Alter Bridge // Overgrown // Live Review // The Telegraph Building // Belfast
It feels like Christmas, but it’s hot as hell outside, so it can’t be right? Tonight will be only my second time ever seeing Alter Bridge live; the first time I ever saw them was back in February of this year in Dublin. After many years of trying to catch these cats, I’ve finally caught them twice in one year! Now their Dublin show was spectacular! Mind-blowing to be honest, I finally got to witness the magic of Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti together with the lads in the band, and they did not disappoint. So my expectations are high for tonight.
Up first, though, we have UK Nu-Grunge rockers Overgrown, a band unknown to me, but as soon as they kick off, you know these young lads are dripping with talent. A thick, gnarly sound that harks back to the best of grunge but with a seriously hefty sound, more modern-day distorted than the fuzz-laden ’90s heyday. The riffs are as thick as treacle, the vocals strong and u wavering as they slam their way across a very tasty set on their Irish debut. They’re going down a treat with the Belfast crowd, as far as the eye can see, heads are banging as the riffs keep coming! They’re going to have a killer live sound; it translates well on stage and keeps the room captivated. If you haven’t checked them out yet and you love a bit of gnarly grunge, Overgrown are a band that should be on your radar.
Photography By Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark
8:50 pm and like clockwork the lights drop, and one by one the lads take to the stage, to a massive roar from the crowd. Like lightning, the guys open up with ‘Silent Divide’ from their 2026 self-titled album (which is a beaut – check out our review here). Right away, you get the full force of the band as they unleash a powerhouse performance on the long-time standing Northern Ireland fans. It has been a while since the full band were here, way back in 2017 from memory, we’ve had Myles doing his solo work, Mark with Tremonti, and Alter Bridge did play Dublin earlier this year so a second date on Irish soil was a surprise, but the lads have a relentless work ethic and whilst working their way across the European Festival circuit and a UK date at their Inagural Blackbird Festival in Wales they thought they should toss out some serious riffage in Belfast. Right on!
The great thing is, with eight studio albums, there is no shortage of quality material to keep fans happy, but with eight glorious albums, choosing a setlist will always spark controversy and discussion among fans on the ground. ‘Addicted To Pain’ from Fortress is up next, and it seems that the first 3 songs in the pit are flying by, the fans are lit up by glorious light, and I can see heads banging as far as the eye can see, arms raised in the air as they sing along to every word of every song. ‘Cry Of Archilles’ is up next and goes down a treat with the Belfast audience as Myles calls out for more. Now I don’t know if any of you have noticed over the last few days, but it’s been a tad warm, so a gargantuan crown in a warehouse in Belfast city centre with a tin roof means that the heat is stifling to say the least! I can only imagine what it must be like up on stage while laying down tasty riffage and belting out killer vocals at will. ‘Fortress’, ‘Disregarded’ whizz by as the band keep pummelling the sweaty Belfast crowd with everything they have got before Mark steps up to the mic to take over vocal duties on ‘Burn It Down’ from Alter Bridge’s debut album. This made me smile, hearing those glorious ‘Vintage’ AB songs is a thing of beauty, more you say? YES PLEASE! and they go right into ‘Open Your Eyes’, the band’s debut single from 2004, which started this crazy journey that now has them, eight studio albums later, and two+ decades as a band. ‘Broken Wings’ completes a three-track trip down memory lane from their debut album before we get treated to that one track you just have to experience live in the room ‘Watch Over You’, I still have chills thinking back to Myles performing it in Belfast on his solo ‘Year Of The Tiger’ Tour and the mesmerising quality of this song live is breathtaking, as a full band it’s just a thing of beauty. Thousands of fans, all captivated, hanging on every word, it is quite the sight to see.
As we start racing towards the finale of the evening, we still have a few tasty numbers to get through, ‘Come To Life’ and ‘Tested And Able’, one of my fave tunes off the new album, where both Mark and Myles share vocal duties, interchanging; it has a glorious hook that has me warbling along every time I hear it. ‘Rise Today’ and ‘Metaligus’ hit hard as the band whips everyone up into a frenzy. Belfast just can’t get enough, but alas, all good things come to an end, and we know this one is heading towards curfew time. But, not before we squeeze in one last magical tune, ‘Blackbird’, sweet baby Jesus, what a tune. The very first time I heard this bad boy, it stopped me in my tracks, those chords man, that majestic guitar line and the bitching interchanging solo between Mles and Mark, they hit hard, Live, it is everything and more you could dream of, just mammoth. As expected, Alter Bridge delivered once again, a set packed with highlights across their expansive career. I’ll leave it to those on the ground to decide if any particular beauties were excluded, but I loved it. It took us on a ride full of highs and lows that kept you engaged throughout and left you wondering where it would take you next. For the lads, they’re off to Wales to catch up with their brothers from another mother, Cardinal Black and co. The Belfast fans, clambering out onto the city centre streets, gasping for air! It’s always good leaving a gig in a sweaty mess, but tonight we were more like puddles, happy, fulfilled puddles. Hopefully it won’t be as long till Alter Bridge come back, a wee Blackbird Festival in Belfast or Dublin would be nice, just an idea lads (I’ll just require 10% for the idea).
I have loved the journey so far and can’t wait to see where Alter Bridge take us next. There is a magic formula that Mr Tremonti has that resonates with his vast audience, and Myles brings that ‘Je ne sais quoi” to fuse it all together. #bliss
Alter Bridge are simply a joy to watch live. Till next time. #loveyou
Photography By Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark
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