Thursday, May 04, 2006
The Alarm 2006, Carling Academy Islington 29.4.06
The Day started in The Woodman pub in Carshalton where I saw Chelsea win the Premiership. And at least this time they won a game to get the title. Previous years have seen sides crowned as Champions because another teams defeat has secured it for them. I then headed to Colston Avenue to see Carshalton Athletic only manage a two all draw with Yeading that saw them relegated to the Ryman League. Disappointing as they were two nil up. Good clubhouse though with it being only £2.50 for a Stella. I then got the train up to Victoria and then Highbury where I took advantage of the fantastic £3.99 for a beer and a veggie burger deal in the Wetherspoons pub the White Swan. After walking down Upper Street, the scene for this years pub crawl I manage a quick beer in the Agricultural pub before entering the Academy.
Mike Peters, leader of the Alarm, has been recently diagnosed with cancer. Despite this, he his battling away showing determination to carry on with his life as he knows how and managed to put in a full on show of more than two hours of fantastic rock music. One can only admire the energy of the performance. A lot of songs from the new album 'Under Attack' which certainly puts them in the rock category now moving away from the acoustic punk roots that estblished the first incarnation of the Alarm in the early eighties. We also got some of these including a great version of 'Where Were Your Hiding When The Storm Broke' where the audience, as always, are showered with playing cards! Out of the new stuff, 'Be Still' was superb as was 'Without A Fight'. Unfortuantely I felt that probably too many new songs were played with Mike's five albums between 1994-2004 being completely overlooked. There was a great acoustic bit in the middle where instead of the expected 'One Step Closer To Home' Mike played a surprise version of Dave Sharp's 'Reason 41'. The show ended with 'Spirit of 76' and here I noticed that many of the audience had brought their teenage kids with them, making the age range the biggest by far I have seen for an Alarm show.
There was an early curfew of 10pm meaning we didn't get 'Blaze Of Glory;' although it was sung by the crowd.
I then headed to meet a group of friends at Wimbledon Common, some journey you may think. Not when Red Ken is mayor, as it only took 40 minutes via connections at Kings Cross, Vauxhall and a 93 bus up the hill! Splendid indeed!!
Set - Superchannel / Absolute Reality / Cease & Desist / Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? / Raindown / Right Back Where I Started From / Its Alright Its Ok / Rain In The Summertime / Be Still / Sold Me Down The River / Drunk & Disorderley / Unsafe Building / Coming Home / Reason 41 (acoustic) / Unbreak The Promise (acoustic) / Walk Forever By My Side (acoustic) / This Is The Way We Are / Rescue Me / I Never Left I Only Went Away / Decleration / Marching On / My Town / 68 Guns ///// Without A Fight / 45 RPM / Spirit Of 76
Mike Peters, leader of the Alarm, has been recently diagnosed with cancer. Despite this, he his battling away showing determination to carry on with his life as he knows how and managed to put in a full on show of more than two hours of fantastic rock music. One can only admire the energy of the performance. A lot of songs from the new album 'Under Attack' which certainly puts them in the rock category now moving away from the acoustic punk roots that estblished the first incarnation of the Alarm in the early eighties. We also got some of these including a great version of 'Where Were Your Hiding When The Storm Broke' where the audience, as always, are showered with playing cards! Out of the new stuff, 'Be Still' was superb as was 'Without A Fight'. Unfortuantely I felt that probably too many new songs were played with Mike's five albums between 1994-2004 being completely overlooked. There was a great acoustic bit in the middle where instead of the expected 'One Step Closer To Home' Mike played a surprise version of Dave Sharp's 'Reason 41'. The show ended with 'Spirit of 76' and here I noticed that many of the audience had brought their teenage kids with them, making the age range the biggest by far I have seen for an Alarm show.
There was an early curfew of 10pm meaning we didn't get 'Blaze Of Glory;' although it was sung by the crowd.
I then headed to meet a group of friends at Wimbledon Common, some journey you may think. Not when Red Ken is mayor, as it only took 40 minutes via connections at Kings Cross, Vauxhall and a 93 bus up the hill! Splendid indeed!!
Set - Superchannel / Absolute Reality / Cease & Desist / Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? / Raindown / Right Back Where I Started From / Its Alright Its Ok / Rain In The Summertime / Be Still / Sold Me Down The River / Drunk & Disorderley / Unsafe Building / Coming Home / Reason 41 (acoustic) / Unbreak The Promise (acoustic) / Walk Forever By My Side (acoustic) / This Is The Way We Are / Rescue Me / I Never Left I Only Went Away / Decleration / Marching On / My Town / 68 Guns ///// Without A Fight / 45 RPM / Spirit Of 76
# posted by Rich @ 11:47 AM 
