Halestorm gets “Vicious” in their powerful Mankato performance
Mark Reynolds
Staff Writer
Rock band Halestorm demonstrated that they are a still at the top of their game with a killer show at the Mankato Civic Center Thursday, April 19.
Halestorm was preceded by two opening acts. Beasto Blanco, featuring the Alice Cooper bassist Chuck Garric on guitar and vocals, started off the night with a face-melting heavy metal set.
The band fully embraces the genre, and they delivered an electrifying performance filled with tattoos, long hair, heavy riffs, and all the wonderful, disturbing visuals that you could hope for.
Palaye Royale, a Canadian rock band, continued the night with one of the most engaging and exciting performances I’ve ever seen.
Everyone on stage was filled with crazy amounts of energy, lead by their lead vocalist, Remington Leith. Leith ran around the stage like a madman, singing his heart out and making the crowd go wild. He even climbed and jumped off the six-foot speakers that were on stage.
With an energy and angst that hearkens bands like My Chemical Romance and The Struts, Palaye Royale are headed for great success, and they earned themselves another fan.
Finally, the stage goes dark. The air filled with anticipation. Then, in a burst of lights and sound, Halestorm appeared onstage, followed by a deafening roar from the crowd.
They began their set with “Black Vultures”, the first song off their latest album “Vicious” which was released in July 2018. The anthemic tune got the crowd in the mood with Lzzy Hale, the band’s lead singer, delivering her iconic, powerful vocals.
They followed with “Uncomfortable”, a fast-paced, empowering song that showcases the incredible skill of Halestorm’s musicians, especially the chest-thumping drumming of Arejay Hale, Lzzy Hale’s brother who has played with her for over 20 years.
Halestorm’s performance captured their messages of women’s power and strength. Lzzy Hale is a huge advocate for women empowerment, which resonates with her fans on and off the stage. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Lzzy Hale discussed the increase of diversity in rock music.
“For the first time ever, we saw this heavy music being completely genderless,” said Lzzy Hale. “And such diversity in the crowd. Not just female, but a lot of gay pride going on. It comes with that ownership of who you are.”
Halestorm backed up their social positions with an incredible show. The fiery, passionate lyrics from Lzzy Hale supported by the incredible talent from the rest of the band truly engaged the audience.
Header photo by Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter.