Release The Pressure Tour Part 14: York - Duchess - 29th April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Absolute Reality, Superchannel, Marching On, Alarm Calling, Rain In The Summertime, Change 111, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Drunk & Disorderly, Release The Pressure, Blaze of Glory, Strength, Rescue Me, 45 RPM, 68 Guns.

The encores were:

Walk Forever By My Side, Spirit of 76, One Guitar, My Town, Rocking In The Free World, Love Hope & Strength – Blaze of Glory (reprise) – Love Hope & Strength.

The Videos

The Alarm Calling


Rescue Me


One Guitar


Thanks to Chinners for the vids.

Release The Pressure Tour Part 13: Nottingham - Rescue Rooms - 28th April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Absolute Reality, Loaded, Marching On, Rain In The Summertime, Superchannel, Drunk & Disorderly, Change 111, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Release The Pressure, Blaze of Glory, Strength, Rescue Me, 45 RPM, 68 Guns – Rocking In The Free World – 68 Guns.

The encores were:

Walk Forever By My Side, Spirit of 76, One Guitar, Love Hope & Strength – Blaze of Glory (reprise) – Love Hope & Strength, Knocking On Heaven’s Door.

The Videos
Rain in the Summertime


Walk Forever By My Side


Spirit of 76

Release The Pressure Tour Part 12: Hertford - Corn Exchange - 27th April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Absolute Reality, Alarm Calling, Declare Yourself An Unsafe Building, Marching On, Kill Kill Kill!, Rain In The Summertime, Change 111, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Drunk & Disorderly, Blaze of Glory, Release The Pressure, Strength, Rescue Me. 68 Guns - 45 RPM - 68 Guns.

The encores were:

Spirit of 76, One Guitar, Love Hope & Strength – Blaze of Glory (reprise) – Love Hope & Strength.

The Video(s)
Change III


All pictures once again from Mr Ploppy & MPO

Release The Pressure Tour Part 11: Ebbw Vale - Leisure Centre - 25th April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Absolute Reality, Alarm Calling, Marching On, Drunk & Disorderly, Rain In The Summertime, Bells of Rhymney, My Town, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Blaze of Glory, Release The Pressure, Strength, Spirit of 76, Rescue Me – Rocking In The Free World – Rescue Me, 45 RPM – Blitzkrieg Bop – 45 RPM, 68 Guns.

The encores were:

New South Wales, One Guitar, Love Hope & Strength, Blaze Of Glory (reprise).

The Videos

The Alarm Calling


Marching On


Bells of Rhymney


Release the Pressure (Economic Pressure)


Spirit of 76


45RPM


New South Wales

Release The Pressure Tour Part 10: London - Islington O2 Academy - 24th April 2010

Prior to the show at at The Islington O2 Mike took part in 'Direct Chat' on Facebook with fans from all over the UK, Europe & the USA. He spent more than an hour answering questions posted before dashing off to get the set list ready for another night of Alarmingly good rock and roll!



The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Absolute Reality, Alarm Calling, Marching On, Loaded, Rain In The Summertime, Change 111, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Drunk & Disorderly, Blaze of Glory, Release The Pressure, Strength, Spirit of 76 – Anarchy In The UK – Spirit of 76, Rescue Me, 45 RPM – Rocking In The Free World – 45 RPM, 68 Guns.

The encores were:

One Guitar, Love Hope & Strength, Blaze Of Glory (reprise).

The Video(s)

Rain in the Summertime


Strength


One Guitar (with Willie Nile)


All photos in these blogs about the 'Release the Pressure Tour' are courtesy of the amazing Mr Ploppy & MPO

Release The Pressure Tour Part 9: Southampton - The Brook - 23rd April 2010

After a couple of days delay due to the volcanic ash from Iceland Willie Nile finally made his 'Release the Pressure Tour' debut.

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Absolute Reality, Alarm Calling, Marching On, My Town, Rain In The Summertime, Change 111, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Drunk & Disorderly, Blaze of Glory, Release The Pressure, Strength, We Are The Light, Spirit of 76, Rescue Me.

