#halestormtour

Lzzy and Co get 'Vicious' in the Legendary Apollo Theatre...

A chance for my first look at Halestorm tonight in what appeared to be a sold out Apollo Theatre.  I had heard about the band a few times before I finally got into their music on their third record Into The Wild Life. First hearing the two singles 'Amen' and 'I Am The Fire', I was more than impressed with the superb vocals that Lzzy Hale possessed. Their hard rock and roll sound accompanied with her fierce vocals and writing techniques are a pleasure to the ear. Thus, the chance came along and I didn't hesitate to claim a ticket in support of their newest album, Vicious.

Support for tonight came from Swedish heavy metal band, Avatar. A band that many were seeing for the first time tonight. It took a few songs but eventually I think people started to appreciate what they were all about. I thought they were one of those bands you either loved or hated. As their set progressed and we started hearing more from frontman Johannes Eckerström, the crowd became more involved and actually gave a pretty good reception to the band by the end. Their style was interesting as it blended between the heavy and the progressive and while his voice became very extreme at some points, some songs required a softer drawn back approach. They were certainly interesting to watch with their unique carnival type attire! Deserve a second listen.

When it's time for Halestorm we're kicked off immediately with 'Skulls' from the new album Vicious. I love what they tried to do with this song and is really a strength on the record and sounded great live. A couple of songs from second album The Strange Case Of... followed. The crowd got wild for 'Mz Hyde' and 'Love Bites (So Do I)'. Two of only three tracks from third album Into The Wild Life came next with a stunning rendition of anthem 'I Am The Fire' playing out followed by the truly rock and roll orientated 'Apocalyptic'. Possibly my favourite track from new album Vicious then came out of the traps with the sultry 'Do Not Disturb' which was preceded with an acapella intro of 'I Get Off' from their self titled debut. The final song we would hear from the Into The Wild Life album was 'Amen' to which more brilliance was heard in Lzzy's extraordinary vocal skills. Just fantastic. We then witnessed a rather beautiful moment when she dedicated the next song to Manchester and the fans as she described how playing at the Apollo Theatre marks a significant milestone for the band in where they started to where they are now. As she sits on the edge of the stage with lead guitarist Joe, she acoustically belts out a touching rendition of the final track from Vicious, 'The Silence'. Two more new songs follow with album opener 'Black Vultures' and title track 'Vicious' before Lzzy's brother Arejay treats us to his drum solo. 'Freak Like Me' from their second album rings out and new anthem 'Killing Ourselves To Live' closes the initial set. What a track! Definitely another personal favourite. After taking a breather the band return for an encore consisting of lead single 'Uncomfortable' and ending with two songs from The Strange Case Of... again. Firstly, 'I Miss The Misery' and the closing track of that same album, 'Here's To Us'. Both being sung closely by the crowd and with hands held high. A perfect ending as they say their thanks and goodbyes.

For me, the outstanding memory I will take from this show was Lzzy's voice. Without a doubt one of the most powerful, controlled female voices I have ever heard in rock music. A strong passion for her craft and dedication to her fans that clearly admire her for the commitment she brings. Four records in but Lzzy admits she has been writing and performing actively since she was thirteen and started learning the piano at five. Obviously music has been an influence throughout most of her life and so it's no surprise that tonight she brings that knowledge, experience and passion to the forefront.  What a truly satisfying performance it was. Here's to many more.

*TRICK 'N' TREAT*

TRICK: No room on set list for 'Mayhem' or 'What Sober Couldn't Say'.

TREAT: Lzzy Hale.

            Venue and crowd.