NEW ROAD with Facade and Last Man Standing.

Bedford Esquires Saturday 14th May 2005.

The fact that I travelled all the way down from Sheffield to see this gig is perhaps testament to just how important New Road were to so many people. The defining school band of the last five years, they announced themselves onto the scene in 2002, winning the Battle of the Bands with their first ever shows. Every gig they played sold out, their acutely observant, evocative song writing and well rounded live shows giving them a growing fan base, a Blink 182 that young people in Bedfordshire could relate to.

My personal memories of New Road go back to their first ever gig, which also happened to be the first Esquires appearance of my old band, Goldigger, in late 2001. We turned up on several bills with them over the next couple of years, forming friendships, watching each other change and grow and, in my case, forming a band with one of them (Peg, aka Rodd Lethal.) It is fitting, then, that their last gig prior to this reformation was also with Goldigger, at a time when each of our bands were hitting a creative peak.

And then, nothing. Richard (drums) and John (vocals) moved to Senegal, Rodd (guitar) joined The Smoking Hearts, Bunn (bass) went to university... all we had to remember them by was a gloriously shambolic EP (think The Libertines if they'd smoked more weed and listened to Rancid instead of The Clash.) Nothing until Saturday May 15th 2005, New Road's first gig for over a year, with promise of new material.

First ons, LAST MAN STANDING are the New New Road. They share the same pop punk sensibilities, rebellious naughtiness and fresh faced attitude of their spiritual godfathers, and at this, their first gig, fail to disappoint the ecstatic crowd. They harbour the advantage of being spawned from the Redborne Upper School and Community College, home of Sprokit and Loveburger as well as New Road, and seemingly a breeding ground for punk rockers, as tonight's energetic pit action proves. OK, so their cover of Stand By Me was confused and predictable, but their own material brought to mind the classic skate punk sound of the late 90s and they were amazingly tight for their first ever show. This time next year, Last Man Standing should be selling out Esquires.

Next up, FACADE were the stylistic oddballs for the evening, and clearly lacked their own fanbase at the show, but the exuberant punk audience embraced them nonetheless. Bringing to mind a more rock n roll Pearl Jam, the three piece from Milton Keynes played a strong, varied set, moving seamlessly from slow, atmospheric rock to breakneck punk. Regardless of musical change and evolution, the alternative rock scene will continue to produce grunge music, but if it's of this high standard, who's to complain? Facade clearly have a bright future ahead of them, their musical talent complemented by their posterboy appearance and effortless connection with the audience. This time next year, Facade should have released their debut album on a major label, and probably have been in Kerrang! once of twice.

Then, the lights go down and a John Frusciante track rolls on the PA. NEW ROAD drummer Rich walks out onto the stage in slow motion and waves to the front row. Then he space walks back off the stage and into the dressing room. First night nerves? Or just taking the piss? The diagnosis is confirmed when New Road frontman John takes the microphone, and sincerely thanks the crowd for coming, before launching into a re-worked version of anti-education anthem, School Disco. It's loud, it's fast and it's probably quite drunk, but it's also like they never been gone. And as frontman John changes the chorus to "This is my home..." as the audience echoes "School disco", it's clear that New Road are glad to be back.
The old songs sound as good as ever, Typically Me is still the best teenage anthem of the 21st century, "Words are something you don't need, I’m sorry that I'm not complete", the angst ridden Call Waiting is given a relaxed, Police-esque reading and the obligatory cover, this time a riotous interpretation of Rancid's Radio complete with guest backing vocals from the stage-invading Wild Marky Bosshog, is typically crowd pleasing. The new material sounds more mature, as the sing along sensibilities are combined with new, broader influences. Of course, everything is louder than everything else, and intoxication takes it's toll, but the dance floor is more interesting in breaking each other's limbs than learning the words. It's how a New Road gig should be, and a splendid end to an enjoyable evening.
By this time next year, New Road had better not have grown up.

Dr. Spark L. Horse