Sometimes even the best need a helping hand in times of need. Hendrix had Clapton to thank for fame, Elvis got Sam Phillips.
While torturing his guitar during ‘Cognoscenti’ Mark Heffernan was lucky enough to receive a helping hand from a fan just as his guitar strap and his balance were about to leave him. The chunky, venomous rendition of perhaps their most well-known song was saved.

With Adam rocking out in the corner like he was playing for his right to live, Mark tearing through his guitar solos and new drummer Ian, grinning like he’d won the lottery, Remodel could be forgiven for enjoying themselves. This was their night.
While the songs remain unchanged from the early gigs, their tightness as a rock combo and their stage manner continues its evolution unchecked. Now with a talented and committed drummer whose playing compliments the others, they continue to grow. No more so than Leigh Swinn the lead singer, whose voice and aura have increased in confidence. He now skulks the stage with a menacing belief that captivates.
New songs like ‘Life/film’ and ‘Sunday’ were mixed with familiar favourites ‘That Obscure Subject Called Desire’, an early single.

Remodel now have a diverse set of songs which ably demonstrate their musicianship and separate them from the vapour trail of the skinny-jean clad indie boys of the New Wave Noughties. While they avoid the ambiguity of sounding unclassifiable, their measure of a spadeful of punk rock venom mixed with a pinch of pop’s saccharine gives the listener enough help without the signpost of pastiche.
The climax came with a song written by Adam Knight, the bassist, their latest single ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’, a song that simmers in the intro before bursting into flames as the chorus hits.

There was time for a two song encore consisting of Situational Tragedy Part 2, and British Racing Car Green, another previous release.

The set was lapped up by the growing number of their following, and although they haven't had the helping hand that perhaps their talents deserve - throughout the trouble and the toil, maybe, just maybe they prefer it that way.


Emil Blake, Newport Blake PR

Set list was as follows

esoterica
cognoscenti
formula
life/film
everyone's a rival
that obscure subject called desire
This isn't a love song
Sunday
Us and them
La belle dame sans merci

encore
situational tragedy part 2
British racing green

If you were there let us know if you agree