Alter Bridge Continue to Impress With Stellar Show at The Factory Tuesday
–by Keith Brake
Hello MwRw friends and family, I hope you are all healthy and well! Keith here and even though I have been a bit slack on my show coverage lately I still get out once in a while and I was lucky enough to be at The Factory in Saint Louis on Tuesday to cover Pistols at Dawn, Mammoth WVH and Alter Bridge. So, let’s dig in. Shall we?
Before attending this show I was unfamiliar with Pistols At Dawn but I have recently been spending some time with their music. They have a great sound and the energy on stage is infectious. Vocalist Chris Hodges brings the energy in his delivery of the verbal content and does so with a very quality delivery. If you are not familiar with this group from Atlanta, I suggest you change that in the near future. Especially if you like a high energy rock sound with great guitar work!
Next to the stage was Mammoth WVH. Now, this was also my first time seeing this group live. Yes, YES…I know who WVH is but I have been slacking, I suppose. This group is also another straight at you rock group with amazing guitar work and vocal prowess. Mixing elements of keyboards to soften things when necessary and delivering in a large way vocally WVH is an amazing musician to watch and enjoy and his bandmates are equally as impressive. Overall a great set delivered with energy and quality. A definite 4 out of 5 stars for this set from me. As a footnote, it was pretty damn cool to be front and center to watch WVH show moments of his father’s techniques. Not overdone or exploited but rather tastefully added and I appreciate that to an unquantifiable degree.
Headlining the evening was Alter Bridge. Myles, Mark, Brian and Scott. Before I get too far into this part of the review I must admit that AB is and has been a favorite of mine for years but I always pride myself on being honest and objective. So, with that said, these guys get better every time I see them! No joking here and completely objectively they were better than when last I saw them and they were a 5 star performance the show I covered.
Kennedy has a way of making you feel welcome and like you are a part of it all and the band as a whole NEVER gives less than 110% even if there are a few empty seats as there were on this night. Tremonti is captivating to watch and listen to on guitar and with the very underrated guitar playing of Kennedy accompanying him it is pure guitar magic.
As any AB fan knows, you are in for an absolute treat any time you can hear Myles sing live. I swear there is something about hearing Kennedy sing live that is somehow better than his recorded voice. Maybe it is the strength and ease with which he is able to deliver those impossible notes he hits or maybe it is just the magic of being in his gravitational pull.
The Pawns and Kings tour is in support of the album bearing the same name that was released in Oct. of 2022. The entire evening was a great crescendo into a fantastic performance by Alter Bridge. It was a perfect evening, a chance to hear a “new to me” band, seeing a well known performer for the first time and rounding out with yet another mega performance by Myles and the boys. Take my word for it, if this tour is coming to your area get you tickets and GO! You will not be disappointed.
Be sure to check out the gallery of shots after the setlist below.
Alter Bridge Setlist:
Silver Tongue
Addicted to Pain
Ghost of Days Gone By
Dead Among the Living
Broken Wings
Holiday
Burn It Down (Tremonti on vocals)
Cry of Achilles
Watch Over You (Acoustic)
In Loving Memory (Acoustic)
Blackbird
Waters Rising
Pawns & Kings
Isolation
Metalingus
Encore:
Rise Today
Open Your Eyes