The first encores were:

45 RPM, 68 Guns - London Calling (intro only) – Rocking In The Free World – 68 Guns.

The second encores were:

One Guitar, Love Hope & Strength (with Willie Nile joining the band for both songs), Blaze Of Glory (reprise).

The final encore was:

Walk Forever By My Side.

The Videos

Willie Nile - One Guitar


The Alarm
Absolute Reality



Marching On


The Drunk and the Disorderly


Strength


One Guitar (with Willie Nile)

Release The Pressure Tour Part 8: Cambridge - The Junction - 22nd April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Absolute Reality, Alarm Calling, Marching On, Kill Kill Kill, Rain In The Summertime, Change 111, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Drunk & Disorderly, Blaze of Glory, Release The Pressure, Strength, One Guitar, Rescue Me, 45 RPM, 68 Guns – London Calling (intro only) – Rocking In The Free World – 68 Guns.

The encores were:

Walk Forever By My Side, Spirit of 76, Love Hope & Strength.

The Videos

Direct Action


The Alarm Calling


Kill To Get What You Want


Change III & Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Boke?


Release the Pressure


One Guitar


68 Guns


Spirit of 76


Love, Hope & Strength

Release The Pressure Tour Part 7: Dudley - JBs - 21st April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Absolute Reality, Loaded, Rain In The Summertime, Change 111, Marching On, Drunk & Disorderly, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Alarm Calling, Release the Pressure, Blaze of Glory, Strength, One Guitar, Rescue Me, 68 Guns – Rocking In The Free world – 68 Guns.

The encores were:

Walk Forever By My Side, Spirit of 76, 45 RPM, Love Hope & Strength.

The Videos

One Guitar


Rescue Me


45RPM

Release The Pressure Tour Part 6: Bristol - Thekla - 20th April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Marching On, Alarm Calling, Rain In The Summertime, Superchannel, Absolute Reality, Change 111, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Drunk & Disorderly, Blaze of Glory, One Guitar, Release the Pressure, Strength, 45 RPM, 68 Guns.

The encores were:

Spirit of 76, Rescue Me.

The Video(s)

Rain in the Summertime

Direct Action - The Alarm (released 12th April 2010)

'Direct Action' by The Alarm has it's foundations in 'The Counter Attack Collective' (a series of six EP's and an album) and is the follow on from the 2008 release 'Guerilla Tactics' (a project that was also drawn from the same sources). Mike Peters once again sought the services of Gilby Clark to be at the controls for the mixing process as they sought to turn tracks from 'The Counter Attack' into something worthy of a full on release. With Clark's work done Mike Peters twiddled some more and the final result is a fine collection of songs that include a few new tracks as well some lyrically reworked numbers.

The Alarm over the past couple of years have had a real punky edge to their music and that is in evidence here again with the title and opening track almost being mistaken for 'Alternative Ulster' by SLF. That's not a bad thing at all to say though there could be a tendancy to assume that such a work will be dated - the good news is that it is not. It is up to the minute relevant to the times we are living in. 'Direct Action' and 'Release the Pressure' are a case in point. There are some fantastic lyrics contained in these 15 songs (if you buy the download) that show that Mike Peters, even at the tender age of 51 has not lost any of his passion or aggression for radical change in the world in which we live.

According to a statement on thealarm.com, "The sound of 'Direct Action' is the sound of The Alarm right up to the minute and explores themes of change and the ways in which change impacts on our daily lives. 'Direct Action's main tenet is in how to deal with that change and the diverse emotions that it brings out in all of us. Lyrically, it challenges the listener to not be afraid of change but to take positive action or as the title track declares in it's first verse, 'To find inspiration where there is none." Perhaps the lyric that sums up ‘Direct Action’ best can be found in the simple Mike Peters' acoustic performance of 'Badge Of Honour' [Part Two] where he sings "It's up to us to make a truce, up to us to broker peace, up to us to find the words that will make or break us". Listen to Part One of 'Badge of Honour'.

