POP MUSIC REVIEW : Little Cause for Alarm at Wiltern

The Alarm presents itself as such an overzealous, sincere bunch that seasoned rock observers might be forgiven for a quick lapse into cynicism when confronted by some of the group’s more dramatic exhortations. Yet, the Welsh quartet has built a strong, devoted following of youthful, like-minded idealists, some of whom packed the Wiltern Theatre for the first of a two-night stand Tuesday.

There has never been anything strikingly original about the Alarm; the group’s new album is entitled “Change,” but the music often represents an alarming slide into regulation issue rock and blues formats. Older Alarm hits, like the semi-acoustic “The Stand” and “Give Me Love,” still have enough bombast and bluster to sound like a poor man’s U2. And while it’s preferable to see a group promote social responsibility rather than misogynistic, head-banging self-indulgence, the band is often naive. Does lead singer Mike Peters really think he can help resolve his homeland’s cultural identity crisis by taking the stage for a solo sung in Welsh?

Peters and company make big gestures signifying little beyond a series of standard rock ‘n’ roll responses, from having the crowd shout “whhoooaaa” in unison and create a sea of flickering lighters to Peters talking about erasing the distinction between “us the performer and you the audience” by going into the audience--a standard practice at Alarm shows for years. The group’s intent might be admirable, the kids may eat it up, but this calculated, formatted idealism is a mild cause for the Alarm.