NMA... as good as they ever were?

[Neily]

Another long time survival is Madness, although there has been, unlike NMA, a 'sag' of several years. The new album though has some classic tracks.
Would be nice if the Mission could stop looking back so much and do some new material. Finally, try as I might, I just can't see what the fuss was about with the new PIL offering, just don't get it.

Right, time to leave work, off to get me euros and to pray the snow stays the **** away from Gatwick next weekend.

[jsyirish]

Paranoid Visions an Irish punk band have 30 years + behind them and some great tunes. Sound wise not as diverse as NMA but there are some similarites in their single minded determination to do things their own way etc.   

Am with you all the way on Gatwick Neilly flying in Friday night to catch the red eye to Koln Saturday morning. See yoursef and Pazza for pre gig pints in Amsterdam Sunday evening all going well   

[Stoney]

Pub round the corner from Melkweg?

[Loiner]

To answer the original question: James.

[steviejones]

Good topic this..  After Rock City the other night, I agree they just seem to get better and better. At this rate they will be up there with the Stones celebrating 50 years before we know it! The Stones could actually be one act who have made a renaissance. Throughout the 70s and much of the 80s and 90s they have done patchy shows and albums but since The Scorcese 'Shine A Light' documentary film they are now sounding very good and raw and great for their age.  Live clips from the recent 02 shows look great. This is good news for 'old bands'.

However a renaissance is different to being consistently good and better each time. Having seen NMA band since 1984 in all the line ups I have to say the atmosphere at their shows is still amazing and they now have a fuller sound are just as a vital and brilliant and relevant to now. Its a great machine to witness. These days NMA remind me of Pearl Jam a bit - in terms of longevity  and stubbornness and disregard for a need to be media darlings. I really love Pearl Jam but have not seen them live other than clips so can't comment on their shows but PJ just keep doing their own thing in their own way with a great loyal fan base and that's very similar.

Counting Crows similarly had too this until recent years but their pay for membership website and lack of as many albums and shows seemed to have dented the sense of fan community.

 Thankfully we are lucky in that we to get to see NMA in intimate venues rather than arenas and that's what keeps it more amazing for us fans and the value of sense of community is indeed great with folks from all over the world now coming to shows - and many bringing kids along now to shows where they can hopefully sparking a new generation of fans and respect.

Yep they do indeed get better and better. And there is no one like them.

[Stoney]

Just wanted to add, that the last 12 months has seen at least 3 of the gigs scream straight into my top 10 ever NMA gigs...... Melkweg was absolutely fantastic as vital as ever I've seen them, Strummercamp was so fired up and empassioned for obvious reasons and Rock City was on a mission............

It'll be a HAPPY NEW YEAR for all of us I think..............

[Wessexy Witch]

Another long time survival is Madness, although there has been, unlike NMA, a 'sag' of several years. The new album though has some classic tracks.
Would be nice if the Mission could stop looking back so much and do some new material. Finally, try as I might, I just can't see what the fuss was about with the new PIL offering, just don't get it.

Right, time to leave work, off to get me euros and to pray the snow stays the **** away from Gatwick next weekend.

It's on the way.

 

[jackroadkill]

I first saw NMA about five years ago (yes, must have been, as High had been released and they opened with Wired) in Wolverhampton, so I can't claim to have any long-standing experience.  That said, I first heard them back in about 1994 / 5 and bought B-sides.... and Impurity when I was at university in 1998.  After a good few wilderness years (from NMA and going out) I came across the CD's again, listened to them, fell in love with NMA immediately and wondered what else they had done, and a few months later saw them live for the first time.  Since then I've seen them in Swansea, Nottingham, Cardiff, and Nottingham again.  I have to say that they seem to be getting better and better every time - I can't wait for the next gigs.  They are the best band I know of, and certainly have the best fans and a great sense of community.

[Shush]

Well said Jack. Does not matter how long you have liked a band. all bands big and small need people to be out there buying records and going to see them. At the end of the day, they are doing this for a living as well as a life style. I too have been off the scene for a long time, what with work, and being a Dad, but I know what I like, and in terms of buying quality music, they cannot be beat. I have been a fan of many a band, but always liked the NMA. Throughout my time as a music fan, the NMA have always been a constant favourate through constant quality . As for live, I cannot imagine anything better than what I saw in Nottingham Rock City last week. And if you suggest, they are continually getting better, then wuppy-doo, good times ahead.

Happy New Year

[Mike]

I'm not sure the comparison works given that the lineup is wholly different to the 'classic era' and the songwriting team now are light years away from, if not ahead of, Heaton/Morrow. The singer and some songs are the only real perennials, and by that measure, neither Justin nor, say, Spirit of the Falklands (blinding in Nottingham) seem to have lost anything over the years.

But to compare the last couple of albums to the first few? Apples and oranges... and that's entirely before my personal tastes about the recent stuff come into it.

One of the main reasons the band still has my ear is that I don't have to worry about whether they're better or worse or the same now.

[L.North]

Hi everyone. I found this forum after searching for like minded souls after Rock City Until that day I had not seen the band since 1987 (much to my shame)! All I can say is that it totally blew me away and brought tears to my eyes.
 After losing my way with guitar music and drifting into acid house I recently  and inevitably started listening to the bands from my youth again. NMA still being my favourite. I lost a few people really dear to me last year and i I think its no exaggeration to say without such amazing music I would still be in a really dark place.
 I think the new music is equally as good as the old, just different.  I cant wait for the Northampton gig, i was on a high for a week after Nottingham , think i am gonna have to go to Sheffield as well or I will kick myself. Looking forward to the new album!!!

[Shush]

Completely agree. I am still buzzing after that Rock City gig. What a top night.

[Jibberish]

... I cant wait for the Northampton gig, i was on a high for a week after Nottingham , think i am gonna have to go to Sheffield as well or I will kick myself. Looking forward to the new album!!!

It sounds like you really need to come to Preston, as well 

[L.North]

He he, sounds like you could be right , dunno how i missed that. Will make a hell of a week that's for sure..

[Tony S]

I'd nominate Kings X as another band still putting out stuff that excites my senses, and who are still fantastic live. Admittedly, their last bona-fide new studio album, XV, came out in 2008, but it was easily a match for their old stuff. Hopefully, there'll be something new before too long.

I realised after thinking about this that I hadn't actually looked up any news about them for a while, and was shocked to read that their drummer, Jerry Gaskill, had a massive heart attack in Feb 2012, and was in a coma for a couple of weeks. However, he recovered, and was back on tour with the band in the Summer. He then got married in September, but in November, he and wife Julie, lost their house in New Jersey and virtually everything they owned in Hurricane Sandy.  Blimey, what a year for him !!!