Internet Review – March 2006
Alarm Clocks Rule the Beachland Ballroom Concert on
March 3 – 4, 2006
After refueling, and saying hi to other friends in
for the show, we were front row center for the Parma boys. I spied a quiet confidence, not some punk
braggarts out to prove they still can cut it. Nope, the Alarm Clocks were
simply cool & calm.
Others might have wondered, but once Mike Pierce
yowled out the name of the Chuck Berry classic "Oh.......... Carol"
as the guys kicked in, there was simply no doubt. The Alarm Clocks destroyed
years of horrid retro garage band nights 'n trashy garage rock group live
shows. They proved yet again that age, equipment used, or looks have nothing to
do when it comes to blasting pure teenage garage sounds. I was beyond amazed!
It was as if the guys were frozen musically - just thawed out after 40 years.
Tom Fallon joined in the pre-requisite black shirt and Alarm Clocks pin, and
cut loose with tasty biting lead guitar (Tom is now the 4th Alarm
Clock) as Bruce ‘n Bill were having a blast and a half.
Mike Pierce would not look like your typical cat who
blasts 60s Kinks and Stones tunes, but one sneer from his voicebox, and you
just KNEW. Mike Pierce - the greatest
garage vocalist then, and today. The covers they played were BETTER than the
original versions. I nearly died when they clanged the opening chords to
"Gloria". Every other version
has now been pummeled into the dirt where they RIGHTLY belong. The Alarm Clocks
performed thee definitive cover versions right there. And it was only Friday
night?
Yow! Saturday night was even BETTER than Friday (if
you are still doubting and oh how WRONG would you be to do so). The two originals written in something like
5-10 minutes only days before the show? "Marie", and "It's Been
Too Long"...both equals to "Yeah" and "No Reason To
Complain". I kid you not about
such matters, GP forum-ites...
I can't really add anymore, words fail me. They were better than great. Yes. Plans are in motion to get
these guys out, so you better start saving if ye must, & go see them.
The boys from Parma will give you a history lesson and blast true garage punk in yer face. Reality beckons, if you can handle the truth...as was scribed on the bathroom stall "The Alarm Clocks kicked everybody's (you know what) on 3-4-06"...Yours shall be too.