Pennsylvanian hard rock Metallers Halestorm romped into town last night, bringing a musical storm that gave Auckland’s Great Hall a veritable shakeup.
Seemingly born for and into rock n roll, Lzzy (Elizabeth) Hale was raised on the greats courtesy of her dad. Alice Cooper, Heart, Led Zeppelin, and especially the late great Ronnie James Dio.
Bringing her CDs to her girlfriends’ party when she was 11, ooo yuck was their response when she spun Black Sabbath and the rest of that mob.
Fast forward to these days, and at 40, Hale fronts the appropriately named Halestorm, and has been driving that unit since they formed in 1997. She now stands as one of the premiere female frontwomen in the genre, if not the frontrunner.
A favourite returning group to NZ (last here in 2019), Halestorm arrived for a one-off show on their Australasian tour, teaming up with Kiwi hard Rocker’s on the rise Black Smoke Trigger.
Likely lads from Napier, Black Smoke Trigger have U.S. industry representation, and are moving and shaking their way to places here and elsewhere.
Driven up front confidently by vocalist Baldrick, the four-piece rocked a tight 8 song opening set, including songs from their debut record Set It Off (2019), and a string of recent singles.
All with great hair, and casual white shirts and black paints for tonight, they’d make the perfect wild Rock’n’roll wedding band.
Latest singles Perfect Torture and Proof of Life (both released this year), got an airing, giving momentum for their upcoming international touring schedule.
Drummer Josh Te Maro sported dreads and technically owned his drumkit, plus harnessed fire. Dan Fulton at stage right hunkered down on bass and added vocal harmonies. Fulton has great taste, he appeared to be playing a Fender Precision. Lead guitarist Charlie Wallace roamed the stage and his fretboard, interacting with Baldrick whenever he crossed paths.
Black Smoke Trigger certainly have the product and the chops to go higher and further. Wish them luck as they jump on a plane to Europe to join Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson in Paris next week.
Stagehands including band members assisted to allow a not too long break between acts, ushering in the perfect storm.
Lzzy opened with an acapella interpretation of Raise Your Horns. In tandem with I Miss Misery (with all in), we knew she and Halestorm had brought the goods.
Love Bites (So Do I) was rapid, the aggression being an element that trends through Halestorm’s repertoire.
I Get Off played out with angry passion, endorsing Halestorm’s signature sound. Again, Lzzy broke free with an acapella vocal, showcasing her skills as one of the most bombastic female singers in hard rock/metal. She is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
Wicked Ways motored along, its dark undertones further mythologising Halestorm’s essence. Hale tonight looked like a rock goddess, and when she lost her jacket for a black short-top the wolf whistles were inevitable.
Freak Like Me seemed self-reflective, and it worked as a mirror for all in-house. Upon being given a toy sheep from fan Amelia, Lzzy reflected that she grew up on a farm and had a pet sheep named Snickers. She dedicated Amen to her for the humble gift.
Lead guitarist Joe Hotting (also Lzzy’s partner), was in happy-go-lucky mode, comfortable shredding or playing more traditional solos on point and on cue. Bassist Josh Smith wore a sensible hat, he needed it to keep the other larrikins in check.
Fellow Hale & Lzzy’s brother Arejay got a drum spotlight, soloing in entertaining fashion, incorporating all the tricks, and even graduating to a giant pair of drumsticks and mastering how to apply those to the kit!
Regarding International Women’s Day, Lzzy urged wahine to be yourselves. She proclaimed you don’t have to be strong. You are strong!
Bumping into devoted live music fan and mental health advocate Andrew Harvey, he tipped off the song What Sober Couldn’t Say, and highlighted Hale being a spokesperson for women’s empowerment and mental health.
Back From the Dead, the opener and title track off their most recent long player (2022), raged and epitomised their return. Playing a selection of her customary Kramer guitars (knowledge courtesy of local gat wiz Sharne Scarborough), Lizzy’s red and black model proved eye-catching, syncing up with Halestorm’s backdrop logo colour thematics.
Set closer Do Not Disturb laid out what goes on behind closed doors, Lzzy wailing and maintaining her intense energy. Referencing a line in the song, Hale stated New Zealand, this could be my favourite accent in the world. With numerous praises of this nation throughout the evening, it seemed she meant it.
A decent encore saw Lzzy jumping on keys solo, chatting about the vividness of seeing stars in our skies. The amazing experience she had of being flown in to stand on a glacier here, and being truly moved by NZ this time.
The band invited Black Smoke Trigger back on stage, and in the house Devilskin, who Hale gave credit to as being responsible for enticing them to Aotearoa.
Band intros were dished out to rapturous applause, then Lzzy proclaimed that tonight this is my church, as the band launched into finale number The Steeple.
One recalled the line from Maxi Jazz/Faithless’ classic God Is A DJ.
Lzzy generously gave away her bracelets (made from guitar strings), while setlists, pics and drumsticks all were donated to grateful fans. Another one done and dusted for Halestorm, with a guarantee from Lzzy that they will be back sooner rather than later. Storming!
Mike Beck
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Halestorm
Black Smoke Trigger
Halestorm Setlists
- Raise Your Horns (Acapella)
- I Miss Misery
- Love Bites (So Do I)
- I Get Off
- Wicked Ways
- Freak Like Me
- Amen
- Rock Show
- Familiar Taste of Poison
- Takes My Life
- Back From the Dead
- Bombshell
- Chemicals
- Do Not Disturb
- Break In
- Raise Your Horns
- Here’s To Us
- The Steeple