alter bridge tour review

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CONCERT REVIEW: A Perfect Triple Bill of Hard Rock and Metal – ALTER BRIDGE, SEVENDUST, AND MAMMOTH WVH at the Stone Pony Summer Stage, New Jersey (August 8th, 2023)

Sevendust , Alter Bridge , and Mammoth WVH ‘s long-awaited return to the New Jersey area blew into the Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ, like a Category 5 hurricane.

Sevendust has just released a metal masterpiece, Truth Killer ;  Alter Bridge is supporting their 2022 release, Pawns & Kings , and Wolfgang Van Halen ‘s  Mammoth WVH is releasing his sophomore album Mammoth II today. Three outstanding bands and musicians on one bill who continually release exceptional music. They are carrying the flag for hard rock and heavy metal.

The excitement for tonight’s show has been palpable since tickets tour went on sale. Tonight, it reached a frenzies pitch from the fans waiting under the hot summer sun in line for hours for the venue doors to open. They chatted about which band, songs, albums, and tours were their favorites. Seeing all ages, races, and nationalities beaming with pride wearing their Alter Bridge , Sevendust , and Mammoth WVH shirts in a unified moment of happiness was nirvana. These are the moments that metal fans live for; it’s their drug and religion all rolled into one. From a glimpse of this pre-show excitement, you instinctively knew this show would be extraordinary!

As soon as Wolfgang stepped on stage, the crowd at the Stone Pony Summer Stage erupted. You could tell by the look on his face that this would be a fun-filled performance as he came out smiling, waving, and pointing to fans he recognized. It was a warm and personable way to greet this overjoyed New Jersey crowd.

Once he had everyone’s attention, the guitarist and lead singer kicked into his first song, “Mammoth,” from his debut album, with his touring band Frank Sidoris [guitar], Jon Jourdan [guitar], Ronnie Ficarro [bass], and Garrett Whitlock [drums]. It’s been over eight months since New Jersey fans have seen him perform, and they were eager to delve into his set, where fans were treated to three new songs from Mammoth II ; “Like a Pastime,” “Take a Bow,” and “Another Celebration at the End of the World.” The crowd instinctively sang every word to them, creating a symphony of backing vocals. Wolfgang was visibly humbled by the outpouring of love from this crowd as his proud mother, Valerie Bertinelli , looked on from side-stage.

Wolfgang has his own undeniable style of playing and songwriting that marries melodic riffs with catchy choruses. Combine that with some tasteful vibrato during the leads, and the songs are enhanced beyond expectation. Watching him combine his signature techniques of speed, dexterity, melody and reach into a tremendous display of guitar playing was awe-inspiring!

Mammoth WVH Photo Gallery (Photos by Robert Cavuoto ):

Right out of the gate, the  Sevendust hit the crowd with ‘Face to Face.” It quickly set the tone for the show and raised the bar for the evening. Pockets of mosh pits started to form, and fans sang along to every word as their heroes Lajon Witherspoon [vocals], Clint Lowery [guitar], John Connolly [guitar – not on stage tonight], Vince Hornsby [bass], and Morgan Rose [drums]brought a sense of fevered energy to the stage on this beautiful evening.

In their 60-minute set, they played a nice mix of classics and new songs, including “Fence” off Truth Killer . The entire new album is a homage to feeling good and enjoying life, something which has been missing in music and is well-needed. Sevendust have been writing better than ever have in their career, and this album is proof.

Clint handled all the guitar parts perfectly as John is recuperating and will be band back on stage in a few days. Despite not having his guitar partner, he never missed a beat and gave the performance of his life, handling all the rhythm parts and solos. Vince is the sonic ambassador between the pounding of Morgan ‘s drumming and the guitar playing. He is responsible for holding the low end together with rhythmic fury. Lajon is a captivating and charismatic performer not only for his singing but as a lyricist who can paint thematic pictures in our mind’s eye. He tirelessly sang every song with heart and soul, with the summer sun behind the band. Lajon, who is not a typical fan of cursing in songs or on stage, apologies to the surrounding apartments and people on the boardwalk for dropping the F-Bomb once or twice, as the community has a laughable no profanity policy from the stage. The energy and fury emanating from the stage could be felt and heard outside the fenced-in venue into the parking lot, where fans and onlookers gathered!

Sevendust delivered a set that included “Denial,” Crucified,” Disgrace,” and the hauntingly beautiful “Angel’s Son,” which Lajon wrote in memory of James Lynn Strait of the band Snot . As a prolific lyricist, I asked Lajon during our last interview how he would like fans to interpret his lyrics; he replied, “I invite fans to interpret the lyrics in their own way. It’s what I do when listening to other bands’ music. It makes me feel present and in the moment. It’s supposed to make you feel good! Music is the healer, and I’m the doctor here to give the medicine.” When Doctor Lajon was on stage, there was contagious energy in the air! 7D are musical masters, as they can turn pure emotion and angst into a defiant celebration!

