What a joy this was!
Returning to the Traverse for the first time since 2019, 8-piece Glasgow New Romantic band A New International kick up a storm in front of an appreciative packed house performing hits from their first three albums, a generous few from the soon to be released fourth (later this year) and a couple from the mythical fifth. As a newcomer to their music, it was certainly an eye opener! I enjoyed hearing their early back catalogue particularly History Will Be Ours, the wonderfully toe-tapping, Necrapolitan and the hilarious Trump love song New American, but it was their latest songs, particularly The Girls Sing Country Blue, (dedicated to Auntie Rita) and Flicker, Flicker Firelight, which hit me the hardest and show that this band is still very much on an upward trajectory. This is a collective that are clearly still experimenting, still testing what is possible artistically, musically and vocally on a stage, and not afraid to take risks in front of a live audience. Brilliantly Refreshing!
Featuring trumpet and trombone, fiddle, keyboard and accordion their music is a mish-mash of sounds and styles a real mixed bag of Fay theatre, circus, carnival, funeral, tango and Polka, reels and boy band, with caught feelings of The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Patsy Cline, Blue Grass Americana, Scottish country, Madness and Franz Ferdinand! Pinning these guys into just one box is an impossibility and you get the feeling that is just the way they like it!
A New International came into existence in 2013, born from the remnants of The Starlets. In 2015, they released their debut album “Come To The Fabulon” to great critical acclaim. Four years later their follow up “The Dark Carnival”, went on to become the soundtrack to a highly successful National touring theatre show of the same name in conjunction with Vanishing Point Theatre Company.
Maybe…. Maybe just a couple of big hits away from being much bigger, you get the feeling that A New International have shunned the limelight, preferring to grow their fan base organically, honing their sound over the last twelve years on smaller stages, tents and back rooms. But as front man Biff Smith would say himself, it’s never too late!
As a new fan, I can’t wait to hear what they come up with next!
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 26th April 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 2hrs (with interval)