Page 54 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 103

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ALTER BRIDGE / SHINEDOWN / THE RAVEN AGE – BIRMINGHAM ARENA, 18.12.19
The best thing about releasing a new album is then having the chance tesy of ‘Santa Tremonti’. They tell the audience they’ll give the guitar to
to play all the new songs live. It can be as exciting for the band as it is the the craziest audience member during the song ‘Pay No Mind’, and indeed,
fans. Alter Bridge released their sixth studio album, ‘Walk The Sky’, in Oc- at the end of the song, Mark picks out the audience member that they
tober, and they subsequently hit the road in support of it. thought was going for it the most.
Sevendust were originally announced as the opening band for their Lead singer/guitarist Myles Kennedy tells the audience they’re excited
UK tour, but unfortunately had to pull out of the dates due to illness. In to have a new record out and they play tracks such as the ominous ‘Native
their place comes The Raven Age. The London five-piece’s music stems Son’, while ‘Wouldn’t You Rather’ kicks off the set, after an intro of ‘One
around a fantasy world – but it’s anything but a fantasy live – it’s real, in- Life’. The band’s talent and performance is, of course, of the highest qual-
your-face and uncompromising. Songs such as ‘The Day The World Stood ity. After the climbing ‘Rise Today’, guitarist Mark Tremonti takes over the
Still’ and ‘Forgotten World’ showcase their quality musicianship, a mixture lead vocals to sing ‘Waters Rising’, giving Myles a few minutes of vocal
of hard rock and metal that powers up in ‘Fleur De Lis’ and subsides in rest.
‘The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships’. Myles and Mark sit down on stools to perform ‘In Loving Memory’
Shinedown are a band to always get excited about, whether they acoustically, while the wistful ‘Blackbird’ follows, featuring Myles and
headline or support. Tonight, they are Alter Bridge’s main support band, Mark’s exquisite guitar playing. ‘Metalingus’ sees Myles motion to the au-
yet their set is at their usual headline standard. They know how to keep dience section on the floor to crouch down, before jumping up when the
the crowd engaged, with Brent Smith venturing down the centre of the song kicks in. The smooth and sincere ‘Godspeed’ opens the encore be-
parted audience on the floor, shaking hands with the photographers, and fore the end of the show arrives in the form of ‘Addicted To Pain’, with a
now even shooting out a handful of free T-shirts with a T-shirt shooting sea of clapping hands over an intense array of beats, authoritative fret-
gun. Their song choice includes the motivational ‘Get Up’, the powerful work and Myles’ imperious vocals. Blasts of steam signal the climax of
‘Cut The Cord’ and the always-goosebump-sprouting ‘Second Chance’. the show. A blistering set by one of metal’s most masterful bands.
Despite Sevendust having to pull out of the tour, guitarist John Connolly YYYY
joins Shinedown to play a song. Rounding things off with ‘Brilliant’, Shine- Shari Black Velvet
down ARE always brilliant.
Alter Bridge have less tricks up their sleeve than Shinedown, but one Myles Kennedy & Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)
they do have is the chance to win a PRS guitar early on in their set, cour- Photo By Shari Black Velvet

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