Halestorm, Manchester Apollo. 26th September 2018

Something a bit different tonight as we headed off to see Halestorm. I’d never heard of them before, despite this tour covering their 4th (apparently highly acclaimed) album. I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but hey if anyone loves a gig it’s me. The Apollo is far from my favourite venue, but with the right act, it can be quite magical (Sigur Ros, NIN I’m looking at you), but tonight Halestorm... just about cover the basics. It’s loud, full of rock n roll swagger, singer Lzzy has a belting ‘did my ribcage just shatter’ voice, but it’s still a bit too soft for my liking, rock with the edges (albeit expertly) rounded off. This is Lzzy’s Show, the rest of the band are incidental, despite what the bass player who repeatedly tries to hog the front of the stage thinks and I’ve no issue with that to be honest, there aren’t nearly enough women in rock bands. However after watching Shirley Manson the other week, Lzzy for me falls short. Manson is dangerous, charged, outspoken and full of pin point aggression. Lzzy isn’t. She’s a bit like a hard rock Shania Twain. That all said, am I just being a boring picky bloke, over critical? Yeah probably a little bit and to be fair it’s really not that bad, but then there’s a reason this band are largely unheard of in the UK. I’m sure US audiences lap this blues stomp, straight up rock stuff, but damn if they could just find that bite point a little, this lot could be so much more... and what’s with America bands coming here and constantly shouting “Manchester!”? I know where I live and the fact that you can remember which city you’re in tonight does not impress me. Finally, it says a lot when one of the highlights is the drummer playing a solo with oversized drumsticks the size of comedy rolling pins. Bloody drummers.