On Sunday evening, instead of boarding the train, I clambered into Boy Child’s baby bat mobile to be chauffeur driven to Glasgow. Having detoured to collect FB Son en route, we made our way to the city centre in search of the O2 Academy.

We were heading to a sell-out show.

We were heading to see Halestorm!

Despite arriving some 45 minutes before the doors were due to open, a lengthy queue greeted us. No rail spot tonight sadly……

From my position near the front (about 4 in from the rail) I watched Rews, an all-girl duo from London/Belfast take to the stage to open the show.  Musically- these young ladies were entertaining. Vocally – couldn’t understand a word. Sorry, girls.

Next…..

Well, where to begin to describe what came next?

Avatar!

Hailing from Goteborg, Sweden, words fail me as to how to begin to describe the entrance these guys made …..  here, take a look for yourself!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP2W7ofZMiE

(credits to the owner TeamDobby KC via You Tube)

Front man Johannes Eckerstrom is a leggy giant on stage with a charismatic commanding presence. Part clown, part ring master, part Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), Johannes had the Glasgow crowd in the palm of his rather large hands within seconds.

To his right, The King quietly presided over things, despite not having his usual throne on stage. Wind milling dreads flying, The King was a sight to behold!

Avatar are loud! They are in your face! They are heavy as F**K at times and theatrically delicate at others. They truly are a spellbindingly bizarre act to watch.

We were treated to just eight songs by these Swedish metal giants over roughly fifty minutes plus several costume changes. Skilfully, they wound the set up to its climax, ending with The King Welcomes You to Avatar Country and Smells Like A Freakshow.

Boy Child said to me later that he wished he could have seen my face when Avatar came out on stage. I wish I could have seen my face when they came out at first but, by the end, I was sold on them as a live act.

A support slot was too short ….. I’m already looking forward to their next headlining appearance in Glasgow!

I think, if my maths is correct, this is the seventh time I’d waited patiently for Halestorm to take to the stage.

Amid flashing lights, Halestorm stormed into their set with the title track from their latest album, Vicious. It was the first of seven songs that would be played from Vicious. A strong choice to open with but the sound could have been better and perhaps opening with a more familiar song might have got the set off to a stronger start. The ever-popular Love Bites (So Do I) followed and despite the sound still suffering a bit, the Scottish fans were 1000% on Lzzy’s side.

Dressed in a scarlet shaggy jacket and leather bootcut jeans, Lzzy cut a striking figure on stage. How she manages to perform in those high platform boots I’ll never know!

Black Vultures, also from Vicious followed. Another powerful song with an angry edge. Awesome!

Having worked hard to get the capacity crowd revved up, the band then made what to me seemed a slightly risky choice of song. Lzzy explained that the vinyl format of Vicious had just been released and that it contained 4 bonus songs not available anywhere else. She announced that they were going to debut one for the Scottish fans. Golden was a great rock track but the fans didn’t know it and around me the energy levels slumped. Personally, I think this would have slotted in better a few songs further into the set.

Having shed the “red sheep” Lzzy and the boys played one of my favourite tracks from the new album, Do Not Disturb. Sultry, sleazy, down right sexy, this is Lzzy at her provocative best. Loved it!

Four new songs out of the first five though was a big gamble. Halestorm should be thankful it paid off!

Fan favourites Amen, I Am The Fire and Mz Hyde had made the cut for the setlist. Seeing these played live again showcased just how tight Halestorm are on stage these days. These guys have been playing together for nigh on 21 years according to Lzzy.  With Lzzy’s powerful vocals and the quiet assured performances of Josh Storm and Joe Hottinger on bass and guitar respectively, Halestorm are a force to be reckoned with. Add in the flamboyance of drummer Arejay Hale and they are unstoppable. (Arejay, what was that suit all about?)

It wouldn’t be a Halestorm show with out Arejay’s drum solo, complete with an appearance by his “big sticks”. Thank God he doesn’t toss them into the crowd- he’d kill someone!  Arejay Hale is one of my favourite drummers but a little bit of the sparkle seemed to be missing in Glasgow. Still awesome and entertaining.

Freak Like Me and Killing Ourselves To Live rounded out the main body of the set.

A transport case was moved down to the front of the stage before the start of the three-song encore. Carrying an acoustic guitar, Joe Hottinger and Lzzy returned to the stage to thunderous applause.

Side by side, they sat on the transport case to perform The Silence – the only ballad from Vicious. I love this song. It reeks of nostalgic love and there’s a tenderness to it. However, I wish that Lzzy had toned the vocal down a bit for this one. She has one hell of a voice. She also has such a beautiful sultry voice for songs like this. We really didn’t need The Silence to be delivered quite so forcefully….just my humble opinion.

With the transport case kicked out of the way, the rest of the band returned to the stage to end the night with two firm favourites, I Miss The Misery and, with a glass (plastic cup) in hand to toast the fans, Here’s To Us.

Here’s To Us fans and Here’s To Halestorm – till next time!