Mike Peters in Concert
TT The Bears
Cambridge, MA
October 10, 1998
by Steven Stuart Baldwin
Theatre actors use the expression "completely in the moment" to
refer to actors who are so present, compelling and convincing in a role
that they seem utterly genuine, i.e., the real thing. It's one of the highest
compliments you can pay an actor. It's also a gift that Mike Peters shares.
His performance in front of an enthusiastic audience in Cambridge Massachusetts
proves irrevocably that Mike Peters is a consummate performer. God has
given him an appreciable gift of performing music, and he does so with
incredible stage presence and personal charm. He engages the audience in
conversations, thanks guests, smiles, shouts, and seems at all times thoroughly
pleased to be performing. Many musicians aspire to such camaraderie, but
Peters delivers these rare qualities seemingly without effort. It's no
wonder his fans adore him. His ability makes sense of a nonsensical claim
like "charming the pants off a rattlesnake."
You may remember Mike Peters as the lead singer for The Alarm back
in the Eighties. Perhaps you also heard the rumor that he quit the band
from the stage. Knowing both of these things helps you understand that
Peters is a person so passionate that you can plainly hear it in his urgent
voice. Technically, Peters may not be doing duets with Pavarotti anytime
soon. Nevertheless, he still sounds as good as he did in his younger days,
hitting all the same notes and generating great import in every uttered
word. The emotional landscapes he creates with his scratchy powerful baritone
are worthy of exploration, conjuring images of both the Wild West
and seaside Welsh towns. For a Welshman, Peters has always been fascinated
with the U.S. American West. He even beat U2 to his brand of the Joshua
Tree by at least three years (undoubtedly further fueling some fans'
claims that Peters' band was always the better one).
For the last four years, Peters has created and released a series
of solo albums that have yet to get their proper due. The latest, Rise,
was just released in the United States, finally allowing you to find it
in a store near you. Those lucky British Islanders have been enjoying it
for months, but they often seem a step ahead of us, anyway. On all three
albums Peters has taken the basic Alarm style and fleshed it out with a
variety of other influences from gospel to hip hop. If you were a fan of
The Alarm's brighter moments, you'll find many more of them here in Peter's
solo work.
Although Peters has surrounded himself with a number of talented
musicians on these albums, none of them are currently touring with him.
This may come as a surprise, but his current show is solo acoustic. If
you dismiss this tour as some kind of folk thing, however, you'll be sadly
missing out. Peters plays the acoustic guitar with such gutsy strumming
that aggressive acoustic is a more appropriate moniker. Of course, The
Alarm was always aggressively acoustic, and Peters continues this tradition
in concert sans band. Given his skills as a solo performer, you'll be mesmerized.
The energy he can create from the stage "all on his lonesome" is incredible.
Whether you are a fan of his recent solo work, the oldies from the
good old Alarm days, or both, there was something for everyone in this
show. Depending on how you credit them, he played at least ten Alarm songs,
which were easy crowd pleasers causing the most boisterous sing-along antics.
The one-two- three-four KO punch of "We Are the Light," "Marching On,"
"Spirit of ‘76" and a slight turn at "Blaze of Glory" would be a hard act
for anyone to follow. Gratefully, nobody had to, and Mike Peters appeared
perfectly ready, willing, and able to play another hour or so if the pub
hadn't booted everyone out. After two hours, the party had yet to reach
its peak, and Peters certainly left the audience satisfied yet wanting
more.
Truthfully, there was nary a dull moment. This was partially helped
by the fact that he brought a few accompanying tracks to fill out the sound
on a few songs. The use of such modern technology contributed rather than
hindered the overall effect on songs like "White Noise" from Rise.
Other highlights included the upbeat and catchy choruses of "My Calling"
and "Feel Free" from his Feel Free album, "Levis & Bibles" and
"Breathe" from the Breathe album, and "One Step Closer to Home,"
which Peters claims is his favorite Alarm song. It was also written by
former Alarm guitarist, Dave Sharp, who has spent most of his time in New
Orleans lately, but happens to be on tour in the
U.K. presently.
Since you are reading this on a web page, special attention should
also be payed to Peters' policy for emailed song requests. Apparently,
he solicits input from his fans through his web page, and then plays as
many of those requests as he can when he comes to your town. For your friends
without access (that wouldn't be you since you're reading this online)
a sign-up sheet at the front door has the same effect. As a result of the
heavy influence on requests, the show was chock-full of dedications. The
most obscure was probably "Thoughts of a Young Man," which was the B-side
to "Sixty-Eight Guns." The most requested song, "Walk Forever by My Side,"
went out to a dozen couples celebrating anniversaries or on the verge of
getting married. This sort of thing drives some fans crazy, but further
proves Peters' penchant for the personal touch. (In case you wondered,
my request for his alternative cover of the rap song "The Message" went
unheard. I bear no grudges. He may play that when he tours with his new
band Coloursound later this year.)
Best of all, Peters music is so full of hope and encouragement,
that even his smile becomes contagious. He can pen sour songs when he chooses,
but he prefers songs offered straight-up, uncut and completely overflowing
with positive energy. From Peters' perspective, no matter how bleak and
dark things get, there are always second chances. Many of his songs allude
to a spirituality that is deeply affected if not completely rooted in Biblical
Christianity. Consequently, even his castigations of contemporary woes
are balanced by ardent messages of faith, hope, and love.
Sometimes the breakup that sends a band to their deathbed also kills
the careers of the former members. Mike Peters deserves to be that rare
exception. Without a band and in a dank smokey bar, he offers his best
work with nothing but a guitar and the occasional background track to accompany
him. His combination of sweaty hard work, passion, faith and a hearty heap-load
of hope have kept him trucking. Soon he'll be pulling up in a town near
you. Don't miss him.
Set List:
