingham
Koln
Amsterdam

Picking A favourite is pretty difficult!

Willowman was awesome, from a social perspective, the gig was cracking, but the party in the Yorkshires camper awning, and Marty's Red wine and Kolbas is legendary!!

Manchester was the best of the year IMHO.....the set, the crowd, the gathering.....the planets must have been in alignment that night!!!

Nottingham goes without saying...always an incredsible show, and a double set...what's not to like!!

Didn't get to Paris cos of work, and only just arrived in koln in time!!

'Dam was brilliant fun.

However, as we know, the friendliness and approchability of the band members, and the music that they produce is one of the main reasons that we have either followed this lot in one form or another for a very long time, or are amazed newcomers starting out on the NMA journey....BUT....because of this love for the band and all it does, there has become one of the greatest (and growing) repeatred gatherings of some of the most incredible and diverse people from around the world. The social gatherings are as much part of the NMA experience as the shows, neither eclipsing the other. And, Lawrence can take huge credit for his aftershow gatherings which have proved to be great fun....Spankys being the best of the lot....(Again, Again, Again.....).

May 2014 be another great year for music, gigs and gatherings.

Peace and love to every one of you beautiful people.

Brucie.



Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Stoney on December 25, 2013, 05:53:29 PM
This year I've done Sheffield, Preston, Willowman, Leeds, Buckley, Manchester, London and Nottingham. In the company of many of you on here. Some of whom will remain my friends for a long time to come. Whatever terms are applied or bands we go see together.

For me MANCHESTER by some distance was the best set I've seen by NMA since Windsor Baths in hometown maybe even Goldiggers in 91. Atmosphere, sound, playing, venue crowd Ed..... Everything. Utterly unstoppable juggernaught of a gig. I was sad to miss the last 4 Euro gigs, tho' with all the off stage issues my last minute dash to Dam was best avoided. Not sure about next year, but the memory of Manchester and as has been posted, Nottingham being very close to it aswell......

If they play anywhere near as well as Manchester, then you are in for a real treat whoever goes to the upcoming gigs.
Merry Xmas folks!
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Shush on December 25, 2013, 06:56:53 PM
This year I've done Sheffield, Preston, Willowman, Leeds, Buckley, Manchester, London and Nottingham. In the company of many of you on here. Some of whom will remain my friends for a long time to come. Whatever terms are applied or bands we go see together.

For me MANCHESTER by some distance was the best set I've seen by NMA since Windsor Baths in hometown maybe even Goldiggers in 91. Atmosphere, sound, playing, venue crowd Ed..... Everything. Utterly unstoppable juggernaught of a gig. I was sad to miss the last 4 Euro gigs, tho' with all the off stage issues my last minute dash to Dam was best avoided. Not sure about next year, but the memory of Manchester and as has been posted, Nottingham being very close to it aswell......

If they play anywhere near as well as Manchester, then you are in for a real treat whoever goes to the upcoming gigs.
Merry Xmas folks!
You forgot Northampton, May 10th mate !!

You were definitely there, giving your usual "support" to Christine in the pit. I Remember me, you, and Marshall had Jager bombs at the bar at the after show party. Great night. ;)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Red on December 25, 2013, 06:57:24 PM
This year I've done Sheffield, Preston, Willowman, Leeds, Buckley, Manchester, London and Nottingham. In the company of many of you on here. Some of whom will remain my friends for a long time to come. Whatever terms are applied or bands we go see together.

For me MANCHESTER by some distance was the best set I've seen by NMA since Windsor Baths in hometown maybe even Goldiggers in 91. Atmosphere, sound, playing, venue crowd Ed..... Everything. Utterly unstoppable juggernaught of a gig. I was sad to miss the last 4 Euro gigs, tho' with all the off stage issues my last minute dash to Dam was best avoided. Not sure about next year, but the memory of Manchester and as has been posted, Nottingham being very close to it aswell......

If they play anywhere near as well as Manchester, then you are in for a real treat whoever goes to the upcoming gigs.
Merry Xmas folks!

Ah,  Windsor Baths  :) :)

In my opinion this has been one of the best gigs I have ever seen.

Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: NickyG on December 26, 2013, 10:59:58 AM
Best gig (band and atmosphere) - Manchester   :)  The videos on youtube say it better than I can!

Most unexpectedly good one - Budapest.  The new set was fresh to me, venue was on a boat (but it worked!), also I travelled alone to start with, and met people I didn't know or speak to before. Happy times indeed  ;D

Best set - Nottingham - the acoustic opening section, Bodmin Pill and The Price. Nottingham for best aftershow courtesy of LCG as well!

Paris/ Koln/ Spain  -  the madness, the lows, and the highs!


Writing this, many of the reasons are  personal, but then anyway, how often do you go to a gig where the performances are anything less than exciting, emotive, passionate and inspiring ?  :)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Spike on December 26, 2013, 06:09:25 PM
Manchester was  amazing for the performance and atmosphere.
But for me the Spanish gigs just got it not for the performance but new friends I made and hope to tour with again. Also the cities we saw, the laugh on the journeys between gigs and the hospitality of the Spanish fans  8)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Amandistan on December 27, 2013, 03:47:48 AM
I did 6 this year:

Northampton

Sheffield

Leeds

Thessaloniki

Athens

Nottingham

Favourite was Thessaloniki purely because it was the first non UK gig in 26 years and meet some new followers and had a great weekend

Performance wise had to be Nottingham again, always seem to be good shows, I remember the May Day all dayers and they were always great then, just something about the place that always seems to be a great show.

