It’s been nine years since I last saw Alter Bridge live. That was back in 2008 when they supported Disturbed (P.O.D. (remember them?) and Behind Crimson Eyes also played that show just to make it odder). That show was at Festival Hall so it’s great to see them, tonight, now headlining that same venue. First up, however, we have Auckland rockers Like A Storm.
Like A Storm are pretty unique in that they kick things off with frontman Chris Brooks playing the didgeridoo for opening number Chaos as they band play a very hard rock style in the vein of bands like Seether and Papa Roach. With the large Like A Storm backdrop and smoke shooting out of the stage, the band play this like they are headlining and get the crowd moving. It’s great to see. They even throw in a cover of an Aussie classic in AC/DC‘s T.N.T. It’s surprising that it’s taken a band from Auckland over ten years to tour Australia but hopefully now they have once we’ll see them back sooner.
The last time Alter Bridge were in Australia was 2014’s Soundwave (R.I.P.) so fans have been keenly awaited a proper headline tour for a while now and from the moment they launch into opening number The Writing On The Wall, everyone knows they’re going to be in for a fantastic time. Frontman Myles Kennedy has one of the more unique voices in rock and he and guitarist Mark Tremonti’s guitar playing skills are sublime (as shown by a little “guitar off” they have towards the end of the night).
The band play through an epic two hour set which includes favourites such as Open Your Eyes, Addicted To Pain and Show Me A Leader before it all comes to an end with Rise Today leaving fans wondering where the last two hours has gone.
Alter Bridge show tonight exactly why they’ve taken the hard rock world by storm with an absolute masterclass in musicianship. Let’s hope now that it’s not another three years until we see them back in the country again.
