the only park for grown up indie kids

Still in good nick 10 years on

Newcastle Upon Tyne in 2005 was an exciting place to be. I could devote endless blogs to the subject of my favourite city in the UK but thankfully for you I won't. My mind has been transported back in Tyne this week thanks to the upcoming 10th anniversary shows of Maximo Park's debut album 'A Certain Trigger'.

 



The album resonates with me more than most as I feel like I spent most of the year on the band's promo rollercoaster around the many small in-store gigs and headline shows they performed.

 

My love affair with the band started while watching MTV2 in late 2004 just after I'd landed back in the UK after a year out travelling the world. I remember a slightly grainy black and white video brightening the dark shadows of an autumnal room as Paul Smith's north-eastern tones sang along majestically to the chorus of 'The coast is always changing'. After a year away from the musical landscape (listening to music in backpacker hostels worldwide isn't always good for your ears) I was excited to discover a new band that made me feel proud of my roots and happy to be home.

 

Fast forward into 2005 and I found myself racing around County Durham and Tyne and Wear to witness a number of 20-minute in-store sessions supporting various single releases. Cramming into a small record shop opposite Durham bus station on a hot sunny morning sticks long in the memory to celebrate the original release of Apply Some Pressure. I think Paul resorted to standing on the shop counter to give a sweaty rendition of 'Now I'm all over the shop'.

 

As the band became more popular I remember jumping on early morning metros to be at Virgin Megastore and then HMV to queue outside for a wristband to then return to see them play a few songs live later on that day. Northumberland Street was alive with more students than at early morning lectures and you could sniff the excitement over the Greggs Sausage Rolls.

 

One of my biggest regrets after chasing the band around for weeks and months (not stalking as one of my mates would cheekily accuse) was not being able to get my hands on a ticket for the album launch party on a boat on the Tyne.

 

Maximo Park highlighted that indie pop could be intelligent and fun. The fact they were from my local area just gave me another reason to champion them. Kind of like supporting your local football team and watching them play at Wembley or in this case being on Top of the Pops (Paul changed a lyric in graffiti to sing the words 'TOTP' live on the show)

 

I've lost count of the many times I've seen Maximo Park but nothing will live up to the vibrant live shows of those early days. Listening back to 'A Certain Trigger' this week reminds me of a sharper, fresher young band. From the stomping opening bars of 'Signal and Sign' through to the gorgeous slice of pop 'Kiss you better' bringing the album to a close, Maximo Park's debut will always fall into the category of world class debut albums.

 

You can be forgiven for this album Going Missing back in the noughties but with a fresh focus on the record this week, there's no better time to get on board with this indie classic.