Live At The Gathering 2011 Review

It seems that you can count on a release of the previous years Gathering on DVD as certain as you can be sure that Xmas will fall on the 25th of December yet every year they seem to keep on getting better and better! "Live At The Gathering 2011" is no exception and contains the whole Saturday set plus highlights of the acoustic show spread across 2 DVD's and 2 CD's - a veritable feast for fans!

The first surprise is the decision to to open with "Blaze Of Glory", a track traditionally placed near the end of a gig as a crowd pleasing sing-a-long. The Gathering soon starts rocking as the band head straight into "Absolute Reality" followed by some fast and furious numbers including "Direct Action" which is a personal highlight. Mike announces "Deeside" as a song not included in the set for sometime but it fits very nicely in this one!

Mike disappears before popping up in the middle of the crowd to perform some acoustic numbers including Declarations "Shout To The Devil". Another triumphant Gathering performance is topped off with former Pistol Glen Matlock joining the band for a run through of "Pretty Vacant" (a sight that was repeated in London on the "Sound And The Fury" Tour in 2011).

All in all this is another superb performance which provides a brilliant document of the Gathering of 2001 for both  those that were there and also those that weren't! The only thing that could be improved for future live releases would be an investment in some HD camera equipment or rental to improve the sometimes fuzzy visuals. This doesn't cloud what is an essential purchase which does well at capturing a fraction of the enjoyment and atmosphere that the Gathering offers.

BUY IT HERE!

Set List


Blaze Of Glory
Absolute Reality
Release The Pressure
Alarm Calling
Unsafe Building
Direct Action
Deeside
Majority
My Town
Without A Fight
21st Century
Shout To The Devil
For Freedom
One Step Closer To Home
Strength
Superchannel
Right Back Where I Started From
The Drunk & The Disorderly
45 RPM
Spirit Of '76
Rescue Me
The Stand
Marching On
Where Were You Hiding?
Sixty Eight Guns
Fade In Fade Out Fade Away
One Guitar
Pretty Vacant (With Glen Matlock)
Rockin' In The Freeworld


Unplugged Set


Sold Me Down The River
Rain In The Summertime
High On The Hill
Unbreak The Promise
Love Hope Strength

The Trailer to the movie VINYL

'

The Trailer for the movie 'Vinyl' which is loosely based on The Alarm's 

release of '45rpm'.

The movie contains a cameo of Mike, Jules and the boys.. 

Other Great Performances filmed by Joff at The Gathering 20

                         OTHER GREAT PERFORMANCES FROM THE GATHERING 20

The Gathering 20 - Opening Speech

This is Mike's welcome address at the start of The Gathering 20, he not only gives an overview of this years events but also confirms the bands new album will be called "Vinyl". It will most likely be out in the Spring/Summer to coincide with the release of the film of the same name and will be supported by a tour from The Alarm.





FREE ROCK & ROLL!

Smiley - Smiley's Friends In High Places Review

Albums by drummers? Who would had thunk it! We do of course jest and Steve "Smiley" Barnard has gathered some of his friends together to help on on this fine release. Some names will be familiar such as Chesney Hawkes who takes the vocal on "Halcyon Days" or Mike Peters who provides backing vocals on the Madchester-esque "Stars" but many, like Kerry Schultz, are great discoveries. Kerry sings the beautifully crafted ballad "Leave You Now" whose lyrics will certainly resonate with a lot of people and also the album closer "L.O.L.A" which has nothing to do with The Kinks or cherry cola...C.O.L.A. cola!

For me stand out tracks are "So So Long" and "Hearing Is Deceiving". "So So Long is very radio friendly and would do well if programmers actually took a chance on "independent" releases. Think "Hey There Delilah" by The Plain White T's covered by The Beatles or even The Monkees or something with jangly Rickenbackers! (ok maybe not The Byrds!)

"Hearing Is Deceiving" (which is solely performed by Smiley) would be heralded a classic if it had Noel Gallagher's name attached to it.

Other tracks such as "You" would not sound out of place on today's commercial radio stations nor would the previously mentioned "Stars". This album has a lot of diverse influences and isn't afraid to wear them on it's sleeve (so to speak) and you will find a little bit of Crowded House in the mix as well which is no bad thing.

So will this album get the attention, praise and sales it deserves? I'm sad to say it won't unless someone takes a chance and puts music rather than money first. Ask your radio station to play "So So Long" who knows if enough of us do it someone might just take that chance!

Order your copy HERE!

The Gathering 20 (Sunday)

The Love Hope Strength Walkathon 

Mike Peters & The Alarm Choir

(Prestatyn Beach)

All Photos by Joff - All Rights Reserved 2012

Mike Peters & Joff

Big Country - Reissue & Tour Dates

Big Country release their classic debut album "The Crossing" in a 2 disc deluxe edition on the 6th February supported by a full tour that starts tonight in Manchester! The "Crossing The Country" tour will include a complete performance of "The Crossing" album.

