Role Models - Aug 22 It’s been a good five years since Role Models split and went their separate ways. Singer Rich Ragany is currently playing with the Digressions and released one of the best albums of 2021, whilst guitarist Nick Hughes has own band Middlenight Men filling stages (quite literally) in support of another of 2021’s best albums ‘Issue #1’.

Few people expected to see the Role Models play again but the tragic passing of fellow musician Roger Segal earlier year has led to the band reforming for a short UK tour in his honour. Supported by more friends of Roger, the first night of the tour finds the band in Camden Town. Undetermined by a tube and bus strike, there is a reasonable crowd in the venue looking forward to seeing the Role Models roar again.

First up are The Empty Page who are clearly influenced by the pre grunge US scene and the likes of the Pixies and Sonic Youth. It works well with songs such as ‘Dry Ice’ and ‘Wardrobe Malfunction’ resonating around the room.

There’s a change of place when Billy Liar takes the stage armed only with his acoustic guitar and a clutch of politically charged songs with more than a tinge of Strummer/Armstrong. ‘Independent People’ seems even more relevant today given the current turmoil around the country and greater world.

The City Kids are an irreprehensible bunch of reprobates producing guttural trashy rock n roll. Displaying their trademark punk rock sensibilities matched with gruff vocals and the occasional heavy metal guitars, the City Kids soon have the crowd joining in with their punchy singalong songs. Boy are they loud and the temperature in the room has risen as the crowd bounce around. By the time the band finish the crowd feel like they have been pummeled by musical mallet.

Role Models hit the stage and within a song, Rags has already broken a string leading to an impromptu jam session. Unperturbed the band then launch into a glorious set that hits all the spots. There’s an energy to these songs such as ‘(I Broke My Back) Disappointing You’ that is infectious and just makes you want to join in with the band.

It’s good to see Rags let rip on his electric guitar, his day job in the excellent Digressions seemingly somewhat restrained compared to tonight’s excesses. The rekindled camaraderie between the band is clear to see with Simon and Daniel’s rhythm section kicking up a storm whilst Nick gleefully powers through the old songs.

Midway through the band leaves the stage to allow Rags to take centre spot and sing the truly haunting ‘Leave Tonight’. It’s the only respite in the set, as the band return and turn up a notch for the run in. Former Role Model associate and current More Kicks vocalist, Sulli, comes on to lend some backing vocals and playful chaos to the proceedings. Before you know it, we are running out of time and the venue’s strict curfew means that we have just one song left. We have one final toast to the memory of Roger and then the band, joined by Sulli and Kit Swing, finish proceedings with the excellent ‘This Eventually Leads Nowhere’.

Slightly chaotic but always exhilarating, this was a night of the highest order with all the artists serving Roger’s memory well. News is in that there may be a fourth Role Models album in the offering following this short reunion, and that can never be a bad thing.

The Empty Page - Aug 22 Billy Liar - Aug 22 The City Kids - Aug 22 The City Kids - Aug 22 Role Models - Aug 22 Role Models - Aug 22 Role Models - Aug 22 Role Models - Aug 22 Role Models - Aug 22