The Alarm “Sigma LXXXV” Tour with Modern English & Gene Loves Jezebel with Jay Aston Makes Stop at Liberty Hall in Lawrence
A legion of eminent British alternative rock and new wave bands have made landfall in the United States. The Alarm kicked off a 40-plus date trek at the start of summer and returned to the Kansas City area for the third year in a row with a concert stop at the historic Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence, KS on August 10. The outing is in support of its brand new album “Sigma” released just in time for commencement. Dubbed the “Sigma LXXXV” tour, the season’s spectacular pits the band on the road along with fellow countrymen and icons Modern English and Gene Love Jezebel with Jay Aston.
The charming and debonair Gareth “Gaz Top” Jones, English television presenter and original roadie for The Alarm, hosted the evening’s entertainment. He first welcomed to the stage charismatic founding member Jay Aston and his incarnation of Gene Loves Jezebel. The guitar-laden tunes invigorated the crowd from the very start. Enigmatic in his fedora and black shades, Jay Aston danced around the low-lit stage captivating fans with the band’s hits and even a track off of its most recent record, “Dance Underwater.” Joining him were James Stevenson (guitar), Peter Bugg Rizzo (bass) and Joel Patterson (drums). The set closed out with back-to-back performances of those staple songs “The Motion of Love” and “Desire (Come and Get It),” which left everyone light on their feet.
While the stage reset, Gaz Top promoted the The Alarm’s bone marrow drive for which Mike Peters was recently honored with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order by the British Empire) Award by Queen Elizabeth for his humanitarianism. “Saving lives one concert at a time,” so far the charity has registered more than 200,000 people and found more than 4,000 potential lifesaving matches for those suffering from blood cancer and in need of a transplant. Elating fans, the break gave everyone a moment to sign up with hope that they may be a match.
Modern English stormed the stage next with its mystifying presence. Featuring founding members Robbie Grey (lead vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar), Michael Conroy (bass) and Stephen Walker (keyboards), the band took fans through a career-spanning set of post-punk tunes from 1980 all the way to songs from its newest title, “Take Me to the Trees.” Joining them were touring members Daniel Jakubovic (guitar) and Roy Martin (drums) as they unleashed the glory of songs like “Hands Across the Sea” and “Gathering Dust” plus others like “Swans on Glass” and “16 Days,” which are not played on all dates. Among a fervent crowd, the set boasted some amazing synth sounds and lighting styles that back lit the stage leaving the front line shadowed. Grey invited everyone on the floor to flock the front of the stage as the group closed up with that signature song “I Melt With You,” which absolutely exemplifies the 1980s—a moment that was more than worth the price of admission all by itself.
As always, the cult-like following turned out to see The Alarm and its steadfast frontman Mike Peters. The energy he brings to the stage, as well as that which he exalts from the fans is unlike any other live show. After one last brief intermission to set the stage and allow fans to stop by the merch table, Peters exploded on stage along with his wife and bandmate Jules Peters (keyboards), James Stevenson (guitar) and Steve Barnard (drums). The intensity never faltered for a solitary second throughout the entire set. That ever-enduring voice of Peters almost effortlessly filled the theater and swirled from the stage to the rafters start to finish.
Featuring his signature trio of mic stands, Peters traversed back and forth across the stage captivating every member of the crowd. Numerous memorable moments took place as he and the band instilled love, hope and strength in everyone, from taking the show to the floor to going live on social media as fans waved their cellular flashlights in the dark. Those three pillars of The Alarm were wholeheartedly injected into each and every person on hand. Each song too, from classic to contemporary, is like something straight out of the closing credits of a feel-good movie. The pure love and happiness emanating from the stage just evokes an insatiable feeling that fans long to experience time and time again.
Setlist for The Alarm 2019 “Sigma LXXXV” Tour at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS:
“Blood Red Viral Black,” “The Stand,” “Peace Now,” “Rescue Me,” “Sold Me Down the River,” “Psalm,” “Neutral,” “Strength,” “Rain in the Summertime,” “Beautiful,” “Spirit of ’76” & “Marching On” / “Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke” / “68 Guns”; Encore – “Two Rivers”
***Check out the Gareth Jones On>Tour>Age podcast with The Alarm!***
