Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
There are homecomings for local heroes and then there are homecomings in which the performers on stage know that even they are from another town, another country, another place that they are so well thought of, so in tune with the indigenous psyche that they are welcome back time and time again. Such is that honour bestowed upon Mike Peters and The Alarm that to see the elder generation of fans who took the band to their hearts over 30 years ago, bouncing and enjoying the gig with a generation of fans young enough to be forgiven for following so called fashion rather decent quality is heart-warming and astounding.
Towards the end of 2012 Mike Peters did a solo acoustic tour which had the Alarm fans out in their droves; get the full group out, the incredible sound intensifies and broadens and the audience is enough to drown out anything else within the area, so few bands have this type of loyalty across the age range. The sound of Abide with me greeted the group on stage and the gigantic roar of the crowd followed suit and with that the stage was set for a really incredible evening.
Opening the night with 45 R.P.M. the young and the young forever at heart joined in loudly and with some genuine pride in their voices. The list of songs was lengthy, supremely so and made a mockery of what quite a few groups less dedicated to the rock and roll cause decide to do. Tracks such as Swan Song, The Drunk and Disorderly, My Town and a slowed down version of Spirit of ’76 captured the atmosphere of the evening.
Mike and the band took the audience back through the ages and if it was emotional for the audience then for Mike it must have been heart-rendering. Using a small break for the idea of the new film about the day they fooled a youth obsessed pop media by releasing the opening track of the night under a different name and with a younger band performing the song were inspired. It gave the sound that followed more gravitas than was ever thought possible. Tracks such as Nothing To Do, which they originally recorded as The Toilets, Alarm, Alarm and the much loved Blaze of Glory were greeted by all in the audience with open hearts and loud applause.
The evening continued in its fine form with tracks such as Unsafe Building, Marching On, the brilliant 68 Guns and Deeside.
A night in which The Alarm gave a night of music that as always hit the right notes and confirmed Mike Peters as one of the rare people from outside of Merseyside to be given the honorary title of adopted Scouser.
Ian D. Hall