Halestorm’s Lzzy & Joe Unplugged // For Nina // Live Review // The Limelight // Belfast
I’m back, baby !!! The limelight has been calling my name all week as the countdown to Halestorm’s Lzzy and Joe Unplugged on Saturday, June 20th.
I love me some Halestorm! I have been lucky enough to see them live a few times, and every time I have, I am blown away by this band, but the sheer magnetic force that is Lzzy Hale and Halestorm as an entity. The last time I did see them was at a the Ulster Hall in Belfast back in, and they played a part electric and part acoustic set, and it was sublime. So the idea of Lzzy and Joe going back to basics, stripped back, unplugged, Mama Mia! I am all in!
In support, we have For Nina, A trio from Dublin, comprising Holly Owens on vocals, Ben Watson on guitar and Max Kaye on drums.
These cats are a pretty cool entity, I am not sure of the setup is as they would normally play with frontwoman Holly on acoustic, a guitar player and drummer or if they operate any differently outside of an unplugged suppprt setup, but either way they have a highly addictive sound, are a charming proposition and know how to deliver to a fresh crowd which is always a brucie bonus. The crowd is fully on board, cheering them along at the end of every song. A youthful trio, they come across composed and ready to take on whatever is thrown at them, opening for two serious rock stars is one way to go about it. Fair play to them, I can’t but admire their confidence in delivering a tasty set in a pressure cooker situation. By the time the trio wrap up their set, Belfast is fully onboard, and I hope to see For Nina back in the city sometime soon.
Photography By Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark
A quick turnover er before Lzzy and Joe take to the stage, announcing the land around 9 pm with a wave to the crowd and get stuck right in! Opening up with ‘White Dress’ and sweet baby Jesus, it is good to have Halestorm sans the other two in our city once again! Right from the off, I am left speechless at the quality and power behind Lzzy Hale’s voice! It just blows my mind, acoustic or not, she is one of the best in the business. Right from there, she goes into ‘Fire’, a fan favourite, and the room is in full voice supporting Joe and Lzzy as best they can.
Lzzy takes the time to share stories between songs, and as she envelops the room with her sublime vocals, she orchestrates every single person like a puppeteer, pulling the strings at will. The room is ecstatic every time they wrap up a number, Mz Hyde being a perfect example, as she has the crowd eating out of her hand. Heavy just takes it to another level, and right after that they toss in a Lady Gaga number ‘Bad Romance’, and weirdly Belfast know all the words… shame on them!
Freak like me blows the roof off before Lazzy takes herself to the piano for her first solo number of the night, which she dedicates to the ladies, and no sooner has she started singing than I can see girls tearing up in the front row. Lzzy’s vocals soar out over the room, and her ability to deliver an emotive line is beyond doubt. It’s a powerful performance and a powerful moment to witness here in The Limelight. One of my personal
Highlights were Rock Show; the melody and chorus just allow Lzzy’s vocals to transcend reality and take you off into the stratosphere with her! Absolutely glorious!! Belfast tried to keep up, but we just can’t do her justice. The setlist itself, which I got a peek at onstage, expands throughout the night as the two troublemakers ebb and flow through a glorious collection of tunes. At some stage, you just have to sit back and admire what has unfolded in front of you on stage, a truly breathtaking performance from Lzzy, showcasing her vocal prowess, her unbelievable strength as a frontwoman and one of the best in modern rock, from very humble beginnings to a queen of the stage, she really is something very special.
A brief encore drives home the reality that tonight is going to be over all too soon, but as the last chords and melodies of ‘Here’s 2 Us’ ring out, I am reminded that I have witnessed something truly unique, a bit of a revelation in terms of live performances and one of those ‘Were You There?’ moments. It reminded me of the first time I caught Myles Kennedy on his solo acoustic tour years ago, and of the late, great Chris Cornell doing the same. Lzzy is right up there, on the crest of a wave as one of the finest I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing live. Tonight I was very glad I was here, up close and personal; it truly was an unforgettable night.
Photography By Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark
