Project Description

HALESTORM

@ The Tivoli 

07/12/19

(Live Review)

Reviewer: Connor Gutteridge

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The mood was high and ready as the crowd stacked into The Tivoli awaited the arrival of the Queen of Rock and Roll and her mighty band of warriors known as Halestorm. With the change of every song on the lead up to their first sighting, there was a roar come over the crowd and the place filled with chants of HALESTORM!! HALESTORM!!’

From the moment the lights went completely out, and the band walked on stage you could feel the anticipation brewing in the air. Then Lzzy jumps on the mic and asks the crowd a simple question ‘Are you a Freak Like Me??’ before busting into the first of their bill of bangers Freak like me. This was an awesome opening choice for the band as it started the set off on a high-intensity pace for a warm-up for the show.

‘Are you prepared for what’s going to happen to you tonight?’ says Lzzy as the crowd eagerly awaits the second track of the evening which falls under the name of Love Bites (So Do I). This song is a personal favourite of mine and I was a little worried about hearing the track live as to whether they would do it justice, they absolutely nailed it!! Right from start to finish it was going to go with crowd interaction and the purest form of rock and roll live right before my eyes. The crowd got very involved in the bridge/breakdown with every set of hands in the audience clapping along with the kick drum beat. Not to mention the guitar solo that followed this was absolutely on point, gave me goosebumps.

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Just prior to playing their classic track I Get Off, Lzzy personally acknowledged a fan in the front whose birthday it was. She knew it was her birthday because of a sign being held up, and just to make the night even more special for her, Lzzy dedicated the song to her. This was a very special moment from the concert as it’s not too often you see not only fans touched by a band, but the band visibly touched by a fan. And what a song to have dedicated to you too, every single note was pitch-perfect even though it is the end of the tour and the voice is beginning to get tired, she still nailed it every time. We all love when bands play their songs perfect to the record, but how about when they change it up and play a great song differently. As they did with, I Get Off, the second stanza of the track was played with beautiful open chords rather than riffs, and with a tempo change to make it a bit slower. This change really put the vocals on the focal point of the song and showcased them for Brisbane to enjoy.

The highlight of the show for me personally was the instrumental showoff section in the middle of the set just after they played Amen. Started off with lead guitarist Joe Hottinger showing the crowd what he has got with a face-melting solo, followed by Lzzy Hale showing everyone that the girls can go just as good as the boys, if not better. Then there was a change in the rhythm which was fitting for a bass solo from Josh Smith which was very fun to listen to. Then to cap it all off the gut-busting drum solo that we all as Halestorm fans have heard so much about, including an appearance for ‘The Big Sticks’. This was one of the most impressive drum solos’ I have ever seen at a live gig for a very long time. Not many bands do it, but it is so cool to hear it when they do.

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Next up as the main set was drawing to a close, they busted out to staple tracks from the new record in Black Vultures and Uncomfortable. Might I say even though the style is a little different on the new record to previous releases, these were two of my favourite tracks from the night. Uncomfortable was put on display as dedicated to the ladies in the building. Lzzy gave an awesome speech on how girls are able to be whatever they want to be in life and not ever be judged for who they are. This was obviously an emotional moment for her as the topic is very close to her heart. Yet another special moment from this show.

The encore to the show started off in a fashion that I have not ever seen before with the band not joining Lzzy on stage but the front woman taking a solo. Just her and a keyboard just belted out some classics such as Break-in, Dear Daughter and a very impressive version of Whitney Houston’s track from The Bodyguard ‘I will always love you’. I really loved this part of the gig because it broke up the style and gave the punters a new feel for a little while.

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After this part they hard a heartfelt message, sending out their best wishes to Black Stone Cherry who was supposed to be on the tour with them but had to pull off the tour due to extreme circumstances. As well as this they took the chance to thank the band Villainy for stepping up to the plate and opening for them on this leg of their world tour. This was just prior to their last two songs in Here’s To Us and I Miss the Misery.

It was a sad moment realising that my first experience seeing the band was coming to a close as they broke into arguably their biggest track released, I Miss the Misery, but what a way to close out. They closed the chow the way they came in, with high intensity and passion for their craft. As well as a big long dragged out the middle section of the song for another chance for both guitarists to bust a solo and a big thank you to the crowd before parting off the stage.

Absolute cracker of a show would absolutely recommend checking them out next time they are in the country (I will be!!) 10/10 for Halestorm.

 

Check out Matt Young‘s gallery of the show here

 

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