On Stage (Extra): Don’t be Alarmed, but he’s back

Alarm frontman hits area with Spirit of ’86

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

For the second year in a row, The Alarm’s front man Mike Peters is coming to America to do a solo show of material made popular by the veteran Welsh band.

On September 7, Peters will present “The Alarm – Spirit Of ’86” at the World Café Live at the Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 302- 994-1400, www.queen.worldcafelive.com). He will also be bringing the show to the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) on September 9.

Formed in Wales in 1981 by lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Peters, The Alarm came to be known for uplifting songs, idealistic values and a powerhouse live show.  With major hits such as “The Stand,” Sixty-Eight Guns,” “Strength” and more, The Alarm were staples on the radio worldwide in the 1980s.

“Give Me Love, Give Me Hope, Give Me Strength” were the opening words of The Alarm’s 1985 international Top 40 hit song “Strength,” which gave its name to the band’s career bes-selling album.

Last year, to mark the 30th anniversary of “Strength,” the entire album was re-arranged and re-recorded by Peters to create a brand-new listening experience.

Then, Peters brought it on the road — by himself.  This year, he is repeating the format on an ambitious tour of North America.

“I’m quite a versatile performer — a one-man band,” said Peters, during a phone interview Thursday morning from his home Mynydd y Mor (loosely translated from Welsh as “Mountain and Sea”) in Dyserth, Wales.

“In this show, I’m on my own and I sound like a band. I have microphones all over the stage, loops and mixers. I have a drum kit I play with my feet. It’s a huge sound. I’m performing all kinds of things because I’m in control of it all the time. It’s very fluid.

“My sets range from 90 minutes to two-and-a-half hours and even to five hours.  It’s great to be flexible to be able to create an event that is engaging to the audience even without a full band. And, it shows how the songs have grown and how the music is still alive.”

The focus of this tour is one special show from 30 years ago. On April 12, 1986, The Alarm teamed up with MTV, I.R.S. Records, and UCLA’s Campus Events to present one of the first live satellite broadcasts of a rock concert.

“There was a DVD of that show bit the sound wasn’t very good when it first put out,” said Peters. “It never came out as a stand-alone CD release — but it was bootlegged. When I went back to it recently, I was able to re-mix the concert and give it a fresh coat of paint.

“Fortunately, it was a multi-track recording so I was able to get pretty good results with my re-mixing. That show was probably The Alarm at its highest point. That was the best show in our history.”

No-one is better qualified to offer historical assessments of The Alarm.

“I was always the journalist of the band,” said Peters. “I documented everything. I kept diaries and logged everything I can tell you that we played Ripley’s with a Philadelphia band named after one of our songs — ‘The Stand.’

“We played Philly with Bob Dylan on July 5, 1988. We had a gig at the Tower in 1980 and we also did a show at the Spectrum with Pat Benatar. I reflect on all these things whenever I return to Philadelphia.”

The popularity on the music made by Peters and The Alarm years ago has never waned.

“I’ve been surprised at how well the new projects have been received by our audience — especially the core audience,” said Peters. “These songs have grown with my life. The line in the lyrics of the song ‘Strength’ — ‘Who will be the life blood coursing through my veins’ — that was even before I knew I had cancer.”

Peters, a two- time cancer survivor, has become one of the most visible advocates and activists for those living with and beating cancer around the world. Over the last four years, his Love Hope Strength Foundation has found more than 2000 potentially life-saving bone marrow donor matches; built the first ever children’s cancer center in Tanzania; supported the Bhaktapur Cancer Center in Nepal with life-saving equipment and registered over 90,000 donors through it’s “Get On the List” program.

“We have a booth at concerts where we do a cheek swab to see if we can find bone marrow donors,” said Peters. “We got 27 matches just from tables we had set up during a tour by Linkin Park.”

Although Peters, is constantly fighting the illness himself, he refuses to stop performing. Instead, he mixes his role as cancer advocate and musician by leading fundraising treks around the Globe.

Peters’ inspirational story and musical exploits to perform awareness raising concerts at altitude on mountains such as Everest and Kilimanjaro (all while undergoing bi-monthly chemotherapy sessions), will be the focus of a new documentary film “One Guitar.”

“I was forced out of rock-and-roll at times because of the cancer and the treatments,” said Peters. “It’s an ongoing illness that I’ll have for the rest of my life. I might need a stem cell treatment later in my life.

“But, I’ve been able to step outside — to fight through cancer and come through as a better person. My health is good. I’ll always have treatments but I’m feeling good.

“The latest is an experimental drug called Idelalisib. I take my chemo with me wherever I go and administer it twice a day. It might be with me for the rest of my life but that’s fine with me. Where there is a will, there is a way.”

Video link for Mike Peters — https://youtu.be/N79YuvbHzIU.

The show at the Queen will get underway at 8 p.m. with tickets are priced at $22. The concert in Sellersville will start at 8 p.m. with tickets priced at $21.50 and $29.50.

The Loving Mary Band started with four singer-songwriters and evolved into a six-piece band for both recording and touring. The band will soon release its debut full-length album “Little Bit of Love” on Sony Music/RED.

Formed in Nashville, the Loving Mary Band is features four singer/songwriter/producers and two musicians — each with a long list of impressive credits.

Lead vocalist/guitarist Marti Fredriksen has written and produced hits songs for Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Carrie Underwood and many more.  He also sang all vocal parts in the mythical band Stillwater from the Cameron Crowe movie, “Almost Famous.”

Lead vocalist/harmonica player Suzie McNeil is best known as the last girl standing from the TV show, “Rock Star: INXS,” and has had a successful solo recording career in her native Canada. 

Lead vocalist/bassist Rebecca Lynn Howard is a two-time Grammy Award winner and ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year nominee.  She has had Number One-charting singles in America and Australia. 

Mandolinist/banjo player Elisha Hoffman co-wrote the well-loved song “Give in to Me” from the motion picture “Country Strong” and has several Number One international hits. 

Rounding out the Loving Mary Band are respected drummer Sarah Tomek, who has played with artists such as Jon Bon Jovi, and veteran guitarist Andrew Mactaggart.

This assemblage of musical talent has both rock and country swirling through its musical DNA.

Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler began a side project a year ago. In April 2015, Tyler made a surprise appearance at the Grand Ole Opry to announce the release of his upcoming debut solo country album. The first single from the record, “Love Is Your Name” came out last summer.

Tyler was not content with playing country music just in the studio. He wanted to take his new music on the road. When he decided to perform the songs live, he needed a band and Loving Mary Band filled the bill perfectly.

Tyler’s “Out on a Limb” tour,” which features him singing and Loving Mary Band supplying the music, will visit the area on September 7 for a show at the Tower Theater (69th and Ludlow streets, Upper Darby, 215-922-1011, www.thetowerphilly.com).

“We were all songwriters in Nashville,” said McNeil, during a phone interview Wednesday. “A few years, I was on a reality TV show — ‘Rock Star: INXS’ — and wanted to do songwriting.

“I knew Marti and we had both done songwriting with Rebecca. We thought that it would be a great idea to do a band with her. She was into it — and so was her husband (Andrew Mactaggart).

“Elisha, Marti, Rebecca and I are songwriters. We started writing together and dove right into it. Suddnely, we came up with a sound without needing to. In May 2014, we went to a songwriting festival in Key West and did well there.

“Marti owns a recording studio in Nashville and that’s where we record. We kept picking away at making the album and finished it just before this tour. The first limited pressing was in June and the proper release will be at the end of October. We also have the album available on this tour was a limited-edition CD.”

Frederiksen has worked with numerous acts including Mick Jagger, Miley Cyrus, Ozzy Osbourne, Jonny Lang, Meat Loaf, Sheryl Crow, Vince Neil, Richie Sambora and Ace Frehley.

More importantly, Frederiksen has worked with Aerosmith for more than two decades. He has co-written several of Aerosmith’s songs, including four on “Nine Lives,” 10 on “Just Push Play,”

He also co-produced the “Just Push Play” album, and the bonus tracks on “O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits.” Frederiksen produced and co-wrote “It Feels So Good” on Tyler’s  solo album.

“Our hookup with Steven goes back years,” said McNeil. “Marti worked a lot with Aerosmith and co-wrote some of their hits. When Steven had a show in Washington a year-and-a-half ago, he needed a guitarist and called Marti.

“Marti told him — I can play with you and I have a band that can play. It was a great co-incidence that Steven was doing a solo career and needed a band like us. Having three girls in the band keeps it away from being like Aerosmith.

“We did that show in D.C. and then we did a corporate show with him. Those two shows were acoustic. Our first electric show was about a year ago and we were nervous.

“We’ve done a lot of shows with Steven since then. On this tour, we’re also headlining on our shows on some of the nights Steven doesn’t have a show. We never open for him. On this tour, we’re just his band.”

Video link for Loving Mary Band with Steven Tyler — https://youtu.be/MXwmyM20MT8.

The show at the Tower Theater will start at 8 p.m. Tickets prices range from $39.50 to $149.95.

There is no need for patrons to be forewarned. Fans heading to Kung Fu Necktie (1248 North Front Street, Philadelphia, 215-291-4919, www.kungfunecktie.com) on September 5 know exactly what to expect when the bands start playing.

Kung Fu Necktie hosting the “In Sight of Days Sinking 2016 Tour” featuring Child Bite, Lord Dying, Black Fast and Heavy Coughin. So, fans are ready for an evening of music that is loud and aggressive…and very much on the heavy side.

Child Bite — Shawn Knight (vocals), Sean Clancy (bass), Brandon Sczomak (guitar) and Jeff Kraus (drums) — makes records for Housecore Records, a label known for heavy acts…acts that span a variety of hardcore and metal genres.

“What genre are we in — we don’t even know,” said Knight, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “We’ll go out on tour with anybody. That’s the cool thing with this band — being able to blur lines and mix genres.

