Mike Peters » froglix radio

Another Big Country?

flashback, United Kingdom, videos 2 Responses »

Oct 062011

I was in Mississippi visiting my grandparents for the summer when I first heard them. I had snuck out of my room to catch Saturday Night Live and the musical guest that evening was…you guessed it…Big Country. It was their American television debut and I was completely blown away. Their sound was unlike anything I’d ever heard and, almost instantly, they became my favourite band of all time. I bought every album and, even now, listen to at least one Big Country song just about every day. I count it among one of my good fortunes in this life that I was able to watch them “grow up” as a band right before my eyes and ears and, needless to say, I was quite taken aback the day I learned of lead singer Stuart Adamson’s death. Distinctly I remember my friend Josh, a huge BC fan as well, and I commiserating, reminiscing about our favourite songs just trying to make sense of what, to us at least, was a senseless tragedy.

Fast forward to 2011. I am scanning for Facebook fodder one Friday afternoon when I happen upon a curious post from Treading Lemmings frontman Quinn. Big Country is back together? What? How could this be? Soap opera scenes of characters who had been killed off in early episodes returning after a case of mistaken identity flooded my consciousness. Is Stuart back with us and, more importantly, has he seen and/or spoken to Elvis? Inquiring minds want to know. Alas, ’tis not the case. I am somewhat perplexed to find The Alarm’s original front man, Mike Peters, has joined the band for it’s 30th Anniversary tour. Oh…and I suppose they are going to change their name to the Big Alarm now too. That’s just great!

Having not yet even heard this new incarnation of my most beloved band, I wanted to hate them. However, try as I might…I just couldn’t. I scoured YouTube for live footage of performances and was once again blown away by what I heard. Maybe not so much as before but a respectable amount of “blown awayness” for sure. Bassist Tony Butler still sounds amazing as do the other members of the band. Peters, thankfully, is not trying to be Stuart or evening like him. He’s just being himself…and it works.

“Another Country”, the track featured above, is the band’s first new single in over (12) years. It was produced by none other than Steve Lillywhite who worked with the band on their first two albums. European concert dates in the early part of 2011 gave way to additional dates in the Spring. Hopefully, they’ll be making their way across the Big Pond as I would do just about anything to be able to see these cats live.

Take a listen to the “flash forward” above and be sure to check out the band’s 2011 live performances on YouTube.

- Drago

Flashback :: The Alarm

alt-rock, alternative, flashback, modern rock, rock, videos, Wales 2 Responses »

Jul 012011

The past seven (7) days have been absolutely crazy and while there has been no time to write I could not, in could conscience, allow the sun to set on the week without the Flashback.

froglix flashback

The alt-rock explosion that emanated from across the Big Pond back in the day was spearheaded by a number of different bands with just as many different sounds. We could debate the merits of the Liverpool versus the London versus the Manchester sound until we were blue in the face. We might even find ourselves coming to blows like a couple of rowdy Hooligans at a soccer match but in the end the only thing that would be accomplished would be…well…nothing. So let’s elevate things to the country level then, shall we? It is my contention that if we are talking the UK here, and we are, the top (4) alternative band from the ’80s would be, in my humble but accurate opinion, Big Country (Scotland), U2 (Ireland), The Clash (England) and the band feature above…The Alarm from Wales–North Wales to be exact.

From their humble beginnings in 1977 as a punk band called The Toilets (good gracious, what were they thinking) to an opening act for U2 and, eventually, a headlining band, Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie MacDonald and Nigel Twist drew inspiration from their Welsh culture and channeled it into their music. Wrought with raw emotion, The Alarm’s big sound (and hair for that matter) cemented their place at the table and while the original band has been broken up for some time now, it’s hard to argue their impact on alternative music.

“Rain in the Summertime” was released in 1987 on Eye of the Hurricane (IRS Records) and also featured a couple of other Alarm classics, namely “Rescue Me” and “One Step Closer to Home.” Three (3) great songs on what would be a very strong follow up to 1984′s Declaration and 1985′s Strength. For ten (10) years these cats poured it on with classic after classic…“Sold Me Down a River”, “Love Don’t Come Easy”, “Blaze of Glory” and the timeless anthem “68 Guns.”

It was all going so well until Peters announced he was leaving the band during a performance at Brixton Academy. The crowd was stunned and his bandmates shocked. What was he thinking? I’m sure I don’t know but what I do know this; “I love to feel the rain in the summer time…”

- Drago