Alter Bridge / Motorpoint Arena / Nottingham

Dec 7

Dec 7 Alter Bridge / Motorpoint Arena / Nottingham

A cold and wintery Monday night sees us heading to the Motorpoint Arena for what promises to be a great show, with three great bands on the line up. The first day of November this year is also day 1 of a tour that promises a lot of good music and good vibes. Rock icons Alter Bridge have taken the trip across the pond to present their new album ‘Pawns & Kings’ live. And the quartet is not traveling alone. Joining them on the road is none other than Halestorm and Mammoth WVH

First up on stage is Mammoth WVH, fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen, who wowed audiences worldwide in 2022 with his incredible guitar playing skills at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert. Named in honour of his fathers band (called Mammoth before it became Van Halen) Wolf is joined by Frank Sidoris (guitar), Jon Jourdan (rhythm guitar), Ronnie Ficarro (bass) and Garrett Whitlock (drums) and they played for about half an hour and delivered seven songs all from the 2021 self titled album “Mammoth WVH”. Clearly inheriting his fathers skills with the axe which are demonstrated right off the mark in Mammoth, Wolf also has a fantastic and expressive voice and talented keyboardist as demonstrated during Epiphany, and Mr Ed is characterised by its punchy guitar riffs. There’s a real nice mix here too, from more mellow blues rock, to hard rock and metal. The band line up and take a bow to a loud cheer from the Nottingham crowd. It’s richly deserved. A polished and entertaining set.

Set List

Mammoth

Mr Ed

Epiphany

Think It Over

Distance

You’re to Blame

Don’t Back Down

Next up are a Nottingham fan favourite Halestorm, fronted by the charismatic Lzzy Hale. The set is built around a core of new songs from 2022’s album “Back from the Dead” and the new material fits in seamlessly with the older hits. Hedaing out on stage alone, in a harsh white spot, Lzzy, with red Gibson slung round her neck screams out the opening lyrics as the band join her for The Steeple from the 2022 album “Back from the Dead” and it epitomises what Halestorm do so well, hard, punchy rock ! The energy levels are through the roof and this continues through Wicked Ways also form the new album which is hard and heavy.

Lzzy has an incredible voice with a great range, and tonight she was on top form, belting out the high and long notes with ease. Old favourite I Get Off gets a huge roar from the big crowd. The band leave the stage as Arejay Hale (Lzzy’s younger brother) delivers a long, and impressive drum solo. Interacting with the crowd, urging them on to shout to the beats, Arejay pulled out the novelty four foot long drum sticks and wielded them with ease. The crowd were loving this ! The band returned for the last few numbers.

Lzzy introduces each of the band members and finishes with “Oh and I’m Lzzy !” to laughter from the crowd before they dive into I Miss the Misery from 2012’s “A Strange Case of…”. A great track with a real sense of and anger / angst to the lyrics that has the crowd singing along.

I really enjoyed the title track form the new album Back from the Dead. The set ended with the every popular I Miss the Misery. For those new to Halestorm, I think they made a few new friends tonight and all in all, Halestorm brought the arena close to a boiling point ready for Alter Bridge.

Set List

The Steeple – Back from the Dead 2022

Wicked Ways – Back from the Dead 2022

I Get Off – Halestorm 2009

Brightside – Back from the Dead 2022

Mine – Single 2022

Familiar Taste of Poison – Halestorm 2009

Back From The Dead – Back from the Dead 2022

Love Bites (So Do I) – The Strange Case Of… 2012

I Miss the Misery – The Strange Case Of… 2012

After a short turn round on stage, the lights dimmed, and Alter Bridge hit the stage and it was immediately obvious, we were in for a treat ! With Myles Kennedy’s iconic voice and Mark Tremonti’s signature sound, you can’t really go wrong and that was clear right form the off, starting the night with Silver Tongue from the new 2022 album “Pawns and Kings” the quartet start their almost two-hour set with a bang. A simpler stage design focuses attention on the band and tonight Alter Bridge are on red hot form.

The pace and intensity is unrelenting and the large crowd are loving every second of the performance. One of the highlights for me was Ghost of Days Gone By from 2010’2 “AB III” album, a monster of a track – the riffs from Myles Kennedy’s are relentless and has the crowd clapping along as Scott Phillips drums are working overtime, beating out the rhythm.

The band effortlessly rips through a 16 song set list including 4 new songs from the current album. There’s a wonderful rendition of In Loving Memory as a pair of stools are brought out and Myles Kennedy and MarkTremonti, on acoustic guitar sit as Kennedy delivers a breathe taking emotional vocal performance. The place is silent as the crowd listens intently, before joining in with the chorus. It’s one of those truly memorable concert moments. A calming and emotional interlude from the otherwise energy-filled night. No Alter Bridge show is complete without Blackbird and tonight Myles did not disappoint. His vocal delivery of this classic was immaculate.

Personal highlight of the night was a fantastic version of Wouldn’t You Rather from 2019’s “Walk the Sky”. The main set ends with a classic in Open Your Eyes from 2004’s “One Day Remains”

For an encore we had the title track from 2022’s “Pawns & Kings”, followed by the powerful, anthemic Rise Todayfrom 2007’s iconic album “Blackbird” which the audience eagerly sing along to, reducing the band to support act as they power out the lyrics, leaving the band members in awe.

Alter Bridge… Halestorm…. and Mammoth WVH – Just wow ! What a package these three make. Although quite different and each bringing something different to the table, there is a musical harmony between them which works so so well. I’d be hard pressed to recommend a better night of rock and metal for you.

Set List

Silver Tongue – Pawns and Kings 2022

Addicted to Pain – Fortress 2013

Ghost of Days Gone By – AB III 2010

Sin After Sin – Pawns and Kings 2022

This is War – Pawns and Kings 2022

Broken Wings – One Day Remains 2004

Burn It Down – One Day Remains 2004

Cry of Achilles – Fortress 2013

In Loving Memory – One Day Remains 2004

Blackbird – Blackbird 2007

Wouldn’t You Rather – Walk the Sky 2019