SEVENDUST Photo Gallery (Photos by Robert Cavuoto ):

As the sun set and a full moon rose in the sky over Asbury Park’s beach, Alter Bridge took command of the Stone Pony Summer Stage. The band consists of Mark Tremonti [guitar/vocals], Myles Kennedy [vocals/guitar], Brian Marshall [bass], and Scott Phillips [drums]. If Rock & Roll is dead, nobody told Alter Bridge . The band has everything anyone can ask for; crushing guitars, heavy rhythms, and top-notch lyrics and songwriting. There is something in their music for everyone that is magically relatable.

The band raged through a ~90-minute set of the best songs the band had to offer. The songs were delivered with the same aggression as recorded. There was minimal talking by the band as they were on a mission to get as many songs across in their set as humanly possible in their set. Anyone who came to the show understood that and got what they expected…an unstoppable wall of guitars and ass-kicking bass!

The band came out with three strong opening songs; “Silver Tongue,” “Addicted to Pain,” and “Ghost of Days Gone By.” The chemistry between the band members is instantaneously noticeable. All members were working in perfect harmony, knowing all their parts, nuances, and queues without hesitation. There was no shortage of highlights in tonight’s performance, like when Myles performed “Watch Over You” acoustically or Mark took lead vocals on “Burn it Down” or “Cry of Achilles” with its flamenco guitar intro. The song that everyone was waiting for, “Blackbird,” came towards the end of the set, which has become a staple in their set.

Myles ‘s hypnotizing, seasoned tenor voice filled the air as he tirelessly played guitar, danced on his pedal board, and sang confidently as a steady breeze continually blew across the stage. Mark is a true innovator on the guitar and gave his diehard fans a healthy dose of some dazzling guitar techniques like down picking, alternate picking, blues runs, and fluid legato playing. He is a visionary player who can sculpt sound and bend minds in equal proportions.

The band played the title track from their latest album; I asked Mark about the importance of playing “Pawns & Kings” live. He responded, “It encapsulates everything there is about the album. It also has one of the best choruses on the album. When the album was finished, we put it last because we want fans to experience the entire before they get to that song. It’s a must-have song in our set because it’s so fun to play live!”

Scott is the band’s engine room, ensuring all songs are timed and paced to perfection. Brian laid down the low end and knew how to handle a song by playing between the melody and the harmony, which is felt more than heard.

The night ended with two final songs in the encore, “Open Your Eyes” and “Rise Today.” Alter Bridge remains a no-nonsense band who is redefining modern-day Rock & Roll that is guaranteed to leave a mark on your soul!

ALTER BRIDGE Photo Gallery (Photos by Robert Cavuoto ):

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I totally agree. That was one of the best shows I have been too. I have been to a lot of shows ,and all 3 bands were just amazing. I have seen Sevendust before but it was my first time seeing the other 2 . Definitely going to see them again. I was right along the rail,and it was magical. I got 2 set lists and it was an awesome night.

S.L.R. Magazine

LIVE REVIEW: Alter Bridge North American 2023 Pawns & Kings Tour

New jersey legendary rock radio stations wdha 105.5 fm 40 (something) anniversary.

The 30-city tour that is split into two legs, in support of bands seventh studio album Pawns & Kings that was released last year on October 14 th via Napalm Records, kicked off on January 25th in Tampa, FL and yesterday came to New Jerseys pristine Wellmont Theatre venue in Montclair. The show was sold out already for the weeks, with anticipation and excitement building as the date drew closer. On this night Alter Bridge was accompanied by Nashville rock band Red and Mammoth WVH founded and fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the late Eddie Van Halen.

Written by Andris Jansons

First up were Red, an American Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2002 by brothers guitarist Anthony Armstrong and bassist Randy Armstrong, with lead vocalist Michael Barnes. Currently, the line-up has consists of the core trio of the Armstrong brothers and Barnes, along with touring drummer Brian Medeiros.

Band came on the stage, I would say, five minutes too early, and some fans had to scramble to their places. Or maybe my watch was off. And I must say that for the opening act the venue was already full. Band brought the energy needed to get into Rock’n’roll spirit. Opening song was Death Of Me from their sophomore album Innocence & Instinct. Others were Faceless, Let It Burn, Already Over and Feed the Machine. All songs came from earlier albums as the band is working towards new record that will be called Rated R and is slated to be released sometime in spring this year. They wrapped up set with Breath Into Me taken from their debut album End Of Silence. At the end of the song band Michael, Antony and Randy jumped off in sync from the pedestals providing exclamation point of their performance, which was full of energy and excitement.

See full Red performance photo gallery here.

The nicely warmed up crowd got much louder as Mammoth WVH took the stage. An American rock band founded and fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen, and initially was as a solo project. Their self-titled debut album Mammoth WVH, was released on June 11, 2021.

Mammoth WVH was introduced to concertgoers by Terrie Carr from New Jersey rock radio station WDHA 105.5. This concert also was part of the radio stations 40 Something Anniversary Show. As Terrie said, after 40 you don’t really count your years. I know what she meant, I’m 40 something too. Terrie’s kind words were later returned by Wolfgang (or as he said Wolf), thanking Terrie for all support and love.

Ok, so what can I say about Mammoth WVH performance. For me it was a first experience, and I was completely blown away. Wolf is amazing. His guitar playing and singing were exceptional and his down-to-earth demeanor very refreshing. While I can keep praising Wolf, I must say that his whole band was great. All songs are complex compositions of guitars, and everybody collectively made these songs sound as one symphony. All songs from the band’s set came from their debut album release in June of 2021. The crowd really got into this, and I think WVH gained a LOT more fans this night.

See full Mammoth WVH performance photo gallery here.

The stage was set for the main heroes of the night. Alter Bridge is an American rock band from Orlando, Florida. After their former band Creed became inactive in 2003, Mark Tremonti and Scott Phillips formed a new band with former bandmate Brian Marshall and later added vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy.

Opening song was a Silver Tongue. It is second single from the bands latest album Pawns & Kings. Energy went way up with a follow up song Addicted To Pain from bands 2013 album Fortress. During the song there was a situation in the front row as fan had to be helped for medical assistance. Myles kept an eye on the situation during the song, in the case if they would need to pause. Thankfully staff helped fast, and everything seemed to be under control. Band followed up with slower tempo Ghost Of Days Gone By.

All together from the latest album played all singles – Holiday, This Is War and title song. The set itself was quite immersive into the whole bands discography with six of the seven albums represented. The band also performed Burn It Down where Mark did the vocals.

This was my second time seeing the band live. On both occasions the sound and performance was immaculate. From the fans perspective this was one of the finest hard rock music sets you can see.

See full Alter Bridge performance photo gallery here.

Pawns & Kings Tour just started few days ago and you will have plenty of the time to catch up with performances as it will go on until the end of March. Check the listings below to see if your city is on the list. Tickets are available and more information on tickets and VIP experiences can be found at https://alterbridge.com/pages/tour .

Feb 2 – HUNTINGTON, NY – The Paramount *

Feb 4 – SILVER SPRING, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring *

Feb 5 – PHILADELPHIA, PA – Franklin Music Hall *

Feb 7 – WALLINGFORD, CT – The Dome at Toyota Oakdale Theatre *

Feb 8 – BOSTON, MA – Roadrunner *

Feb 10 – WATERLOO, NY – Del Lago Casino Resort (On sale soon) ^

Feb 11 – TORONTO, ON – HISTORY ^

Feb 14 – DETROIT, MI – The Fillmore *

Feb 15 – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre *

Feb 17 – PRIOR LAKE, MN – Mystic Lake Casino Showroom *

Feb 18 – CHICAGO, IL – The Riviera Theatre *

Mar 10 – QUAPAW, OK – Downstream Casino Resort #

Mar 11 – KANSAS CITY, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland #

Mar 14 – CHESTERFIELD, MO – The Factory #

Mar 15 – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Criterion #

Mar 17 – HOUSTON, TX – 713 Music Hall #

Mar 18 – DALLAS, TX – South Side Ballroom #

Mar 20 – DENVER, CO – Mission Ballroom #

Mar 21 – SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Union Event Center #

Mar 23 – SEATTLE, WA – The Paramount Theatre #

Mar 25 – AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WA – Northern Quest Resort & Casino ^

Mar 26 – AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WA – Northern Quest Resort & Casino ^

Mar 28 – ANAHEIM, CA – House Of Blues #

Mar 29 – TEMPE, AZ – Marquee Theatre #

Mar 31 – RENO, NV – Silver Legacy’s Grande Expo Hall #

Apr 1 – HIGHLAND, CA – Yaamava Theater at Yaamava Casino Resort

^ Alter Bridge – Mammoth WVH

* Alter Bridge – Mammoth WVH – Red

# Alter Bridge – Mammoth WVH – Pistols At Dawn

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Review by Pete Finn for MPM

MPM Tog ‘Statler’ Manson and I are heading back to Robin Hood country, it’s the relatively short trip to Nottingham. With it being less than three weeks until Christmas, we get to open one of our presents early. We’re off to the Motorpoint Arena to see a trio of American rock bands, in the shapes of Alter Bridge, Halestorm and Mammoth WVH.

The arena is part of the National Ice Centre which was constructed on the site of the former Nottingham Ice Stadium. The Ice Stadium opened in 1939 and was showing its age, so, in September 1995, plans were announced to replace the Ice Stadium. On 1 April 2000, the National Ice Centre was officially opened by Olympic gold medallist Jayne Torvill. The capacity inside the arena is 10,000 without standing room and increases to 15,865 with floor standing.

Tonight, is the first show of the UK leg of an extensive European Tour, the bands have delighted fans across Europe since hitting the road at the start of November. These are the final six shows before they head back to the USA for Christmas.

We’re straight in without any fuss, our passes, and tickets ready for our arrival. I leave Manny with one of his Tog buddies and make my way down into the standing area. There is a huge backdrop behind the kit on stage with Mammoth WVH in large letters on it, greeting the crowd as they arrive.

