The Halestorm of 2015

By Christine Stone on November 25, 2014

With Travis Failey

Joe and Lzzy (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

The Storm of 2015 came early as Halestorm reigned over the House of Blues in Orlando on Sunday night. Halestorm rocked the House as they took a break from recording the follow-up to their 2012 breakout release in The Strange Case of… This will be the third studio album for Halestorm, their first being their self-titled album which was released in 2009. Halestorm will wrap up their current tour with New Medicine in a couple of weeks. Check out our interview with vocalist Jake Scherer of New Medicine here:

https://www.rocketsports-ent.com/interview-with-jack-scherer-of-new-medicine/

Halestorm will be touring with country star, Eric Church, in November through December as the band finishes their third studio album. Ok, I have to admit, country? Really? But, if any female crooner can do it, Lzzy can. In my opinion, Lzzy has the pipes and the musical talent to make it in any genre and she proved this when she collaborated not only with Church but also with violinist Lindsey Stirling on “Shatter Me.” Check out their video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49tpIMDy9BE

Lzzy & Arejay Hale (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Halestorm is a rock & metal band consisting of brother-sister duo, Elizabeth “Lzzy” Hale (vocals, rhythm guitar and piano) and AreJay Hale (drummer), Joe Hottinger (guitarist), and Josh Smith (bassist). If you haven’t heard of Halestorm, you may be living under a rock. In fact, the song “Love Bites” from The Strange Case of… earned Halestorm their first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in February of 2013. Lzzy made the cover of the December 2009 issue of Revolver Magazine as one of the “Hottest Chicks in Metal.”

To say that Halestorm is a rock and roll family is kind of an understatement. I think everyone knows that Arejay and Lzzy are brother and sister, but did you know that their dad, Roger Hale, used to play bass for the band until Josh Smith joined them in 2004? Currently their mother, Beth, is Halestorm’s tour manager and their dad drives the tour bus. I couldn’t help but notice that mom was rocking out backstage, watching her kids with an obvious gleam in her eye, and singing the words to every line. One thing’s for sure, I’d bet that Lzzy’s and Arejay’s parents never told them to, “Turn that damn music down!”

Halestorm gave the crowd a little peek into the upcoming release when they opened their set with “Mayhem.” If this is the direction that the band is going in, I say “don’t stop.” It’s melodic yet aggressive and also got the crowd involved early with a catchy chorus and non-stop clapping, foot tapping and head banging. Metal, rock and punk in a blender: delicious.

Lzzy Hale (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Next up would be the greatest scream to open a song since “Painkiller,” by Rob Halford in, “I Miss the Misery.” A lot of musicians can pull off screams like that only in the studio, but Lzzy nailed it.

After “Misery,” Halestorm played a series of their biggest hits and fan favorites in “Love Bites (So Do I),” “Freak Like Me” and “It’s Not You.”

Lzzy Hale (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Throughout Halestorm’s set, I waited in anticipation to hear what covers they would play. They recently released a covers album ReAniMate 2.0: The CoVeRs featuring “Gold Dust Woman,” by Fleetwood Mac and “Shoot To Thrill,” by AC/DC, amongst others. They have also covered monster metal cuts in the past and made them their own, especially “Slave to the Grind,” by Skid Row.

Joe Hottinger (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

But I wouldn’t be disappointed. They played Guns and Roses’ “Out To Get Me,” and Lzzy showed her affinity for the aforementioned Rob Halford and Judas Priest with “Dissident Aggressor.” This was an interesting track for them, to not only play live, but also to record it, as only the true die-hard Priest fans are familiar with that song. Being selfish, I can only hope that Halestorm and Judas Priest collaborate live in the near future.

Lzzy Hale (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Lzzy truly shows her range when she performs. She can scream like Axel Rose one minute, and then sing a beautiful melody the next. She can shred on the guitar one minute, and then play the piano so beautifully it takes your breath away, like when she plays the ballad “Break In.”

Next up was an interesting choice in AreJay’s drum solo. He is a solid player but the pure enjoyment that he experiences while playing is palpable. He plays with flair and his trademark high energy style and you can tell that he genuinely appreciates the fans, what they provide for him, not only as a musician, but as an individual.

Lzzy & Arejay Hale (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

At the conclusion of AreJay ‘s drum solo, Dylan Wood, the drummer from New Medicine, joined Arejay as a special treat for the crowd. Two drummers: one kit. It was different because it wasn’t a drum solo: but a duo, and I hope that others will get to see this performance on the rest of the tour.

Arejay Hale (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Halestorm would play another series of hits including “Dissident Aggressor,” “Daughters of Darkness,” ”I Get Off,” and “Mz. Hyde.” These tracks really show the chemistry that the band has as Joe, Josh and Lzzy are in perfect harmony, physically and musically. Helping their success is that Lzzy Hale is a role model to women everywhere, as her perseverance has paid off and she never uses her sexuality to advance the band or to sell records. It’s pure talent and shows in her complete musical skills and the collaboration of the band’s songwriting.

Lzzy Hale (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Closing out the night after an extended sixteen-song set, Halestorm performed another new track off their upcoming album, “I Like it Heavy,” and ended the show with one of my favorite songs, “Here’s to Us.” You may recall that Lzzy joined forces with Slash, Brent Smith, Myles Kennedy, Maria Brink and others and recorded a guest version of “Here’s to Us.” Although Slash, Brent and the rest of the rock and roll family couldn’t be there, the crowd was happy to sing along with Halestorm. It was the perfect way to end a perfect night. I fully anticipate that with Halestorm’s release in the New Year, 2015 will be known as the “Year of the Halestorm.” Until we meet again next year Halestorm, “Keep it heavy.”

For more info on Halestorm: http://www.halestormrocks.com/#