The air at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Saturday, August 9, 2025, was thick with the coiled anticipation of a thousand souls ready to be unleashed. Halestorm, the band that has spent years perfecting the art of a full-throttle rock exorcism, arrived not as conquerors, but as collaborators in a shared ritual of noise and heart. From the moment the house lights went dark, and the first seismic chords of “Fallen Star” ripped through the night, it was clear this was more than a concert it was a declaration.
Lzzy Hale, a force of nature in leather and attitude, commanded the stage with a swagger that few in the modern rock landscape can match. Her voice, a dynamic instrument of both gritty snarls and soaring vulnerability, was the undeniable core of the evening. She navigated the aggressive anthem “I Miss the Misery” with a gleeful ferocity, then immediately dove into the razor-sharp riffs of “Love Bites (So Do I),” turning the entire venue into a single, unified headbanging machine. The performance was a testament to the power of a lead singer who knows exactly how to work a crowd into a frenzy.
The rhythm section, featuring the whirlwind percussion of her brother Arejay Hale and the solid foundation of bassist Josh Smith, provided a relentless engine for the night. Meanwhile, guitarist Joe Hottinger delivered searing solos and crunchy riffs that perfectly complemented Lzzy’s vocals. The band was a tight, well-oiled machine, demonstrating a musical chemistry honed by years on the road.
A highlight arrived with the live debut of the track “Shiver” off of their new EP “Everest” that had just dropped the day before the show. It was a fresh, electrifying moment that felt both new and immediately classic, proving that Halestorm’s songwriting well is far from dry. As the night unfolded, the band took us on a journey through their discography, transitioning from the raw, bluesy stomp of “Amen” to the more introspective and haunting beauty of “Familiar Taste of Poison.”
The latter half of the show was a barrage of hits. The crowd roared along to the empowering chaos of “Freak Like Me” and embraced the anthemic “Everest.” By the time, the final chords of the showstopper “I Get Off” rang out, leaving the audience breathless, Halestorm had done more than just play their songs. They had delivered a masterclass in modern rock and roll, reaffirming their place not just as a band to watch, but as an essential and enduring voice in a genre that desperately needs it.
Set List:
Set List:
Fallen Star
I Miss the Misery
Love Bites (So Do I)
WATCH OUT!
Shiver (Live debut)
Amen
Like a Woman Can
Darkness Always Wins
Familiar Taste of Poison
Freak Like Me
Rain Your Blood on Me
Everest
I Get Off
Next Tour Stops:
Aug 12 Bangor, ME
Aug 13 Gilford, NH
Aug 14 Mansfield, MA
Aug 16 Hershey, PA
Aug 17 Cincinnati, OH
Review and Photography by: Craig Eidell