The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
ROCKTALK GIG GUIDE
Alt-rock legend Mike Peters reckons there couldn’t be a more apt moment to celebrate one of his most politically charged albums.
The Welsh troubadour’s at Perth Theatre next Saturday to play stripped down highlights from Change, The Alarm’s 1989 LP that paid homage to their native land via such hard-hitting anthems as Devolution Working Man Blues and A New South Wales.
He’ll also honour the Rhyl outfit’s 1987 opus Eye Of The Hurricane, which included top 20 hit Rain In The Summertime. “I’ve played both albums independently of each other but never together,” Mike, 60, reveals.
“Change is as relevant today lyrically as it ever was, especially when in 89 the Berlin Wall was coming down and we were integrating more into Europe.
“Now it’s the opposite but it’s still an amazing time of change and everybody’s perceptions of the world are having to be rethought.
“It’s incredible the parallels from 1989 to 2019. It’s uncanny.”
Mike quit the original Alarm in 1991 but in recent years he’s completed a string of albums with a new line-up. Their fourth LP in just two years, Sigma, was released earlier this year.
Despite his prolific output, he insists he doesn’t feel a need to write about issues like Brexit. “I feel like I tackled it in 1989 when I was writing Sold Me Down The River and No Frontiers,” Mike laughs.
“They still sound like brand new songs when I play them solo. I certainly don’t feel like I’m stepping back into a time capsule to live out some fantasy of the 1980s.”
Fans can also look forward to hearing classics from 1988 live album Electric Folklore, plus a few surprises. “There’s a few songs I want to play that weren’t recorded at the time,” adds Mike, who fronted Big Country for two years earlier
this decade.
“They were written in that period when it was an uncertain time for The Alarm. All of a sudden we’d gone from being kids to being adults with responsibilities.
“That brought a different dynamic and we were having to accept each other as different people again. We had some difficulties and I almost felt I couldn’t put forward some of the songs to the band at the time.
“Now when I play them within the context of today the songs bring something to the table as well.
“Future Alarm songs are going to be born on this tour and I’m really excited about the adventure it offers.”
Tickets £19.50 via horsecross.co.uk
z Beat Generator hosts Declan Welsh and The Decadent West on Tuesday.
Since arriving in 2018 the fiery Glasgow four-piece have built a strong following hungry for songs railing against toxic masculinity and right-wing extremism.
Singles off their debut album Cheaply Bought Expensively Sold have attracted copious airtime and they’re joined on a strong bill by Perth prodigies Parliamo and art-rockers Fauves.
Tickets £8 from Groucho’s in Dundee and Ticketmaster.
z Folk legends Rod Clements and Rab Noakes hit Kinross’s Green Hotel on Sunday.
Tyneside’s acoustic circuit launched the Lindisfarne frontman and the Fife-born songsmith in the 60s. Armed with a horde of anecdotes, the pair are toasting their shared roots via career highlights and classic covers.
Tickets £19.40 from Ticketweb.
Green Hotel has countryrocker Bob Cheevers on Thursday.
The Austin-based Emmy winner opened for all-time great Johnny Cash on his final tour in 1997 and landed a prestigious Texas Music Award in 2011.
Tickets £13.10 via Ticketweb.
It’s metallers Immortal Omen, Kryss Talmeth Experience and Cerberon at Church tonight – entry £7 – with power rock at Ward Road on Sunday courtesy of Uproar, Dancing With Dakota, Neshiima and King Kobalt. Tickets £6.60 via See Tickets.
Clarks hosts Scots 60sinfluenced veterans The Pearlfishers on Thursday.
Formed in 1989, the David Scott-led combo have released nine albums, including new set Love And Other Hopeless Things. Tickets £15 from the venue and Grouchos.
Glasgow pop duo Hyyts play Church next Friday, with support from Magnum Haus – née Model Aeroplanes – and R’N’B maestro Thomas Gerard. Tickets £8.80 via gigsinscotland.com
Dunfermline’s PJ Molloys has rising Fifers Trading Glances tonight and Oasis homage Stop The Clocks tomorrow. Tickets £7/£8 via Ticketweb.
Diverse noiseniks Depeche Choad, Volcano X, Casper Heyzeus and Queequeg’s Coffin hit Conroy’s Basement tomorrow. Entry’s £4.
Synth exponents Kendama are at Conroy’s on Sunday with Blind Unicorn and The Exempt. Tickets £5 via Big Cartel.
Dundee eccentrics Hipgnomes, The Bad Kissers and Sean Findlay rock Church tomorrow. Entry’s £8.
Phil Lynott tribute Twin Lizzy blitz Green Hotel next Friday. Tickets £21.50 via Ticketweb.