VOLBEAT/HALESTORM – LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
By Joe Perusse
Every year on my birthday I try to attend a show if possible and this year was no exception. Volbeat, with Halestorm for support, was kind enough to bring their Servant of the Road tour to the Mohegan Sun. I grabbed my son Jagger and headed out early to donate some money back to the tribe and catch a pre show meal at MJ23 sports bar. I do like all the options when attending shows at the Mohegan, both for dining and entertainment. The biggest perks though are no bad seats in the arena and easy traffic flow out after.
Halestorm took the stage promptly ay 7 as Lzzy Hale ( Vocals/ Rhythm Guitar) came out alone with “Raise Your Horns” a cappella intro into “I Miss the Misery”. “ Love Bites ( So Do I)” and “I Get Off “ followed. Lzzy then told the crowd they have been coming to Mohegan since 2008 with a Wolf Den appearance and now she was the only woman on the big stage this night. That got a big roar from the crowd and the band ripped into “ Wicked Ways”, “Freak Like Me” and “Familiar Taste of Poison”.
After “ Takes My Life” and a electrifying solo by Joe Hottinger (Lead Guitar), Lzzy asked who has seen Hailstorm before which a majority of the crowd replied in the affirmative. Next Lzzy’s younger brother, Arejay Hale treated the crowd to an entertaining drum solo as his sticks continued to get bigger and bigger as he went on. Arejay also had bright green hair matching his green drum kit for the show.
The band rejoined for “Back From the Dead”. Josh Smith (Bass) stood out during “I like it Heavy” with a pounding bass line. The crowd was clapping along and Hottinger caught a drum stick from Arejay and used it to play guitar. Lzzy brought out the double neck for “I am the Fire” and the crowd brought out the lighters/cell phone flashlights lighting up the arena. Band intros preceded the finale “The Steeple”. The crowd was clearly into the church of Halestorm on this night.
The crowd was clearly ready for Volbeat and they entered within bang to “ The Devil’s Bleeding Crown”, “Temper of Ekur” and “Seal the Deal”. Michael Poulsen ( Vocals/Rhythm Guitar) the thanked new touring lead guitarist Flemming C Lund (The Arcane Order) for learning the songs in 3 weeks so the tour would not have to be cancelled. Poulsen the wanted to know who all the shady ladies were in the crowd and dedicated “Lola Montez” to them. Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis “Die to Live” was next.
Poulsen grabbed the acoustic guitar and asked the crowd what they wanted to hear. When a fan yelled out Slayer, he said maybe not with this guitar but strummed a little bit of “South of Heaven” before getting the crowd clapping along to “Sad Man’s Tongue”. “Shotgun Blues” and “A Warrior’s Call/ I Only Want to Be With You” had the crowd pumping their fists in the air.
“Black Rose” “The Devil Rages On” and “Last day Under The Sun” preceded “Becoming” which Poulsen dedicated to L.G. Petrov and brought a kid up on stage with his dad. The kid didn’t stop pumping his fist the whole time. “Fallen” was dedicated to Poulsen’s dad and was followed by “Wait a Minute My Girl”. Dedicating “ For Evight” to his wife and kids the crowd lit up the arena again with their lights. “
Still Counting” included band intros, Jon Larsen (drums) and Kaspar Boye Larsen (Bass) round out the lineup, and kids from the crowd were invited up on stage. The night ended with “Trust Me” and a satisfied crowd filed out onto the casino floor. For me another great start to another trip around the sun. Hopefully I can share some more shows with you as I go.
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