The Legendary Wembley Arena and its long history in hosting iconic music events with the likes such as Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and even David Bowie to name a few of the biggest music names to walk through its doors, it’s not surprising that Izzy Hale felt right at home and on form to rip through the Hailstorms’ band set, pleasing fans old and young. With ‘Back From The Dead’ Halestorms’ fifth and latest album released back in 2022, it’s not surprising that the four piece band from Nashville are more than ready to play their largest venue to date with Wembley being the last stop of the extensive European tour. Lead singer Izzy Hale with her band are recognised as one of the most dynamic and energetic bands in the rock world. The tour took with them Black Veil Brides and the lesser known Mothica.
Opening up this evening’s proceedings was American singer McKenzie Ellis who adopted the name ‘Mothica’. Her set was laced with some intense, emotional and touching electro pop and rock and she spoke plentifully about her struggles. She has been producing music since the age of 18 and has made a name for herself by releasing albums on musical streaming platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud. Mothica’s latest album release is called ‘Nocturnal’ one memorable moment was the emotionally sung Bring Me the Horizon band cover version, ‘Can you feel my Heart’.
Wembley got a jam backed, pyro ridden 50 minute set from the Black Veil Bride with material from their back catalogue and three singles from their latest album ‘The Phantom Tomorrow’, with some pleasing audience singalongs. With cords of ‘Fallen Angles’ causing a major eruption amongst the loyal fans. The band was originally formed in 2006 by Andy Biersack in Cincinnati, Ohio and are a visual ‘good time’ rock band with many a cliché, but certainly know how to entertain. Frontman Andy Biersack worked the audience into a frenzy whilst strutting menacingly from side to side along the entire stage. Despite being a short set, Black Veil Brides showed their fan base that they are now able to fill stadiums and are more than capable of holding their own. It was clear that many of the audience were here to see the Brides as well as Halestorm!
Halestorm have been around for a few years now since their incarnation in Red Lion as a duo Lzzy Hale and Arejay Hale and losing a talent show in Pennsylvania to a tap dancing cowgirl! Halestorm are well known for their near no stop touring, often performing as many as 250 shows a year and are a regular appearing act at music festivals such as ‘Download’. At Wembley they showed their fan base they can deliver a stunningly impressive show and that Lzzy’s voice was quite phenomenal.
The show opened up with her performing an unaccompanied solo ‘Raise your Horns’ with Lzzy’s voice comfortably capable of filling the large stage. The rest of the band soon after entered the stage to an explosion of confetti and ripping through the song ‘I Miss the Misery’. With the largely female audience at Wembley tonight, Lzzy reached out and urged the girls to get on shoulders to let them be seen!
Halestorm were very impressive throughout the evening, tearing through the songs old and new with attitude with Lzzy ceding the spotlight only once when Arejay offered a drum solo that included a nifty drum stick trick! The encore saw Lzzy return to play a small white piano before erupting again to the full rendition of ‘Raise your Horns’, a well-crafted Ballard to the delight of the fans.
At Wembley, Lzzy showed the prowess of her vocal range and as the band there were musically tight and raised the bar a notch and adapted to play larger arena shows.
Halestorm Set List:
I Miss the Misery
Love Bites (So Do I)
I Get Off
Wicket Ways
Freak like Me
Amen
Terrible Things
Rock Show
Familiar Taste of Poison
Takes My Life
Drum Solo
Back From the Dead
Bombshell
I am the Fire
ENCORE:
Break In / Shatter Me
Raise Your Horns
Here’s To Us
The Steeple
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