Roll on part 2 of the tour.

Booked Stockholm and hope for a few more UK dates. can't do full tours as I used to in the late 80's early 90's so have to pick and choose as finances and annual leave dictate
Thessaloniki was amazing!
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Master Ray on December 27, 2013, 06:38:13 PM
Only made it to one this year, the cavalcade of awesomeness that was Manchester...

That was down to money and unemployment issues, wish I could have made it to Buckley and Nottingham, but now I'm back in a job, my train is fully back on the NMA tracks for anything the lads can throw at us in 2014... still hoping that there might be some kind of event for the release of the big documentary...  ???

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone agree that the Manchester Ritz is SUCH a better venue than any of the Academy ones..?
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: LCG on December 28, 2013, 05:28:54 AM
Yes, I agree. Ritz is my favourite Manchester venue and one of my favourite venues anywhere.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: DannySan on December 28, 2013, 07:33:14 AM
Agree with that The Ritz is a far better venue than The Academy.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: paul74 on December 28, 2013, 10:53:20 AM
I'd say that the apollo is the best venue in manny although slightly out of the way - not sure if they have ever played there - have heard gorilla is meant to be a decent venue but not been to it!

ritz is better than the 3 academy's though
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Stoney on December 28, 2013, 03:53:16 PM
This year I've done Sheffield, Preston, Willowman, Leeds, Buckley, Manchester, London and Nottingham. In the company of many of you on here. Some of whom will remain my friends for a long time to come. Whatever terms are applied or bands we go see together.

For me MANCHESTER by some distance was the best set I've seen by NMA since Windsor Baths in hometown maybe even Goldiggers in 91. Atmosphere, sound, playing, venue crowd Ed..... Everything. Utterly unstoppable juggernaught of a gig. I was sad to miss the last 4 Euro gigs, tho' with all the off stage issues my last minute dash to Dam was best avoided. Not sure about next year, but the memory of Manchester and as has been posted, Nottingham being very close to it aswell......

If they play anywhere near as well as Manchester, then you are in for a real treat whoever goes to the upcoming gigs.
Merry Xmas folks!
You forgot Northampton, May 10th mate !!

You were definitely there, giving your usual "support" to Christine in the pit. I Remember me, you, and Marshall had Jager bombs at the bar at the after show party. Great night. ;)
You know something, you are totally right aswell...... How did that happen? Busay few days of brain pounding....... But yeah, that was a good gig aswell. Still The Ritz was an unprecidented high for alot of reasons, personal and otherwise.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: BlackCountryMaggiD on January 20, 2014, 02:48:11 PM
Favourite gig of 2013 was probably Cologne. Band on fire, Great audience, Toby, Ed and 2 fabulous support bands.

Others:
Munich. Great venue, noisy crowd.
Dresden. Sweat box, great atmosphere.
Dornstadt - Wudzdog Open Air - We really were singing in the rain. And the mud up to our knees
Ulm - Ulm Zelt Festival - The gig in a big top. Fantastic aftershow party around the pit fire.
Falmouth - By the seaside. Great audience (except for one dick)

Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Belza on January 21, 2014, 11:01:33 PM
Did 6 this year:Sheffield, Preston, Glasgow, Leeds, Buckley, Cork and Dublin.  Hard to choose as they were all great in their own way but I think Dublin probably took it for me.  Great atmosphere, band on top form, good company.  Here's to 2014 and many more nights the same.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Scruff225 on January 22, 2014, 03:31:56 AM
Nottingham for us  - although it was our only NMA gig in 2013! It is hard to get over from California often enough.  ???
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: little owl on January 25, 2014, 09:49:38 PM
Nottingham for us  - although it was our only NMA gig in 2013! It is hard to get over from California often enough.  ???

DUBLIN!! Because as they say, California's too far and it was the only one for me this year. ;)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: tfrommer on January 28, 2014, 12:27:42 AM
Only two for me last year -- Northampton and Sheffield -- so, a toss-up. Met new friends and the first, saw old friends at the second. Heard "Seven Times" for the first time(s) at both. No complaints. Well, maybe one...too few gigs, but I'll also cop to the too far away excuse. Maybe I'll make it back over in December.

-Tim F.
(Seattle)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Guy on January 28, 2014, 05:19:59 AM
Cork, the place looked like the club in Phoenix Nights and the atmosphere was just lovely.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Vinny on January 28, 2014, 10:25:06 AM
Devizes 2013 was the best gig ive ever been to.the atmosphere was amazing and everyone was so chilled. Frome has to be a close second.
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Frozenspaceman on February 02, 2014, 06:15:24 PM

Nottingham

Bilston

Roadmenders
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: Knutty on March 10, 2014, 11:29:20 PM
Out of Northampton, Sheffield, Preston, Buckley, Cambridge, Manchester and Nottingham.
Can't say I was disappointed at any of them to be honest.
Venue wise, I thought Sheffield and Manchester were the best. Nottingham was good and the best aftershow.
For me, Manchester was the stand out gig, followed by Cambridge, for a great pre-gig drink and an unexpected family guest :)
Title: Re: Which was your best NMA gig of 2013 ???
Post by: invisigothh on March 27, 2014, 05:36:07 PM
Devises ....amazing, and cracking support fromGaz Brookefield. The best gigs are in the southwest ...