Gig: 5/13/1983, The Alarm, Birmingham Polytechnic

ZIGZAG 1983 INTERVIEW Amidst the general hubbub of the cozy North London pub the video screen suddenly dominated proceedings for mine eyes (only), twisting unexpectedly from the Birmingham Crossroads Motel to its London counterpart, The Bat Cave. The volume was fortunately never louder than the chink of glasses and dosser conversation but as I sat at the back quietly sipping my cocoa I began to feel quite bilious at the [read more]

This is the kind of record that could only come from a young band. Determined, committed and naive, the five songs on this EP have all the hallmarks of idealistic youth: simple, forceful music, rambling strings of earnestly poetic images and the conviction that speaking out just might change a few things. And like Bob Dylan, U2 or the Clash, these four young Welshmen pull it off. The Alarm don’t [read more]

Their first album in two years is touted as showing these four Welshmen exploring their Celtic roots. Turns out though that what they’ve really been exploring is how to sound like their old mates U2. In particular the new single Rain In Summertime could have been an outtake from Joshua Tree. Not only has vocalist Mike Peters got his Bono imitation off pat but song titles like Jericho and Hallowed [read more]