New Model Army at The Forum in London

New Model Army seem to be on an unstoppable roll at the moment. It was rather fab to see the band on stage just a few weeks after having attended the screening of the fascinating documentary "Between Dog and Wolf: The New Model Army Story" at the Prince Charles (read my blog about it HERE). 2014 has seen the band release the brilliant, critically acclaimed Between Dog and Wolf, a truly superb album full of energy and renewed passion. 
These December 2014 concerts, named "Between Blood and Wine" were presented as being somewhat different from the band's customary Christmas shows. They decided to give themselves a creative challenge and add musicians and introduce different arrangements for well-known and loved songs. I loved the introduction of strings (violin and cello) into the mix. 
I won't write a full review here, but you can read Pete Woods's superb in-depth review on Ave Noctum. 
I'll summarise the evening here: crystal clear sound, superb lights, sweeping chords, fierce tribal drumming, gorgeous background artwork (by none other than Joolz Denby, of course!), passion, energy, enthusiasm (the band genuinely looked like they enjoyed themselves immensely), and of course, fantastic music and gripping, poetic lyrics. 
This was the best New Model Army gig I had ever been to (ok, I am not one of the "Family" who have been following them for over 25 years...) and my partner, who has been a NMA fan for much longer than me, agrees. 
This show was really something very very special indeed. 

Here are a few "arty" photos (I really loved the lights at this show!). 
Musicians were Mark Feltham (Nine Below Zero) on harmonica; Ed Alleyne-Johnson on electric violin; Tobias Unterberg (cello); 
Shir Ran Yinon (violin) 
[Tobias and Shir are in Ensemble Melancholia]. 

Joolz's gorgeous artwork looms over the stage...

All pictures (c) Carya Gish

More pictures by Tim Frommer (London and Nottingham) HERE. 

Setlist (from The NMA Forum)

Guessing
Rumour and Rapture
Christian Militia
1984
Red Earth
Stormclouds
No Rest
Knievel
Waiting
Family
Between Dog and Wolf
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Ballad
Someone Like Jesus
Into the Wind
Orange Tree Roads
March in September
Devil's Bargain
Liberal Education
No Mirror, No Shadow
One of the Chosen
Family Life
No Pain
Angry Planet
Purity
Poison Street
Wonderful Way to Go
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Vagabonds
Till the End of the Day (cover)
225
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Get Me Out
Green and Grey