“On this tour, Lord Dying is the headliner. We try not to headline shows because we’re a small band that not many people know yet. So, we jump on a lot of other bands’ tours and play shorter, more compact sets.

“We’ve played Kung Fu Necktie about four or five times over the last two years opening for a lot of different bands. We’re like a bad case of the clap. We keep coming back — and there is no medicine for it.

Child Bite is touring in support of its new album “Negative Noise,” which came out on April 1.

“We recorded the album about a year ago,” said Knight. “We did the album down at Phil Anselmo’s place in Louisiana. It took awhile because we’ve been touring so much. Our previous album was ‘The Living Breathing Organ Summer LP’ in 2010.

“In between albums, we’ve been doing EPs and splits (split singles with other bands) until it was time to make an album. We wrote most of the songs right before we went into the studio. We’ve been writing all along but we used other songs for the EPs and singles. With the new album, everything happened in four months.

“The current line-up has been together for awhile. Jeff is the newest member and he’s been with us three years. Brandon has been in the band six years and Sean has been around pretty much since the beginning.

“For us, writing is a full-on collaborative thing. No-one comes in with a fully completed song. We have parts and we bounce ideas off each other. Everyone contributes to every song.”

Child Bite took a different path when making “Negative Noise.”

“We did a pre-production demo — which we had never done before,” said Knight. “We wanted to give Phil (Anselmo) and idea of what we were bringing so he could get familiar with the songs.

“We never worked with a producer before. Phil said come on down to our place and we did. One thing led to another and he offered to produce the album for us. We were all familiar with his work and really loved what he had done. I’m glad we were able to work with him.

“On this tour, we’re playing mostly songs from the new album. But, we’re also doing some songs from ‘Strange Waste,’ which was an EP we recorded in 2014.”

Video link for Child Bite — https://youtu.be/Gz3mYeQ2fog.

The show at Kung Fu Necktie, which also features Lord Dying, Black Fast and Heavy Coughin, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.

Valley Queen, which visits the area on September 6 for a show at the World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, philly.worldcafelive.com), has been compared to Fleetwood Mac — frequently described as “Fleetwood Mac’s country cousin” — and that’s O.K. with Valley Queen’s band members.

Like Fleetwood Mac, Valley Queen — Natalie Carol – Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar; Neil Wogensen – Bass/Vocals; Shawn Morones – Guitar/Vocals; Gerry Doot – Drums — Queen features male and female vocals, sweet harmonies and well-crafted songs.

According to a bio from the band’s publicist, “Valley Queen’s Carol leads a band reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac and My Morning Jacket with lead vocals evocative of Florence Welch. Their sound brings to mind the soul of Motown and the power of southern rock.’

“We love Fleetwood Mac so it’s a real honor,” said Carol, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon as the band travelled from a gig in Chicago to a show in Cincinnati.

“We all live in L.A. now, I’m from Little Rock, Arkansas but I’ve been living in L.A. for eight year. The rest of the guys are California dudes. Neil and I have been playing music together for six years. We met through a very small music scene at a small college we went to in L.A. We were going to Loyola Marymount and I was an art history major. Shawn has been in the band for a year-and-a-half. The drummer has been a bit of a revolving door but now Gerry has been working out really well.”

The band has been taking its recording work at a steady pace.

“We put out two singles about two years ago,” said Carol. “That was the first time we worked with our producer Lewis Pesacov, who is in the band Fool’s Gold. We met him through a friend and he agreed to work with us. He has been a real guiding force in our sound.”

Valley Queen released its latest single “In My Place” along with the track “High Expectations” on Stereogum via Canvasclub on August 12.

“We have recorded a full-length album but we’ve just been releasing the songs as singles,” said Carol. “We just put out two singles with Canvasclub that are part of the album. We have all these other songs that are completing the thought for a debut album.”

The band’s latest video “My Man” was premiered by Noisey.

According to Noisey, “Natalie Carol’s vocals had tones that shiver in all the perfect places.” The website also praised the song “that smacks of rolling hills and freeform dancing, a kind of pop imbued with Laurel Canyon’s vapors and alt-country angles and a top down free spiritedness.”
Over the past year, Valley Queen has opened for Lucero, LP, Laura Marling and The Greyhounds. It has also headlined shows at Pappy and Harriet’s in Joshua Tree, the Echo Park Rising Festival and Broke LA Festival in Los Angeles and performed well-received shows at the 2015 CMJ Music Marathon in NYC and 2016 SXSW in Austin.

“Right now, we have about 20 songs in our live repertoire,” said Carol. “We have done a few tours but not national ones. We just started working with a new booking agency and they’re stepping up our touring schedule. We’ll be on tours this month, in October and November and again in January. The show next week will be our first time to play Philadelphia and we’re excited about that.”

Video link for Valley Queen — https://youtu.be/aADmLurtF-8

The show at the world Café Live, which also featured Maybird, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 day of show.