10 March 2015 (gig)
20 March 2015
This writer remembers seeing Halestorm ripped apart by Heaven’s Basement some years back. It’s not that they were bad, they crucified lumpen headliners Theory of a Deadman, just that they didn’t have much of a spark about them, and a collection of relatively weak songs.
They weren’t going to be ripped up tonight. Wilson merely ruffled their hair a bit with a spirited if unoriginal set though its early days for them. And a light caress from Nothing More who are exceptional musicians but are hell bent on creating a gulf between them and interest with self-indulgent theatrics.
No such mucking around from Halestorm as they launch into Mz Hyde with the clear intent of playing no frills heavy rock. That’s not to say they are simplistic, they just get to the point and It’s Not You and Freak Like Me, both cast iron crowd pleasers, do so. The set is pretty evenly drawn from both albums with newbie Amen lobbed in. Though for some reason after the ‘dedicated to the girls’ Daughters of Darkness, they go slightly off the boil and just lose that initial intensity.
It’s picked up again with Lizzy’s solo version of Hate It When You See Me Cry but the following drum solo, no matter how personable drummer Arejay Hale - giant drumstick and all - goes on far too long.
Having said that, the band change up a gear and finish the main set with a blitz of old and the brand new. Brand new thrashy Mayhem is just the right intro for I Get Off, seguing into a vicious Love Bites (So Do I), all rounded off by the anthemic singalong of I Miss the Misery.
Knowing they have a strong setlist, they are assured, brash and heavy which when added together means that tonight’s Halestorm bears little resemblance to the band that played at the other end of Camden five years ago. Words aren’t going to be eaten but credit where credits due: Halestorm are a formidable live band.
Photo courtesy of Jake Giles Netter.