Wolfgang William Van Halen is the son of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, he performed alongside his father as the bassist in Van Halen from 2006 to 2020. He became an official member of Tremonti, guitarist Mark Tremonti’s (who also plays in Alter Bridge) own band in 2013, replacing previous bassist Brian Marshall, who also plays for Alter Bridge. Confusing, isn’t it? Wolfgang appears on Tremonti’s 2015 studio album ‘Cauterize’ and its 2016 follow-up ‘Dust’.

Wolfgang Van Halen has prepared a lifetime to make his first impression with his solo band Mammoth WVH a good one. The songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist worked tirelessly on material that would become his debut album ‘Mammoth WVH’ released in 2021. Playing every instrument and singing each and every note. When asked why he recorded the entire album himself, he stated that he wanted to challenge himself and referred to inspiration from Dave Grohl’s work as the sole member of the early years of Foo Fighters.

When he was asked about the origin of the band’s name, his reply was “The name Mammoth is really special to me. Not only was it the name of Van Halen before it became Van Halen, but my father was also the lead singer. Ever since my dad told me this, I always thought that when I grew up, I’d call my own band Mammoth, because I loved the name so much.”

Mammoth WVH consists of Wolfgang Van Halen (lead vocals, guitar), Frank Sidoris (guitar), Jon Jourdan (rhythm guitar), Ronnie Ficarro (bass) and Garrett Whitlock (drums).

The arena is about 1/3 full as the lights go out, the cheering of the crowd sees a few more come scurrying in. The band give us a jam intro, before Wolf cries “Good Evening Nottingham, let’s have some fun”. Then the first track tonight is the self-titled ‘Mammoth’. Ficarro is slapping his bass, Whitlock provides a quick beat and a steady riff get us going, Van Halen and Jourdan sharing the vocals. Van Halen and Sidoris back-to-back fire out a dual break. The sound gets heavier as the track evolves. Unfortunately, Sidoris who is stage right and Jourdan who is stage left are in near darkness, the central lighting not picking them up at all.

Without pausing, the punchy guitar riff starts ‘Mr. Ed’, the crowd encouraged to clap, both Sidoris and Jourdan are on backing vocals. I’m able to pick out a couple of original Van Halen sounding notes. Sidoris is walking around and crouching down as he powers through the riffs, Van Halen at the front of the stage teases out a quick solo. The cheering crowd, which has now increased in number, show their appreciation.

Whitlock’s hard drum-beat starts ‘Epiphany’. This is slower, Van Halen almost narrating the lyrics. Ficarro is patrolling the stage leading the crowd in the clapping. Van Halen is giving the keyboard a tickle as Whitlock continues to beat the kit, he reminds me of Dave Grohl in his Nirvana era.

Wolf tells us it’s their first time in Nottingham and that it’s a real pleasure to be here. ‘Think It Over’ apparently was Eddie Van Halen’s favourite song. It’s vocal is prominent, the guitars are jangling along in the background. The circular riffs get the crowd nodding along. The tempo builds as the instruments get more involved producing a richer sound, before leading to a big finish.

Next, we have the first song that Wolfgang Van Halen wrote, it’s called ‘Distance’. Jon Jourdan has an acoustic guitar; he’s gently strumming it as Van Halen carefully sings the lyrics. It quickly picks up pace, the Nottingham crowd know the words, a smiling Van Halen acknowledges their participation, before he squeals out a solo as Ficarro and Whitlock supply the accompanying beats. It finishes as Van Halen speaks the last line by himself.

‘You’re to Blame’, this is heavier, the stage lights flashing red. Again, Whitlock is pounding the kit, a dual vocal and guitar attack from Van Halen and Jourdan slices through the arena. Van Halen foot up on the monitor fires out his solo, Ficarro and Sidoris back-to-back behind him providing support. Van Halen thanks the crowd again.

The crowd begins to start clapping, encouraged by Ficarro’s bass beats which are shaking everything, Wolfgang Van Halen introduces his band to us. There’s a heavy jam before we start ‘Don’t Back Down’, the big circular riff driven forward by thumping beats.

Van Halen chanting the lyrics. The band producing a mammoth wall of sound. The band line up and take a bow against a background of feedback and well-deserved applause and cheers. They flick guitar picks and Whitlock throws his drumsticks into the crowd before leaving the stage.

Setlist: Mammoth; Mr. Ed; Epiphany; Think It Over; Distance; You’re to Blame; Don’t Back Down.

Siblings Elizabeth and Arejay Hale, the core members of Halestorm, formed the group in late 1997, in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, with Arejay on drums and Elizabeth on vocals and keyboard. Wanting to expand their sound, the duo invited their father, Roger, to play bass with the band. Around 1999 Elizabeth became Lzzy and around 2003/2004 Halestorm became Lzzy Hale (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Arejay Hale (drums), Joe Hottinger (lead guitar) and Josh Smith (bass, keyboards). The band have recorded five studio albums, their first the self-titled ‘Halestorm’ in 2009, and their most recent being this year’s release ‘Back from the Dead’. Halestorm is well known for their hard working, near non-stop touring, often performing as many as 250 shows a year.

