Alter Bridge Concert Review
If one of your friends tries to claim that rock music is dead, you need to bring that person to an Alter Bridge concert. The platinum-selling band, now on the road to promote their fourth studio album, Fortress, demonstrated to a sold-out crowd at the House of Blues that rock is alive and just as powerful as ever. Vocalist/guitarist Myles Kennedy, lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips were all smiles and in top form for their sole 2013 performance in the United States before heading over to the United Kingdom to play Wembley Arena.
Opening for them was Chicago-based Man the Mighty and Orlando's own Soulswitch, both of whom also opened for Tremonti's solo band last year at The Beacham. Since the doors opened late, the time for these two acts were cut down, but both were able to keep the crowd entertained as the anticipation for Alter Bridge's performance continued to build.
Kicking off with their new single "Addicted to Pain", the band captivated the audience with fist-pumping anthems, brilliant musicianship, and a constant interaction with the audience. From song to song, the crowd was singing along and cheered for the classics and were just as excited for the selections from Fortress, all of which were being played in front of an audience for the first time. The epic-sounding "Cry of Achilles" distinguished itself as a highlight and was a major hit with the crowd, proving that it will likely become a new favorite amongst the Alter Bridge legion of fans. Closing out the show was an incredibly uplifting and exciting performance of "Open Your Eyes". For as excellent as the concert was, it was obvious that the people could have stayed there for hours on end and listen to the band play their entire catalog.
Perhaps one of the most surprising elements of the show was the excellent mix of the band. Vocals and guitar solos cut through clearly while the bass sounded solid and powerful, but not overpowering. To add to the excitement and joy of the "party", as Myles Kennedy called it, a couple who had met five years ago at an Alter Bridge show got engaged onstage. The night proved to be a one-of-a-kind moment in which the band sounded fresh, energetic, and still out to prove themselves to the fans.
