The Alarm in Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 4th 2010

The last night of a tour is always quite emotional for any band, but for Mike Peters and the Alarm it is always special when they finish their tour in Liverpool. Mike has a lot of affection for this city and it comes through in a lot of the lyrics that the band has written over the years.

It is no surprise then that the o2 Academy was at its best as the Alarm played tracks from their new album Direct Action and delved into a substantial back catalogue. From the moment the band came out on stage the atmosphere started to cook and simmer and would not come off the boil for the entire gig.

The band kicked off with the title track off the new album and Absolute Reality before heading back to the very early days of the first album Declaration, the fabulous and bouncy Marching On. The Alarm may have changed personnel from the heady days of the early eighties but the sound, conviction and desire to inform and entertain has not gone away. Spurred on by Mike the audience fed off the talent on show and took to their hearts bassist Craig Adams, James Stevenson on guitars and guest drummer Smiley, All of whom looked as if they were having the time of their life.

Other tracks to be played during the evening were the fantastic Rain in the Summertime, the politically charged Where were you Hiding? and the anthem of them all Blaze of Glory. Mike and the lads finished an electric and sweaty, bouncy set with 45 RPM and the wonderful 68 Guns before leaving the stage momentarily to huge, rapturous applause from a very contented Liverpool audience.

Mike returned to the stage to do a couple of solo acoustic numbers which included Declaration and Unsafe Buildings. Clearly in the mood to enjoy the last night of the tour Mike was then joined on stage by keyboard player Mark Taylor for a fantastic version of Walk Forever by My Side and then a storming, homecoming for the band as they dragged everybody on stage, the two support acts, Killing for Company and the unmistakable talent of Willie Nile joined Mike and the boys to give the big finish that The Alarm are renowned for, a superb cover version of Willie’s own song One Guitar and the youthful musical memories of Spirit of 76.

An excellent night of music which showed you don’t have to be under 25 to appreciate music, nor do you have to be considered old to talk about it.

Ian D. Hall