'Release the Pressure' is a superb critique of what is the norm for many around the world who have been impacted by the current resession:

"Economic pressure going to take control of me
Economic pressure from the government to the street
Economic pressure under heavy skies
Economic pressure in my baby's cry
Economic pressure got a hold on me tonight"

And he goes on in that song to show that it has impacted every sphere of our lives and it is like a mini manifesto calling for relief for one and all. Ranking Roger (of The Beat fame) joins on the backing vocals and gives the song a great vibe. What was nice to see as well was that drummer Steve Grantley gets a writing credit on this and 'Plastic Carrier Bags'. His contibution to the band over the past decade has been enormous (he also has duties as drummer for Stiff Little Fingers).

It's not often that a cover version turns up on an Alarm release ('Knocking on Heaven's Door' and 'Rocking in the Free World' are two most well known covers to make it) and the inclusion of Willie Niles infectious 'One Guitar' is a great choice. Mike Peters chose to out this song at The Gathering back in January and it was a hit with the fans from the get go. It's one of those songs that is going to be part of The Alarm live canon for a long time to come I think.

Time prevents me from waxing lyrical about tracks like 'Loaded', 'Change III', 'Milk and Opportunity', 'Higher Call', 'Freedom' and 'After the Rock and Roll Has Gone'. I'm actually hard pressed to find a weak song because there is no filler on this album. It's 14 slabs (or 15 if you bought the download) of the most honest rock and roll that's been released in 2010 this side of the Atlantic.

I'd give it a five star review because they are a five star band!

Release The Pressure Tour Part 5: Newcastle O2 17th April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Marching On, Superchannel, Loaded, Absolute Reality, Change 111, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Drunk & Disorderly, Release the Pressure, Blaze of Glory, One Guitar, Strength, 45 RPM, 68 Guns.

The encores were:

My Town, Rescue Me, Spirit of 76.

The Videos

Absolute Reality


68 Guns


Spirit of 76

Release The Pressure Tour Part 4: Manchester Academy 2 16th April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, Marching On, Superchannel, Loaded, Absolute Reality, Change 111, Drunk & Disorderly, Alarm Calling, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Release the Pressure, Blaze of Glory, One Guitar, Without a Fight, Strength, 45 RPM, 68 Guns.

The encores were:

Spirit of 76, Rescue Me, Love Hope & Strength.

The Videos

Direct Action


Marching On


One Guitar


Strength


Without A Fight


45RPM


68 Guns


Rescue Me

Release The Pressure Tour Part 3: Sheffield The Plug 15th April 2010

The full set was as follows:

Direct Action, My Town, Marching On, Change 111, Loaded, Drunk & Disorderly, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Release the Pressure, Blaze of Glory, Superchannel, Strength, One Guitar, Without a Fight, Absolute Reality, 45 RPM, 68 Guns.

The encores were:

Spirit of 76, Rescue Me, Big Country (Intro only), Love Hope & Strength.

The Videos

My Town


Where Were You Hiding


68 Guns

Release The Pressure Tour Part 2: Cardiff Glee Club 14th April 2010

Set List

Direct Action, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Loaded, Alarm Calling, Marching On, Change 111, A New South Wales, Blaze of Glory, Release The Pressure, Absolute Reality, One Guitar, Without a Fight, Strength, Superchannel, Walk Forever By My Side, Sprit of 76, Rescue Me.

The encores were:

45 RPM, 68 Guns, Love Hope & Strength.

The Videos

Direct Action


Where Were You Hiding


Marching On


New South Wales


Release the Pressure


One Guitar


Superchannel


Walk Forever By My Side


Rescue Me


68 Guns


Love, Hope & Strength


All videos by Welsh & Proud

Release The Pressure Tour Part 1: Reading 13th April 2010

Day One: Reading - Sub89 13th April 2010

Set List: Direct Action, My Town, Marching On, Three Sevens Clash, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Loaded, Kill Kill Kill, Blaze of Glory, Economic Pressure, Alarm Calling, Without a Fight, Absolute Reality, Change 111, Superchannel, Strength, Drunk & Disorderly, 68 Guns, 45 RPM.

The encores were:

One Guitar, Rescue Me, Spirit of 76, Love Hope & Strength

The Videos

Direct Action


Where Were You Hiding


Release the Pressure


Change III


Superchannel


The Drunk and Disorderly


One Guitar/Rescue Me