11 August 2011 (gig)
13 August 2011
Three days after the worst riots London has ever seen I venture into Camden to see a band called the Model Society. The area is normally buzzing whatever day of the week or time of the day but this evening the atmosphere is very subdued and the Police (in full Riot gear) seem to outnumber the people.
Walking into the Wheelbarrow though, you would never have guessed anything had happened. Maybe it isn’t quite as busy as normal (I manage to get a seat and a table!) but it has a great vibe.
The first band to take to the stage are young electro popsters called Luminaries. They have heaps of energy and expensive equipment and a couple of really good songs although the vocals let them down at times. They remind me of the Drums before they went surf crazy.
After a short break the Model Society take to the stage. After the amount of equipment the last band had on stage these guys look like they may have left some gear behind, but they say less is more and they are right tonight.
They burst into their first song ‘Tomorrow She Loves Me’ and it is plainly obvious these guys love the music of the Stranglers, Wire, Magazine and Joy Division. The singer even has an Ian Curtis thing going on. Their power and energy really hits you in the face and you can’t help but get carried away by the powerful drums the throbbing bass lines.
What helps make this band stand out from many of the other 80s sounding bands doing the rounds at the moment are the vocals which bounce from singer to guitarist and remind me of Blur or even Oasis.
The best song of the night is their new single ‘Systematic’, which makes me want to pogo around the venue, not a good look for a 45 year old man! They have taken the 70s punk sound, ripped it apart and rebuilt it for a new generation. It is short, straight to the point and makes you jump around. It doesn’t get any better than this.
They finish their set with a song called Rock and Roll Suicide which even steps up the energy if that is possible and leaves the singer collapsed on the floor and the crowd wanting more.
If you like your music loud, spiky and full of energy go and see the Model Society at a venue near you soon!
