Mike Peters, front man and songwriter for The Alarm played live at Shank Hall Milwaukee on a brief one-man acoustic tour as he worked his way west to perform a special fundraiser at Red Rocks Colorado for the Love Hope Strength cancer foundation. Peters is the founder of the  cause and is a personal mission close to his heart as a cancer survivor himself. He was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and later leukemia. To date he and other bands supporting the cause have signed up over 100,000 people to the international bone marrow donor registry at concerts in addition to other efforts to support patiences.

His performance was centered on the 30th anniversary of The Strength album originally release by IRS Records. Playing to a loyal audience of fans, Mike shared endearing memories of rock and roll mishaps, playing Red Rocks with U2, inspirational moments turned comedic moments with the law, being the first punk rocker in Wales and his brushes with Jimmy Page, The Clash and Sid Vicious. 

Outfitted in his signature style of an acoustic guitar with a built in pick-up and harmonica, he added punch to the songs with a stand-alone kick drum, extra vocal microphones for looping tracks and some killer guitar sustain. It was a big sound as his one-man-band worked magnificently.

Opening up with ‘Declare Yourself’, Mike continued the set with favorites ‘The Stand’, 'Absolute Reality’, ‘Strength’, 'The Spirit of 76’, 'Marching On’, ’68 Guns’ ‘Going Out in a Blaze of Glory’ and closing with a roof-raising version of ‘In a Big Country’. The performance was intimate, personal and very connecting with the audience. The room was electric with energy.