Mars Music Hall was packed to the brim on Wednesday when Halestorm kicked off their fall tour, playing to a sold-out Huntsville crowd.
Fans may have been expecting three bands on the bill heading into the concert, but New Years Day was not in attendance during Wednesday’s night showcase. The band is scheduled to join Halestorm for the remainder of their fall tour.
While that news might have disappointed some in attendance, opener The Warning took advantage. There was no subtleness to the band, as the trio of sisters from Monterrey, Mexico, delivered a full-on message that they were there to rock, and that’s precisely what they did for their 45-minute set. The energy was palpable from the second The Warning stepped on stage as the Villarreal siblings got the Mars Music Hall crowd into a frenzy. Though it was their first-ever show in Alabama, judging from the crowd’s reaction, it certainly won’t be their last.
Each member got time to shine during the performance, as the group’s setlist contained a majority of original tracks. However, it was a cover song that caught most people’s attention that included a slight twist. Fans instantly recognized the opening notes of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” The Warning then slowed the tempo down a bit to add their own flair, which created a unique and appreciated version of the tune.
It didn’t take Halestorm long to showcase their power when it was time for the headliner to perform. The show opened with short instrumentals before lead singer Lzzy Hale proclaimed, “I’m back from the dead!” The group headed straight into the track “Back From The Dead,” which shares the same name as the band’s latest record, released in May. It was a powerful way to open the show, and the crowd fed off that energy during the nearly two-hour performance. Throughout the showcase, Halestorm made sure to perform several newer tracks. However, the band did a solid job incorporating the older tunes into their setlist, making it a fun set for both longtime and new fans alike.Halestorm does an excellent job of allowing each member to get their time to shine. One of the more enjoyable parts of the set was watching drummer Arejay Hale get nearly a 10-minute drum solo. During that stretch, Arejay excited the crowd, showcasing his skills as he quickly switched up the tempo on his kit, as the audience cheered wildly. While that performance was fun, there was one thing that was clear throughout the entirety of the performance. While Halestorm’s sound is loaded with heavy instrumentals, their lead singer packs the most powerful punch, taking over each track where she is featured. That was never more present than when Lzzy performed a medley of three tracks on the piano, which included “Break In,” “Dear Daughter,” and “Raiser Your Horns.” The lack of heavy instrumentals highlighted her voice even more as she showcased her vocal talents.
At the end of that medley, Lzzy and lead guitarist Joe Hottinger performed an acoustic version of “Terrible Things” for what appeared to be the first time. Before the track started, Lzzy joked with the crowd, stating, “This is a terrible idea.” In retrospect, it was anything but that as the duo shined together, making it one of the standout performances of the evening.
During the evening, the band pointed out the fact that it had been a while since they had played Huntsville, last headlining a small club, Sammy T’s, back in 2009. Since that time, the band has graduated to larger venues. With Huntsville’s music scene continuing to grow and the ovation that the group received, fans may not have to wait 13 years before Halestorm returns to The Rocket City.
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