The late-summer sun blazes across the California sky as Halestorm’s logo gleams across the backdrop of the Shockwave stage, a beacon for the thousands of revved-up punters stretched out across the field. The crowd roars as the band step into view, Lzzy Hale launching into a stunning a cappella prelude of Raise Your Horns. From the very first note, it’s clear—Halestorm have arrived as conquering heroes.
Piling into the chugging riffs of I Miss the Misery, Lzzy’s voice cuts through the night with gale-force power, commanding the stage with effortless ferocity. Arejay Hale, dressed in a pink jacket and sporting green hair, is a whirling, smashing tornado behind the drum kit, a lurching cross between Keith Moon and the Joker. His manic energy sets the tone, as Joe Hottinger’s searing fretwork laces seamlessly into Lzzy’s power chords. Following the opener with Love Bites (So Do I) is the last thing this crowd expects so early in the set and their raucous assent establishes that they are absolutely here for it.
