It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 20 years since American Rockers, Alter Bridge, first played in Newcastle at the slightly smaller Carling Academy, as it was back then. Much water has passed beneath the bridge since then with no fewer than six of their studio albums cracking the UK Top 20 with most of those steaming into the Top 10.
Alter Bridge are back in Newcastle for the first time in 15 years in support of their eighth, self-titled album and one that sees them in raging form. Joining them on this What Lies Within tour is an impressive supporting cast of Sevendust and Daughtry ensuring a cracking value for money evening of entertainment in these tough financial times.
First up were Sevendust making only their second appearance on a Newcastle stage in a career spanning almost 30 years which still sees them with the same lineup that released their self-titled debut way back in 1997.
Sevendust wasted no time making up for lost time and grabbed the opportunity to make an immediate impact with “Black”.
It was a tough call to choose a setlist to fill an opening slot little over half an hour from the 15 studio albums they’ve released but they did a canny job of covering a decent spread of material including “Enemy” and “Praise” with charismatic lead singer Lajon Witherspoon really working the crowd hard particularly on the fist pumping closer “Face To Face”.
Next up was Daughtry, the band formed by 2006 American Idol winner Chris Daughtry and who have since gone on to release six albums with the first clocking up an incredible six Platinum discs in The States and their latest being their 2021 album Dearly Beloved consolidating their position as a genuine force to be reckoned with.
The atmospheric mood builder “The Seeds” lulled the crowd into a false sense of security before being hit by “Divided” with its heavy weight riff and soaring chorus. Daughtry, the man, certainly has a decent set of pipes on him and it’s easy to see why he swept the board on American Idol.
For the next hour or so Daughtry impressed the Newcastle crowd and clearly won over a legion of new fans judging by the enthusiastic response. A stirring rendition of Journey’s classic “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” perked up a few ears but it was their own material that really struck home with the heartfelt ballad “Antidote” and the brooding epic “Heavy Is The Crown” showing real depth in their material.
After being nicely warmed up by two complimentary, yet varied openers, the crowd was more than ready for Alter Bridge, after all, it’s been a long, long wait for Newcastle to welcome them back. Tonight was the first night of their UK tour so anticipation levels were sky high.
The grinding riff to “Silent Divide” was the perfect opener, big, bold and damned heavy with a thumping “Addicted To Pain” following swiftly in its path taking the crowd with them immediately.
Myles Kennedy, one of the finest vocalists of his generation, possesses the range and power to bring songs such as “Fortress” and “What Lies Within” to vibrant life aided and abetted by Mark Tremonti’s brutal riffing and effective backing vocals while Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips anchor it all with a granite heavy rhythm section.
When you have a singer of world class status as Myles Kennedy, who on earth suggested that the lead guitarist sing a song or two. Just as well that Mark Tremonti possesses a commanding voice in his own right and delivered a stirring take on “Burn It Down” and shared vocals with Kennedy on “Tested and Able”.
With an impressive light show and huge multi-video screens right across the back of the stage, this was one impressive spectacle, enhancing the music perfectly.
It’s not all heavy weight stuff though, in “Open Your Eyes”, “Broken Wings” and the gorgeous “Wonderful Life” they have some genuinely classy ballads which brought the inevitable mobile phone waving across the arena.
The closing trio of “Metalingus” and “Isolation” provided the heavy riffing bread to the delicious sandwich filling of “Blackbird” surely one of the finest, most beautiful ballads of the last couple of decades and quite a way to bring the show to a suitably epic close more than making up for the 15 year wait.
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