Dance Gavin Dance has announced a US tour for April and May. Their opening acts will be Memphis May Fire, Volumes, and Moon Tooth. Tickets available at dancegavindance.com
I was granted the opportunity to attend Alter Bridge’s Walk the Sky Tour twice this week, and of course I gratefully took it. Who in their right mind would turn down the chance to see Deepfall, Clint Lowery, and Alter Bridge?
Round one was in Nashville, Tennessee, at the War Memorial Auditorium. I saw Alter Bridge there back in 2016. (You can read about it here.)
The show on Saturday was absolutely phenomenal! The audience — a sold out crowd — was fired up and beyond ready for a rock show…and the bands more than delivered.
From the instant the lights went down and the first note was struck, the atmosphere was filled with electricity. The Michigan-based Deepfall established the tone for the night, kicking off with the original “I’m Sick.” Their brand of melodic metal won the room over quickly, carried by a modern take on Journey’s “Separate Ways” and solidified by the heartfelt “Cancer.”
Next up was Clint Lowery. This was only their second show as a band, but one would never have known: they performed together as if it had been years. With a set that included the singles “God Bless the Renegades,” “Alive,” and “Kings,” they had more than enough to offer, and Nashville willingly accepted it.
Finally, it was time for the headliners. The lights dimmed and “One Life” filled the venue, along with the roar of the fans. Vocalist/guitarist Myles Kennedy, lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips walked onto the stage, the intro faded out, and the quartet ripped into “Wouldn’t You Rather?” We were off.
Alter Bridge played many fan favorites, including “Isolation,” “Ghost of Days Gone By,” and the always well-received “Rise Today” and “Open Your Eyes.” Much to my excitement, they had brought back “Broken Wings,” from their debut album One Day Remains.
When Myles was handed his acoustic guitar, an audience of over 2000 cheered so enthusiastically that he had to simply stop and take it all in. After a speech in which he thanked us for lifting his mood, he plucked out the familiar beginning to “Watch Over You,” receiving yet another storm of applause. I could hear him perfectly, of course, but it warmed my heart to hear an entire room singing every word, even before he urged us to. (Watch.)
The band’s encore was comprised of their latest single, “Godspeed,” and the heavy-hitter “Addicted to Pain.” It was my seventh Alter Bridge show, and I would swear they’re only getting better.
After they left the stage, my friend and I headed back to the buses, as per usual. We met Mark, who is always gracious, and I told him about my Alter Bridge tattoo. (It was much too cold to show him.) We stayed long enough to say hello to Brian, then we bailed out: it was a long drive back to Huntsville. Besides, we would be seeing them again in a few days.
It is unnecessary to write a novel about round two in Huntsville, Alabama, though I certainly could. In the three days since I’d witnessed the amazing spectacle that was the Walk the Sky Tour, the trio of bands seemed to have stepped up their game.
The venue — Mars Music Hall — was smaller and less packed out, but the fans who were there made up for that with their endless energy. And man, it was loud in there!
Deepfall was again responsible for setting the bar ridiculously high, and Clint Lowery threw it up a few more notches. As I told Clint on Twitter after the show, I fell more and more in love with each song. Alter Bridge’s work was certainly cut out for them, and they easily soared to even greater heights.
There were noticeable setlist changes. I was thrilled when Mark’s lead vocal talents were used on “Forever Falling,” and the blistering “Native Son” was a welcome addition.
For the acoustic portion of the set, Myles was joined by Mark. They played “In Loving Memory,” which the fans belted out with gusto. (See it here.) My mom cried for the entire song, and its successor, “Blackbird.”
I have never doubted that Alter Bridge is the best band in the world, and yet they keep establishing that fact over and over. They may not be filling arenas in the U.S., but they have a growing fanbase that is loyal in a way I’ve rarely seen. With two more spectacular performances branded in my memory, I fully encourage anyone reading this to go to the Walk the Sky Tour if you can. This is not one you want to miss!
On Thursday, October 17th, Alter Bridge brought the Victorious Sky Tour to Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham, Alabama. The other two bands on the bill were Dirty Honey and Skillet. As an added bonus, my dad accompanied me.
Dirty Honey opened the show. The Los Angeles-based quartet pumped up an already enthusiastic crowd with their brand of rock, which is heavily influenced by such bands as Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. With their talent and obvious love of what they were doing, Dirty Honey held the fans in thrall and set the atmosphere for a great night of music.
Skillet was next. I had never seen them before and I was suitably impressed. Once on the stage, the members of Skillet were a nonstop ball of energy. Front man John Cooper was quite charismatic, constantly moving and encouraging the audience’s participation. The band did all of their biggest hits: “Hero,” “Monster,” “Awake and Alive,” “Whispers in the Dark,” and “Legendary,” just to name a few. By the time they concluded with “The Resistance,” the crowd was practically vibrating from adrenaline and well and truly primed for Alter Bridge.
When the lights dimmed again, the fans erupted. “One Life,” the opening track from Alter Bridge’s latest album, Walk the Sky, played over the PA and fog filled the air. Renewed screams rose as each member of the band — vocalist/guitarist Myles Kennedy, guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips — walked into view. The intro music faded out, and Alter Bridge ripped into “Wouldn’t You Rather.”
Unlike the Alter Bridge concerts I’ve attended in the past, this one focused on the band’s heavier side. “Wouldn’t You Rather” was followed by “Isolation” and “Come to Life.” Two more songs from Walk the Sky were included (“Pay No Mind” and “In the Deep”), and there was no acoustic interlude. However, Alter Bridge did play “Blackbird,” always a huge crowd pleaser.
The band’s performance was amazing, as usual. Myles serenaded his fans while Brian and Mark pulled faces at the audience and tossed out several picks. The sing-along portions of “Rise Today” and “Open Your Eyes” were absolutely magical. Perhaps my favorite moment, though, was when Myles joked that he might mess up the beginning of “Cry of Achilles” because his hands were so cold. It was cute.
I have now seen Alter Bridge six times and I have never left a show disappointed. They continue to prove over and over that they are the best rock band in the business.
I will end this review with a personal anecdote. I met Mark for the fifth consecutive show, and he made my night.
Now, let me preface this story. The last time Alter Bridge came to Birmingham, I asked Mark for a pick after we had taken pictures. He told me that he doesn’t keep any on him, apologized, and promised to give me one next time. So, Thursday evening, I tweeted him prior to their set and let him know I was in the front and was hoping for a pick. The official Alter Bridge page retweeted me. However, Mark didn’t see it and he did not throw me one.
When Mark emerged from the bus, he approached me first. I let him read the tweet and joked that he had let me down. He chuckled and said he was sorry; simultaneously, he was checking his pockets. “Oh. Wait,” he said, then he held up a pick. It was the best moment ever…along with Mark letting me put a Snapchat filter on him for a selfie.
This may have claimed the top spot for my favorite interaction with a rock star. Have I mentioned how happy Alter Bridge makes me?
Palaye Royale are going to be busy this spring! The rockers on the rise will be direct support for Halestorm’s April and May U.S. dates. Once that wraps up, Palaye Royale will be doing an eight-date headlining run.
Tickets for the shows with Halestorm are on sale now! Tickets for Palaye Royale’s headlining dates go on sale Friday, March 8th. (Pre-sale and VIP available for the Royal Council here.)
2019 is shaping up to be quite a year for live music — and it’s only March! I’m sure I will be sharing more tour announcements in the coming weeks, but for now, here are a few that piqued my interest.
Alice Cooper w/Halestorm and Motionless in White
The nineteen city tour kicks off July 17th in Allentown, PA. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 8th!!!! For a full list of dates and ticket info, visit any of the bands’ official sites.
Speaking of Motionless in White, the Scranton, PA natives will be hitting the road with Atreyuand Wilson, starting April 15th.
Nita Strauss
Nita Strauss, guitarist for Alice Cooper, is hitting the road solo. She will be offering support for John 5 at the San Diego stop of his Invasion 2019 Tour. Her North American trek also includes a handful of dates with Fozzy and Paul Gilbert. Nita’s tour kicks off April 10th in Hermosa Beach, California, and wraps up June 8th in Poughkeepsie, NY. Visit Loudwire for more!
The “ALT-IMATE” Tour ft. Live, Bush, and Our Lady Peace
This is the dream lineup for all you 90’s alternative rock lovers! The tour is in honor of the 25th anniversaries of both Live’sThrowing Copper and Bush’sSixteen Stone. The tour begins June 6th in Mashantucket, CT, and ends September 8th in Rochester, MI. Tickets go on sale March 11th.
This past October, Alter Bridge played at the Royal Albert Hall in London, accompanied by the 52-piece Parallax Orchestra. The momentous occasion was recorded and will be available everywhere as a CD/DVD combo on September 7th. You can preorder it now via Alter Bridge’s official site.
The track list is as follows:
CD 1 01 – “Slip To The Void” 02 – “Addicted To Pain” 03 – “Before Tomorrow Comes” 04 – “The Writing On The Wall” 05 – “Cry Of Achilles” 06 – “In Loving Memory” 07 – “Fortress” 08 – “Ties That Bind” 09 – “The Other Side” 10 – “Brand New Start” 11 – “Ghost Of Days Gone By”
CD 2 12 – “The Last Hero” 13 – “The End Is Here” 14 – “Words Darker Than Their Wings” 15 – “Waters Rising” 16 – “Lover” 17 – “Wonderful Life / Watch Over You” 18 – “This Side Of Fate” 19 – “Broken Wings” 20 – “Blackbird” 21 – “Open Your Eyes”
DVD 01 – “Intro” 02 – “Slip To The Void” 03 – “Addicted To Pain” 04 – “Before Tomorrow Comes” 05 – “Show preparation / Interview” 06 – “The Writing On The Wall” 07 – “Cry Of Achilles” 08 – “In Loving Memory” 09 – “Fortress” 10 – “The first rehearsal / Interview” 11 – “Ties That Bind” 12 – “The Other Side” 13 – “Rehearsal reactions” 14 – “Brand New Start” 15 – “Ghost Of Days Gone By” 16 – “Future Song Foundation / Interview” 17 – “The Last Hero” 18 – “The End Is Here” 19 – “Rehearsal – WDTTW / Interview” 20 – “Words Darker Than Their Wings” 21 – “Waters Rising” 22 – “Lover” 23 – “Family / Interview” 24 – “Wonderful Life/Watch Over You” 25 – “This Side Of Fate” 26 – “Fans / Interview” 27 – “Broken Wings” 28 – “Blackbird” 29 – “Open Your Eyes” 30 – “End titles / Credits”
And to build even more anticipation, Alter Bridge has shared the video of “Addicted to Pain” from the DVD.
Dirty Honey
Skillet