The crews clear the stage, the Mammoth backdrop removed, revealing a Halestorm one, the drum kit is on a huge riser in the centre of the stage. We have a couple of AC/DC tracks played over the PA; the apt ‘Girls Got Rhythm’ followed by ‘Highway To Hell’.

The lights go out and Lzzy Hale walks out onto the stage, carrying a bright red guitar. She screams then starts singing, followed a few seconds later by the rest of the band, Arejay is sporting bright green hair, then we’re off.

‘The Steeple’ taken from the new ‘Back from the Dead’ album. This is hard-hitting in your face rock, heavy beats and crunching riffs. Hale is screaming the vocals with real power, Hottinger is leaning back into his solo, before the band pause and chant the chorus then resume. An impressive start.

Again, from the newest album we have ‘Wicked Ways’, this is hard and heavy, the beats quick, Lzzy’s rapid delivery has the Nottingham crowd punching the air. The stage is all lit up red. Arejay is hammering the skins and twirling his sticks. Lzzy screams the words, Smith’s bass is shaking everything. Joe Hottinger has his hands dancing, down at the exciting end of the fretboard.

Lzzy speaks, “We’re happy to be here, with our freak family, you can be who you are, this is a rock show.” Next, it’s ‘I Get Off’ from the 2009 self-titled ‘Halestorm’ album. Lzzy’s riff starts the track. The drum beats a big feature, burbling bass and quick lyrics. The crowd clapping along. Lzzy screaming out the vocal, her brother pounding his kit, his hair is luminous, it’s a great effect, as are the lights that are spiralling across the ceiling. Joe Hottinger now sporting a ‘V’ guitar is bending and stroking the strings as the notes leap out. A track full of passion.

‘Brightside’ another track from ‘Back from the Dead’, Lzzy’s riff starts the track off, then stop/start intro is punctuated with Arejay’s drums. Josh Smith, wearing a smart hat, is rocking back and forth with the beats of his bass. The track has a good marching pace. The mid-section slower, before launching back into full rock mode. Lzzy alternating harmonies and screams brilliantly.

Without stopping, the band begin the intro to the new single ‘Mine’. This is upbeat, the crowd bouncing and punching the air. It has an 80’s rock sound, subtle tempo changes which gives a clever variation, Lzzy belting out the words. She crouches down at the edge of the stage, pointing at the crowd as she cries “Mine”. It’s a galloping pace, this track sounds brilliant live.

Joe Hottinger gentle stumming introduces ‘Familiar Taste of Poison’ from the ‘Halestorm’ album. Lzzy joins him and is serenading both him and the Nottingham audience, both artists showing great control. Josh Smith’s haunting bass rumble adds atmosphere, the sound intensifies as Arejay joins the party. Lzzy crouches down in front of Joe and is singing like they are the only ones there, up close, personal and emotional. Lzzy is holding the last note of the line. Joe Hottinger is at the stage edge as he leans back, guitar bouncing in his hands as he brings out the solo. The Arena liked that one, they liked it a lot, so did I.

The band leave the stage, leaving Arejay Hale illuminated by white spot lights, he gives us a drum solo, quick beats, slow beats, hard beats, pausing for the crowd to join in with cheers and clapping. His arms are a blur, depending on the frequency of the strobe lights sometimes looking stationary. He finishes playing with two huge sticks that look like snooker cues, and he still managed to twirl them.

The rest of the band return, now it’s time for the title track of the new album, ‘Back From the Dead’. Lzzy is screaming out the words, the stage lighting turns red, Hottinger is bouncing around the stage as he crunches out the riffs before coming to the stage edge for his solo. Lzzy’s voice has phenomenal strength and control. Smith’s bass is purring.

Lzzy asks a question, “Nottingham, do you want more?”, the reply is deafening. Arejay Hale’s drum volley and thunderous riffs from the guitars launch ‘Love Bites (So Do I)’ from the ‘The Strange Case Of… ‘released in 2012. The arena is full of sound, Lzzy’s rapid lyrics start the crowd clapping, who are singing along, the guitars are sounding fantastic, the rhythm section keeping the pace quick. It has parts that sound like old school Punk. Another winner.

Lzzy introduces the band before introducing herself to the Nottingham crowd with a huge scream. ‘I Miss the Misery’ is taken from ‘The Strange Case Of… ‘, the stop/start feel and angry lyrics soon have the crowd singing the chorus. There are a lot of Halestorm fans in here, they are making a tremendous noise. The arms and horns are waving, Hottinger fires out the solo as Lzzy and Josh Smith criss-cross the stage smiling and playing up to the fans. The sound builds, getting faster and faster as they charge into a big finish, but, not before Lzzy has a sing-back with the crowd. The band are really rocking out as they play to a big finish. “Thank you, we are Halestorm”, cries Lzzy as their set finishes.

Lzzy curtsies to the crowd, the rest of the band line up next to her and they all bow together before leaving and throwing picks and sticks to the crowd.

I’ve seen Halestorm several times before, and they never fail to delight and impress, and to be honest are well worth the ticket price on their own. If you’ve not seen them before, make it a New Year’s Resolution to do so, you won’t be disappointed.

Setlist: The Steeple; Wicked Ways; I Get Off; Brightside; Mine; Familiar Taste of Poison; Drum Solo; Back From the Dead, Love Bites (So Do I); I Miss the Misery.

Alter Bridge are from Orlando, Florida. The band was formed in 2004 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips. After their former band Creed became inactive in 2003, Tremonti and Phillips formed a new band with former bandmate Marshall and new member Kennedy; Alter Bridge was formally unveiled in January 2004, months before Creed’s official breakup in June. Tremonti named the group after an actual bridge that used to be located in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, near his former home on Alter Road in Detroit.

The band has a great back catalogue of albums with their debut, ‘One Day Remains’ released during 2004, their most recent and their seventh studio album ‘Pawns & Kings’ released earlier this year, reaching Number 1 in the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart, and this is the album they are promoting on this tour.

The lights go out, Nottingham starts cheering and whistling, bass wash fills the arena, the atmosphere inside is electric, a backing track is played over the PA, white spotlights cut through the darkness of the stage, the band members walk out to louder cheers and whistles, Myles Kennedy appears at the front of the stage, Mark Tremonti next to him, his arms above his head clapping, there is a wall of amps along the back with lights sat on top looking like cannons. High up behind the band, are five screens that are working as one.

We’re straight into ‘Silver Tongue’ from the new ‘Pawns & Kings’ album. The heavy start has the arena jumping, Kennedy’s vocal piercing through the smoke, the white lights waving behind him. The sound is thunderous, Philips is pounding the kit, the Perspex screen around his drums and cymbals vibrating and reflecting the lights like prisms. Tremonti has his foot up on the monitor as the notes pour out from the guitar. A huge cheer from the crowd shows their approval.

The stage glows red, smoke cannons go off. The pace is even quicker for ‘Addicted to Pain’ which is from the 2013 album ‘Fortress’. The screens behind show a wall of TV’s. The crowd know the words and are singing along, Brian Marshall leaning forward and crouching down is thumping the strings. You can feel the sound, this is brilliant.

We go a bit further back in time, to the 2010 album ‘AB III’ for ‘Ghost of Days Gone By’. Myles Kennedy’s riff gets the crowd clapping, Phillips’ drum beat keeps the track moving. Kennedy assisted by the crowd sings the words. The mid-section sees Mark Tremonti leading the clapping, he’s soon back at the edge of the stage to play his solo. The headbangers in the crowd are giving it everything, as the tempo builds to a tight finish.

‘Sin After Sin’ is taken from the new album ‘Pawns & Kings’. It starts with a heavy crushing and squealing riff, before switching to Kennedy’s vocal. Kennedy wants to see everyone clapping, Nottingham obliges. The screens are displaying revolving skulls. The tempo changes create a powerfully charged atmosphere. This is moody, it sounds amazing. Tremonti, leaning back eyes closed, plays the solo which has him bending and distorting his guitars strings, feeling the notes.

The steady and dramatic drum-beat signals the start of ‘This Is War’ from ‘Pawns & Kings’. This track is a bit slower, but the beat is shaking the ground, Kennedy’s vocal is slow and direct. The beats and riffs mixed with the stage lighting is hypnotic, it’s drawing you in, totally grabbing your attention. The machine gun riffs have the crowd punching the air.

The debut album ‘One Day Remains’ is the source of ‘Broken Wings’. Mark Tremonti’s gentle strumming intro starts the track, the big screens showing floating feathers. Kennedy’s slow and moody lyric joins in against a steady beat provided by the rhythm section. A slight pause signals the crowd to join in, the place takes off for the chorus, arms waving and 10,000 screaming voices. The stage lights produce a glitter ball effect around the arena. The track concludes as it began, with Tremonti strumming his guitar. The crowd enjoyed that one.

It’s back to the first album for ‘Burn It Down’, Myles introduces Mark Tremonti who is going to take on the lead vocals for the track. It’s slow with a bit of a semi-acoustic feel, ballad like. Tremonti’s voice is deeper and passionate. The pace and emotion builds, it’s sounding great. Kennedy is leaning back, eyes closed as he plays the solo, he’s lost in his music. There’s smoke coming from around the soundboard area mixed with the lights creating a stunning effect, Manny who was stood beside me, goes running off to see if he can “get a shot”. That one went down very well in the Motorpoint Arena.

Apparently, it’s cold on stage, Myles is concerned his fingers won’t work. He warms them, and our ears up by crashing out a few riffs. Then, we’re into ‘Cry of Achilles’ taken from 2013’s album ‘Fortress’, the big intro is full of sound and power. Kennedy calls for the crowd to copy him in clapping. The stop/start riffs battle brilliantly with Marshall’s pounding bass. Tremonti’s solo glides us into the close. One of my favourites performed brilliantly.

A couple of stools are brought onto the stage, Kennedy and Tremonti perch themselves on them. Mark Tremonti has an acoustic guitar on his knee and starts strumming, it’s ‘In Loving Memory’ which is from ‘One Day Remains’. Nottingham goes silent and listens to the verse before joining in for the chorus. Kennedy asks the crowd to switch on their phone lights, and Nottingham becomes a galaxy, far, far away. It’s a marvellous sight.

The title track from the 2007 album ‘Blackbird’ is next. Myles Kennedy plays the intro; the crowd recognise it instantly and start cheering. The eerie lyrics, smoke and Sabbath like riff gives the arena a ‘Jack The Ripper in Whitechapel’ feel. Tremonti’s solo is spinechilling. The riffs are cuffing your ears. Myles Kennedy brings the track to a close with his own solo. That was epic.

Next, it’s ‘Wouldn’t You Rather’ is taken from ‘Walk the Sky’ released in 2019. This is heavier with a chugging riff. Marshall’s bass beats are ricocheting around the arena. Phillips is being brutal with his kit; white lights carve through the smoke.

We’re straight into ‘Isolation’ which can be found on ‘AB III’, rapid hard-hitting drums and strobe lights batter your senses from the start. Tremonti foot up on the monitor is joining in with the backing vocals. The Nottingham crowd are chanting along, with horns raised in the air. Myles Kennedy applauds the crowd for their participation.

With Scott Philips pounding his drums Myles Kennedy introduces the rhythm section, then taken from ‘One Day Remains’ we start ‘Metalingus’. Nottingham rises as one and begins to bounce, the words are being sung by everyone inside the arena. Fists, horns and hair casting giant shadows across the walls and ceiling. Manny is nodding along and grinning. Myles Kennedy is crouched by the stage edge singing, the crushing riff behind him, building the tension as he winds up the crowd, getting them to lower themselves down, before releasing the 10000 ‘Jack-in The Box’s, accompanied by smoke cannons. A brilliant spectacle and superb fun.

Myles Kennedy thanks the other bands who played tonight, the crowd show their appreciation too. ‘Open Your Eyes’ from the first album ‘One Day Remains’. Kennedy’s vocal is strong, he invites Nottingham to sing with him, they don’t need asking twice. The crowd are clapping and swaying. We get to sing back with Myles as he conducts the Nottingham Choir, the band play to a big finish, the smoke cannons erupt again. The band exit the stage waving. Tremonti has left his guitar reverberating on top of the stack.

After a while, the sound cuts out and the band re-join again on stage to huge cheers. It’s the title track of the recent ‘Pawns & Kings’ release. It starts with a heavy beat and intermittent drum rolls. The riffs are dirty, Kennedy’s voice crystal clear slicing through the imposing sounds. Tremonti and Marshall side-by-side, their hands sliding over the respective fret boards in unison as if tied together. Parts have a real grungy sound. The cocktail of sounds is fabulous, there is a build to a crescendo finish. A complicated track to play, with many different layers, but Alter Bridge pulled it off brilliantly.

“Are you ready to Rise Today?” asks Myles Kennedy. The final song tonight is ‘Rise Today’ from ‘Blackbird’. The screens behind showing stars as if flying through space, the Nottingham crowds steady claps start the song off, it’s not too long before the clapping is replaced by singing, Myles Kennedy is relegated to backing vocals. The band pause and let the crowd sing. The band play out to a big finish, before applauding the crowd, handing out guitar picks, Tremonti flies paper plane setlists into the arms of the crowd, before the band bow and leave the stage.

I’ve been fortunate to see Alter Bridge on several occasions, this was probably the best, a superb mix of new and old, fast and slow, hard hitting and heavy, performed brilliantly. Go see them if you can get a ticket, and with Halestorm and Mammoth WVH it’s an absolute banger of an evening.

Setlist: Silver Tongue; Addicted to Pain; Ghost Of Days Gone By; ‘Sin After Sin’; This Is War; Broken Wings; Burn It Down; Cry of Achilles; In Loving Memory; Blackbird; Wouldn’t You Rather; Isolation; Metalingus; Open Your Eyes; Pawns & Kings; Rise Today.

Photography by Manny Manson for MPM

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Alter Bridge Kick Off Pawns & Kings Tour at Tampa’s Hard Rock

In the end, the trek could wind up being the band’s biggest moment

After starting their album cycle with a European run, Alter Bridge kicked off the North American leg of their Pawns & Kings Tour last night with a sold out show at the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, Florida. The rock juggernauts are touring in support of their latest LP of the same name. With Mammoth WVH and Red serving as special guests, the massive tour is off to a powerful start.

Rock mainstays Red kicked off the evening’s festivities. The band has been in the studio as of late working on a brand new full-length LP. The album – titled Rated R – is due out this spring. The follow-up to 2020’s Declaration , Rated R is the band’s eight album and first release with new drummer Brian Medeiros.

They opened up with “Death of Me,” and ripped through a quick set that included the sweeping “Let It Burn” and the banger “Feed the Machine.” The finished with perhaps their biggest hit – “Breathe Into Me” from their GRAMMY®-nominated album End of Silence . Although they only had time to churn out six songs, it was enough to get the capacity crowd going.

Mammoth WVH had a mammoth year in 2022. The Wolfgang Van Halen outfit released its debut album, and the lead single “Distance” received a GRAMMY® nod for Best Rock Performance. Wolfgang, along with his live band, have toured relentlessly in support of the project. Now, they’re back out on the road with Alter Bridge after the initial European run late last year.

Wolfgang and Company kicked things off with their moniker song “Mammoth.” Highlights included “Epiphany” and “You’re to Blame,” as well as the signature song “Distance” which always serves as an emotional experience for both the band and the audience. The Deftones-eque track “Stone” has become an excellent staple in the band’s live shows. After introducing his band, WVH fired up the crowd for Alter Bridge with his fist-pumping anthem “Don’t Back Down.” The group is doing an excellent job of keeping rock ‘n’ roll alive and thriving.

The energy in the room was palpable as the capacity crowd awaited Alter Bridge to take the stage. Finally, the lights went down and the crowed quickly went from a low rumble to a loud roar. Guitarist Mark Tremonti ripped into the opening riff of “Silver Tongue” from the band’s latest LP, and off they went. The wasted no time launching right into “Addicted to Pain.” After back-to-back heavy hitters, they took their foot off the gas slightly for their power ballad “Ghosts of Days Gone By.” Songs like that truly show the band’s dynamic range.

The Tampa crowd was treated to the live debuts of two Pawns & Kings tracks “Holiday” and “Stay,” the latter featuring Tremonti on lead vocals. “Holiday” was released as a single just a few days ago, and both tracks garnered a favorable reaction from the audience. One fan even had a sign that read: “Thank you Alter Bridge for making me stay .”

Midway through the set, the band slowed things down with a pair of acoustic offerings. Myles Kennedy stayed on stage alone for a rendition of “Watch Over You.” Then, he was joined by Tremonti for “In Loving Memory.”

Then, as the rhythm section of Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips made its way back to the stage, the notes of Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird” gently began to float from Kennedy’s fingertips. The entire building knew that it was time for Alter Bridge’s song of the same name. Perhaps the keystone of their catalog, it’s this generation’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Simply one of the greatest songs ever written.

Watching Kennedy and Tremonti trade solos reminded us how much of an underrated guitar player Myles is. With Mark contributing more and more on vocals, one can’t help but wonder how long it may be – if ever – until we see another tandem like this. Until then, let’s enjoy watching this excellence.

The title track from Pawns & King s followed, and later “Isolation” hit the crowd over the head like a sledgehammer. The band wrapped up the set with “Metalingus.” With the crowd still wanting more, Alter Bridge came back with their seminal hit “Rise Today” followed by “Open Your Eyes” to end the night.

Sadly, there were several staple songs from Pawns & Kings that didn’t make it onto the setlist. The bone-crushing “This Is War,” the slow burner “Sin After Sin,” and the record’s crown jewel “Last Man Standing” were not played. The absence of the latter two tracks could be attributed to length. The band’s new 10-song outing is an absolute behemoth, clocking in at just under an hour. Alter Bridge are getting close to Tool territory here, with three songs on the album longer than six minutes each. Two of those just happen to be “Sin” and “Last Man.” The third,“Fable of the Silent Son,” is a staggering 8:29 and the longest recorded song in the band’s catalog – a distinction previously held by “Blackbird.”

Alter Bridge are seven albums into their 18-year career. At this point, as Tremonti confirmed on our Talk This Way Podcast , it’s getting tougher and tougher to choose a setlist. The absence of some of the aforementioned new songs, as well as previous gems like “Find the Real,” “Make It Right,” “White Knuckles,” and others, does leave something to be desired, however. If the fans keep showing up to potentially hear their favorite AB song, the band will keep touring (as their schedule permits, of course).

A lot of bands have trouble capturing on tape what the are capable of live. In Alter Bridge’s case, one could argue that they haven’t fully unleashed a stage spectacle that brings the epic music they’ve recorded to life. To be clear, the musicianship is some of the best there is; one of the tightest live acts around. Which is why fans need to sell out every single date of this tour, and stream the shit out of Pawns & Kings , so the band can book another leg that sees them moving around the stage on a giant chessboard, playing for their lives as the show goes on amidst all the hellish flames like in this scene from the hit film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone . Don’t laugh or roll your eyes, just watch the damn clip and tell me this wouldn’t be wild.

While it would be cool to see, perhaps that’s just not who Alter Bridge are. The pure talent of the band is almost unrivaled, and that’s all they really need to rely on. After almost two decades, the material they’ve cranked out has turned them into an absolute powerhouse.

By the the time their days on stage are done, they’ll have taken their rightful place among rock’s immortal acts.

Alter Bridge – Live Photo Gallery:

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