THE CROSSING
01.In A Big Country
02.Inwards
03.Chance
04.A Thousand Stars
05.The Storm
06.Harvest Home
07.Lost Patrol
08.Close Action
09.Fields Of Fire
10.Porrohman
11.Balcony
12.Flag Of Nations
13.Angle Park
14.All Of Us
15.Heart And Soul
16.The Crossing
17.The Tracks Of My Tears

BONUS DISC
01.Angle Park (4 Track Demo)
02.Harvest Home (4 Track Demo)
03.We Could Laugh
04.In A Big Country (Demo Version)
05.The Storm (Demo Version)
06.Big City
07.Fields Of Fire (BBC Riverside Performance)
08.Lost Patrol (John Brandt Demo)
09.Inwards (John Brandt Demo)
10.A thousand Stars (Chris Thomas Mix)
11.Lost Patrol (Chris Thomas Mix)
12.Inwards (Chris Thomas Mix)
13.Close Action (Chris Thomas Mix)
14.Fields Of Fire (John Brandt Demo)
15.A Thousand Stars (John Brandt Demo)
16.Ring Out Bells

17.Chance (John Brandt Demo)

TOUR DATES

February 2012

3rd MANCHESTER Academy

4th LIVERPOOL O2 Academy

6th GLASGOW Barrowlands

7th DUNFERMLINE Alhambra

8th NEWCASTLE O2 Academy

9th LEEDS O2 Academy

11th LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

12th READING Hexagon

13th NORWICH UEA

15th BRISTOL O2 Academy

16th NOTTINGHAM Rock City

17th BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy

18th SHEFFIELD O2 Academy

Stiff Little Fingers Hit The Road!

SLF are on the road again in March supported by Spear Of Destiny (fingers crossed on Kirk's health after the past year - we've missed him!) . Order your tickets HERE

Dates are...

Photo All Rights Reserved niekirk (many thanks)

14th Lemon Tree ABERDEEN
16th Fat Sam's DUNDEE
17th Barrowland GLASGOW
18th O2 Academy NEWCASTLE
19th Robin 2 WOLVERHAMPTON
21st The Waterfront NORWICH
22nd The Junction CAMBRIDGE
23rd 53 Degrees PRESTON
24th O2 Academy LEEDS
26th Rock City NOTTINGHAM
27th The Assembly LEAMINGTON SPA
29th O2 Academy BRISTOL
30th HMV Forum LONDON
31st HMV Ritz MANCHESTER

The Gathering 20 (Saturday)

SET LIST SATURDAY 28th January 2012

Control

Knife Edge

Coming Home

Permanence In Change

Levi's And Bibles

No Frontiers

Hardland

The Rock

Shelter

Kill Kill Kill

Higher Call

We Are The Light

Breathe

Rain In The Summertime

Drunk & Disorderly

Sold Me Down The River

Alarm Calling

Absolute Reality

Blaze Of Glory

A New South Wales

Down The Road

Spirit Of '76

Peace Agreement

Bleed Apart

45 RPM / Free Rock & Roll

68 Guns

Walk Forever By My Side

All Photos by Joff - All Rights Reserved 2012

Craig Adams - Demon King

Craig has released his "Demon King" album which is planned to only be sold at gigs where he is playing, at a guess then you will be able to get it on The Alarm "Vinyl" tour and the as yet to be announced dates The Mission promised for this year at the very least.

So what should we expect from someone that has added distinct styles of playing to bands ranging from the Sisters Of Mercy, The Mission, The Cult, Spear Of Destiny and of course The Alarm? Well, it's not like any of these bands but at the same time it is the sum of all of them! (Well maybe not The Cult!)

Craig wrote all the music and lyrics on the album bar the lyrics to "Close My Eyes" which were provided by Dave Gregory (I'm guessing the same Dave Gregory formerly of XTC and currently the under rated Tin Spirits but I stand to be corrected!). Well...we have been corrected! It is not that Dave Gregory...it is Dave Gregory brother of Paul Gregory who was with Craig in the Expelaires. Paul is also an author who uses jottify under the name Gravyboy. Check out his novel on there (free download for i-pad and Kindle) which is called "Smoke And Mirrors"

All instruments are played by Craig and co-producer Mike Kelly except for some notable guest guitarists namely Matt Buffey, Kirk Brandon and James Stevenson who play on separate tracks before uniting on the song "Freeze".

"Demon King" opens with a short ambient piece lasting barely a minute but sets the scene for what's to come with the fair ground hustler telling us that "the louder you scream, the faster we go!"

Vocally Craig has hints of Guy Garvey of Elbow fame or at least to my ears he does! Musically however he doesn't settle on one genre. "Crying" wouldn't be out of place on a Sisters release , brooding and stripped back - you can almost picture the dry ice and white lighting! Tracks "Looking" and "Freeze" (the albums Spear Of Destiny moment) are great solid rock numbers where "Soul In Light" musically could pass for The Alarm even before the acoustics kick in! Vocally and lyrically it is a different story and is it's own master. Album closer "Lipstick Bruises" has a stark beauty which sums up the album nicely, it has a depth that will keep you coming back to it

This won't be the easiest album to find as you can't just click add to basket (though that could always change I suppose) but it is definitely worth hunting out when you head for the merchandise stall.