Justin Sullivan & Dean White(New Model Army) / Mischa

Mr Kyp’s, Poole

This is New Models Army’s 3rd visit to Dorset this year after gigs at the InDorset Endorset Festival in the summer and a recent show at the Electric Place in Bridport they are back once again, with Justin Sullivan’s lyrical fascination with the sea it must be this lure that keeps them returning, and very welcome they are too!!

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Its around 8.15 and a busy Mr Kyps in Poole is playing host to two members of New Model Army Justin Sullivan and Dean White (in the round), or if you prefer acoustic. The night begins with West Country Anglophile Mischa. Mischa is one man, an acoustic guitar, and a clutch of heartfelt songs. He opens with a number called “City Breaks”. His confident vocals are accompanied by strained facial expressions, why, we don’t know as he is well received with every song. “Bands That Saved My Life” is his set highlight, name checking lots of artists from the Rock world and his own record collection. If I have one criticism its that the song endings are overlong and the middle 8’s non-existent. That said Mischa has a great voice and could easily be Dorset’s answer to Frank Turner, he leaves the stage to loud applause and a broken string.

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The headliners need no introduction having played a sell-out show here within the last 12 months. Most if not all tonight’s audience were here then. As a fan with limited knowledge of song titles I expect to hear some of the ‘better known’ songs and big singles,but this being an acoustic show we are treated to a more personal collection with stories to accompany the songs. They open with ‘Someone Like Jesus’ continuing with material from the back catalogue including Justin’s solo album ‘Navigating By Stars’ Invariably punters shout out for songs, Justin humorously says he ‘cant hear anything on stage’, smiling he reminds us again later on in the show! To hear his vocals sung in such powerful way in this intimate setting is just an amazing experience and I can totally understand why the legions of fans follow this band around the country on every tour. Dean plucks his strings almost nonchalantly beside him in between keyboard and additional vocal parts. Justin tells a wonderful story from his days of being a road protester on the Newbury bypass, he speaks with such meaning and there is complete silence as the whole audience listen intently. The are lots of further stories and anecdotes in here tonight. “Turn Away” is my set highlight but they’re all real highlights and this evenings crowd give them loud generous appreciation all night long. After a powerful two song encore of “Dummy B” and “Snelsmore Wood” they leave the stage amid more loud applause. One hopes and feels this wont be their last visit to Mr. Kyps.

Setlist
SomeOne Like Jesus
I Bullet
LS43.
Tales of The Road
Turn Away
Dawn
SFFG
Harry
Ocean Rising
Aimless
Notice me
North Star
Wipeout
You Weren’t There
vanity
Autumn
Dummy B
Snelsmore Wood