Big Country

I saw the great Scottish rock band Big Country on their tour in 2011. They had many of the original members and I have been a big fans since my dad played me their album The Crossing. That was their big break out album in the United States and included the brilliantly produce smash hit “In a Big Country” which has been a radio standard since.

The band showed their age a little bit but they still had a ton of energy. The crowd was also pretty old butt they were all thrilled to see the band play. They did not play a very long set, but it was packed full of all their hits and actually some new songs. They did tell everyone they were working on a new album that might come out in several years. Those songs were really pretty good.

They closed with “In a Big Country” and the crowd sang along every time the chorus came on. They also were able to mimic the bagpipe sounds of the original recording on their guitars they had. It really did sound like the album and record. They did an encore of a cover song. Everyone left in a good mood, probably thinking about the 1980’s.

They can perhaps best be described as U2’s younger brother that never quite kicked off, but was forced to remain in its elder brother’s giant shadow of success. Musically speaking, The Alarm are as every bit brilliant as many of their 80s contemporaries: they possess an authentic, 80s style swag for rock and every single member is a genius at his instrument. They are a delight to watch live and, although they never quite reached the dizzying heights of acts such as U2 and Bob Dylan (both of whom they have performed with), it nonetheless felt like I was watching a legend on stage, transported back from the 80s in a glorious haze. Opening with biggest hit, ‘68 guns’, The Alarm immediately established themselves as serious rockers, the likes of which are hard pressed to find today. Comprising of members Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams Smiley and Mark Taylor, the band rocked it on stage in a way that let the audience know they were professionals: rock veterans. Their set, which can be described as a form of new wave or alternative rock, included hits such as ‘Rain in the summertime’ and ‘The stand’ which had the audience begging for more.