ALTER
BRIDGE
LIKE A STORM - LIVING
COLOR
When the initials of a band and a venue are the
same, it seems they were purpose made for each
other. This is the story of an epic night.
Openers of the night are LIKE A STORM.
Immediately it becomes clear that the crowd
tonight are willing to start a party. The famous
ANCIENNE BELGIQUE isn’t filled to the brim
yet, but the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.
It seems notting will s top these fans from
partying hard. And the band is adding to that
feeling. LIKE A STORM are famous for their
use of the didgeridoo and their full bodied
baritone solos. They deliver in every conceivable
way tonight. With punchy, catchy riffs, they heat
up the crowd for the bands to come, and they
even manage to have some intimate moments
with the crowd during TNT from ACDC. Their
looks only add to the atmosphere. This is a band
that has a clear line set out on where they want
to go. They have a recognizable style, both on
stage and in their videoclips. Otherwise playing
most songs from their latest album AWAKEN
THE FIRE, these kiwi’s have set the bar high for
the night. Ending their set with LOVE THE
WAY YOU HATE ME, the crowd was well in
shape for what was to come.
Next on stage are LIVING COLOR. At first
they didn’t really ring a bell with me, but CULT
OF PERSONALITY does. For me, this is a
band I know, but I didn’t know I know them. I
know some of their songs, their greatest hits, but
I just didn’t know the band name. A mistake I’m
not likely to make again. For every lover of
funky, bluesy, bass-slapping rock music, this is a
must see. I even found some influences of reggae
in their music tonight. This is feel-happy-music
of the best kind. Their creative fusion influenced
by heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop and
alternative rock definitely gets the crowd in the
right mood for what’s about to come.
And that is ALTER BRIDGE of course. Their
live shows are praised all over the world, so the
expectations were high. MILES KENNEDY is
an all round performer. His vocals suit both the
heavier songs and the intense acoustic ones.
ALTER BRIDGE consists of former members
of THE MAYFIELD FOUR and CREED. Both
bands have a legacy in ALTER BRIDGE. The
softer rock from THE MAYFIELD FOUR
comes through in the acoustic songs, where the
refinement is amazing. The more grungy sound
of CREED sometimes appears in the more heavy
songs from ALTER BRIDGE. All together, this
makes for a well oiled machine on stage tonight.
With musicians as experienced as this bunch, for
whom touring is a second nature, tonights show
is one of the more memorable I’ve ever seen. The
music really grabbed the people by their throats,
and the sharpness of it all, made them hold their
breath. The venue gave this show that little extra
intimacy. The way the balconies almost embrace
the stage, made the crowd feel like they were
sitting or standing almost within arms length of
the band, what only added to the great
atmosphere. If anything, I would have liked this
show to last a bit longer… Say a lifetime or two?
TEKST: Wim Op de beeck
PHOTO’S: Suzan Mclee