Wheatland, California’s Toyota Amphitheatre saw Volbeat’s “Greatest Of All Tours Worldwide” make its long-awaited tour stop. The crowd ranged from young to old and represented all the different styles of metal. You couldn’t tell if they were there for the retro vibe of Volbeat or the latest and greatest from Lzzy Hale and company of Halestorm. The foreboding clouds did nothing to deter the crowds, and the crowds showed up early, openly embracing the incoming inclement weather.

This evening featured Halestorm as the main support for Volbeat’s “Greatest Of All Tours Worldwide.” Strange name, yes… A strange choice for main support, by no means. Halestorm has been on a steady rise for some time now. Lzzy has been on the list of metal heads for quite a while now, and after a very successful stint as the lead singer for Skid Row, Lzzy has more than proved her versatility. The band Halestorm is made up of siblings Lzzy and drummer Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger, and bassist Josh Smith performed like they were the headliners. From a fairly lengthy set and (quite possibly) the most guitar changes made ever, they showcased their musicianship and amazing songwriting skills. From catchy riffs and lyrics that bite (no pun intended), and a professional stage that rivals many current headlining acts. Nothing says “where here to kick your ass,” than a wall of MarshaII cabinets.

While others reported a thunder and lightning storm that rolled in during their set, those reports are very exaggerated. Their set didn’t need any poetic licensing to enhance their already blistering set. The ten-plus song set included blistering tracks such as “Fallen Star,” “I Miss the Misery,” “Love Bites (So Do I),” “I Get Off,” “ I Am the Fire,” “Rain Your Blood on Me,” and closed with (no surprise) with Ozzy Osbourne’s “Perry Mason.”

Of course, the set included a very animated drum solo, and the guitar tandem traded blistering riffs and notes for what seemed an eternity for a “support act.” Lzzy and Joe… and I quote: “They have been a tandem for the entire existence of the band and they are as important to the Halestorm sound as the duos of Stryper, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.” Perhaps it was foreshadowing what was coming and wanted us all to be just a bit more entertained than normally necessary.

“Halestorm needs to be bigger. Lzzy needs to be recognized as a top-notch “frontman.” Album sales be damned. Banners hanging from the rafters of one particular SoCal arena be damned, Lzzy is as talented or more than that particular pop princess, or I guess queens at this point that currently owns the airwaves. There, I said it!!!”

Halestorm set list (via Setlist.fm):
Fallen Star
I Miss the Misery
Love Bites (So Do I)
Everest
Darkness Always Wins
Familiar Taste of Poison (snippet)
I Get Off
Amen
I Am the Fire
Drum Solo
Freak Like Me
WATCH OUT!
Rain Your Blood on Me (A thunderstorm broke out during the song)
Perry Mason (Ozzy Osbourne cover)

At my age, sitting in the lawn section just doesn’t do it anymore. As the Jerky Boys’ Sol Rosenberg once said “I’ll bring my… my glasses with me… so I have them.” So tickets (2nd row Section 105) were purchased. Yes, purchased long before I was allowed to cover this show. I was there to finally catch one of my favorite metal bands, Volbeat. A band that I had tried seeing two times previously, and for whatever reason, the metal gods (no, not those Metal Gods) had other plans. Seeing Avenged Sevenfold, and Gojira in their stead did a good job making up for the disappointment. Kudos to them and the promoters! As I waited to get my pass, the foreboding weather did nothing to reveal the utter disappointment that I was going to later experience. I do not count this evening as seeing Volbeat. That will have to sadly wait until another day. Remember, I bought my tickets. I was a fan first this evening.

As with most artists, disappointing people is never on their bucket list. This had to be a tough decision to get on that stage and not be able to give the rabid audience a show that would be looked back on as 100%. Let me clarify. The effort was 100%, I am sure, of the effort they were able to give. Michael Poulsen, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Volbeat, was noticeably under the weather. I have heard and read that most people would have liked to have seen lyrics on the screen. That is not just something that can be “just thrown together.” There is a stage show. A well-rehearsed stage show. With songs being, oftentimes, modified from their recorded counterparts. So to those of you who attended and are reading this, that’s my two cents’ worth regarding that subject.

As with most music events at this time, there was the obligatory nod to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Volbeat chose “Children of the Grave,” albeit just a snippet. Not sure if that was the plan or because of what we were all about to find out. Something was off from the get-go. Poulsen could be seen gasping for air, and he had a look of disappointment on his face over the condition of his voice. Jon Larsen, longtime drummer, bashed away from the start and never once let the audience down. Finishing up the core lineup was the appropriately dressed Kasppar Boye Larsen on bass (with heavy sarcasm, this is a surprise to me), backing vox. As with the past few years, touring guitarist Flemming C Lund continued to shred his way through the songs, with speed and precision.

When I heard the first bars of “A Warrior’s Call” I was ready to throw down my camera and become a crazed lunatic fan. But my responsibility at that moment was to capture the show. Instantly, however, I and many around me, at least who were honest with themselves all knew something was not quite right. The music was hot, the crowd in a frenzy, singing some of the words. Yet, this is not Europe. A recreation of the videos of thousands of fans singing word for word, this was not. America is not Europe, and the local fan base is, although huge, maybe not as rabid. They did not know the words, there were often moments of just hard driving rock and metal instrumentation. Michael did, I have no doubt, the best he could.

With a heavy inclusion of the latest tracks from their latest release God Of Angels Trust (Republic Records, review here), this show was destined to be a banger! The setlist included “A Warrior’s Call,” “Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza” (preceded by a snippet of “Children of the Grave” by Black Sabbath, dedicated to Ozzy),” “The Devil’s Bleeding Crown,” “Demonic Depression,” “Shotgun Blues,” “By a Monster’s Hand,” “Die to Live,” “Black Rose,” “Seal the Deal (Instrumental),” “For Evigt” (whistling), and “Still Counting.”

Sadly, some of these songs I’ll probably not get to properly hear in later tours. There always are those tracks that have to get left behind. This I say unto you… Before my “Last Day Under the Sun” I will be at attendance at the next show, professionally or just as a fan. I will not let this be my only memory, unique as it may have been.

Volbeat setlist via setlist.fm:
A Warrior’s Call / Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza
(preceded by a snippet of “Children of the Grave” by Black Sabbath, dedicated to Ozzy)
Lola Montez
The Devil’s Bleeding Crown
Enlighten the Disorder (By a Monster’s Hand Part 2)
Sad Man’s Tongue (with Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire” intro)
Demonic Depression
Shotgun Blues
In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom
By a Monster’s Hand
Die to Live
Black Rose
Seal the Deal (Instrumental)
For Evigt (Mostly instrumental with whistling instead of singing for the last chorus)
Still Counting

Buy Halestorm music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/3H27FN1

Buy Volbeat music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/3JpH78U

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY ANTONIO PAGLIASSOTTO
Follow his work here: