All roads lead North as this scribe makes the twenty-sixth consecutive January trip for a weekend of all things Alarm and Mike Peters. This one’s been hashtagged #Thiscouldbethelasttime so something was up but what exactly? As we enter the arena for the Friday nights performance it was no ordinary concert this one was more an experience. This one was with a twist, no not the original drummer but a performance split into three acts, first up – MIKE PETERS AND THE HURRICANE OF CHANGE Performing ‘DOWNSTREAM’. A bold attempt at mixing the monologue performed by Sean Jones (Blood Brothers, Macbeth) who weaved his way through the audience around the venue whilst the band played reconstructed songs from Peter’s back catalogue. ‘Newtown Jericho’ sparked the Rebecca Riots that moved through the audience that worked well. Act One closed with the Sharp classic ‘One Step Closer To Home’ which reunited Peters with original songwriter, the song always sends a shiver down my spine no matter how many times I’ve heard it tonight was particularly good.
Every year the Gathering has been split into Friday night – a looser mostly acoustic affair sometimes in the round, a more eclectic evening where Peters has attempted to push himself in different directions sometimes it worked amazingly well other more interesting or full of new unheard material but never the same. 
It’s a bit of a free shot to be fair seeing as the tables have been turned and fans have travelled from near and far to Peters home area for almost three decades and have gone with whatever has been thrown their way with Saturday being a day filled with Alarm related fanboy activities and then Saturday night is the more traditional show often of Springsteen length performances.
So, back to Hurricane Of Change whilst Sean Jones narrated using Alarm lyrics from that specific period it was interesting and it was out there as far as performances go. It was maybe something of a work in progress to be fair. Whilst it can be rehearsed you’ll never know until you get out there in front (or amongst) a live audience.
When finely tuned maybe it will work really well. Maybe something for S4C or BBC to do on TV where it can be cut and edited where the idea would be amazing. Rather than just knock out an acoustic show (which would have been suffice and safe) Peters doesn’t do safe so I’d take this every night of the week. A Bold and brave move and certainly interesting viewing.
I’m not particularly a fan of bands who chew up their back catalogue (usually) to keep it interesting for themselves and the audience but I guess the old adage of damned if you do would certainly apply to the Gathering. Play the same old same old year after year might please many so I get why this has been split into three parts tonight and as ambitious as it is. It’s cool to see it first and maybe next time it’ll be tweaked and be a lot smoother but that’s no criticism. it is a lot to take in and it was great to see Dave Sharp make another cameo appearance as he joined in with tonight’s band -that saw George Williams playing keys and bass for the performance alongside Smiley, James and Jules.
If I had to pick a favourite moment To be fair part three was excellent, people held up cards with a song request on it and Peters played it. Tonight we got some songs that he hasn’t played in a while and it was great to hear old classics like ‘Lie Of The Land’ and especially ‘What Kind Of Hell’.
The elephant in the room had nothing to do with music tonight with it being the 31st of January. We were reminded that tonight was Brexit and at eleven Big ben would bong. A moment marked on the big screens. Not particularly something many gave a shit about and it would seem more didn’t even want but on the hour Big Ben bonged and it was a bit of a deflator to be honest even if the ridiculousl=ness was poignantly marked by playing Python. Going back to what was a highlight from tonight was it seemed right to play ‘Day The Ravens Left The Tower’ and ‘The Deceiver’ back to back and then to follow it up with a rousing ‘Rocking In The Free World’ which only left ‘Walk Forever By My Side’ and the classic ’68 Guns’ to close the Friday night. A pretty decent opener for the weekend to be fair, bring on a good night’s sleep and see what the Saturday night brings. ITs always a pleasure to be in Venue Cymru on Gathering Friday.
For those early birds, you can fill your day totally fanboying out on all things Mike Peters and the Alarm I’d recommend it at least once it can be great fun and a good way to meet and greet friends old and new.
The doors swing open at 10.00 when 21st Century Film – SECRET CINEMA is in operation with a secret screening of a life-saving show that fans will only have ever seen in the theatre. This is followed by the annual Alarm Mastermind with Modnuss Modnusson (hardcore nurds need only apply) this quiz isn’t easy and under the full glare of the light and all the fellow Gatherers watching it can be daunting even for the most hardcore Alarm fanboys and girls. This is then followed by a Keynote Address from Mike Peters that I’m aware was to announce the details of next year’s plans with no annual Gathering in Llandudno in January or at least not as we’ve come to know it but a string of summer shows to celebrate 40 years of Alarm music.
Then at 6 pm the lucky 300 are let in early where details of record store day release is unveiled as well as questions from the floor and a chance for a young girl to request ‘One Guitar’ which Peters duly plays and Compare Gareth Jones (Gaz Top) invites the young lady up to play the tambourine and make her weekend. The stuff dreams are made of for all of us music fans never mind a young child. There was also a new track premiered as always so much to take in. Peters and The Alarm show no signs of winding down or easing up with the next 18 months being mapped out already.
The doors then swing open for the evening’s extravaganza where Dave Sharp plays his solo set before The latest set up of the Alarm take the stage for another extraordinary evening of Rock and Roll from Peters past. Sure it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t get ’68 Guns’ or the blistering ‘Deeside’ and as newer songs rub shoulders with the “old” classics. ‘Cenotaph’ and ‘Neutral’ sound great alongside ‘Superchannel’ and ‘My Town’. Sure there have been unbelievable Gatherings like when Coloursound rocked up and almost took the roof off the venue way back in time or the more recent epic four-hour set. The line ups have changed and I’m sure we’ve all had our favourites but tonight Peters is as passionate as ever leaving nothing behind in the changing room and playing as passionately as the first gathering or the twenty-first the man is indeed an inspiration. Smiley is like a machine in the engine room hammering away on his kit the most Moon the loon like drummer out there and great to watch. He looks like he’s having the best time of his life every time he sits behind his kit. The longest member other than Peters is James Stevenson who has left his own unique stamp on some of the classic tunes as well but I can’t help but feel I’d love to hear him just play the guitar – there’s something about the traditional lineup and I can’t help it but I do miss Adams thump on that bass. I know times change and accept that this is where The Alarm is now and accept it – I’m sure it’ll evolve again someday it all makes for a rich tapestry and I’m not one of the fans who crave the original line up. Sure I’d love to see a set for old times sake but we’ve moved on and that’s also cool. We almost certainly wouldn’t have had 45 RPM from that lineup nor songs like ‘Two Rivers’ so swings and roundabouts and its what makes attending this weekend such a buzz.
I’ve always looked forward to heading North every year and wondering what might unfold. The Gatherings in Pontins were different but Venue Cymru is the spiritual home and it feels right. I will no doubt miss it come next January but the recent announcement of St Davids Hall, Rhyl and Prestatyn something to look forward to as we go back to the real intimate shows which will no doubt be brilliant. The Gathering has been unique events with some real hard work to mix it up by team MPO some have worked amazingly well other maybe not. I used to enjoy the impromptu late-night Clash sets in the Hydro with people like MTV Alex Coletti turning up or when Steve Diggle was steaming and giving it to the tories (God Blass Him) From the Venue Cymru. My favourite was Coloursound and as far as line ups go When Craig Adams (The Mission), Mark Taylor (Lords Of The New Church), Smiley and James Stevenson they were an unstoppable force who were a match for any live band on any stage.
Hopefully, this wasn’t the last Gathering in this format it can’t be. I tip my hat to Jules and everyone who puts this together because there isn’t anything quite like it and I simply don’t want it to end, what will I do every January? Love Hope & Strength to you all and keep on keeping yourselves alive. Life-affirming and another immense weekend of performances.
Author: Dom Daley
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