Critics' Corner
Halestorm, Shinedown play McKenzie Arena
Kate Bissinger
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Culture
McKenzie Area was set ablaze May 13 by the notorious, full-bodied sound of performances by rock bands Halestorm and headliner, Shinedown.
Halestorm was first to electrify the crowd with their magnetic stage presence and provocative lyrics.
Lead vocalist, Lzzy Hale and her brother, drummer, Arejay Hale started the band at the ages of 15 and 10 years, according to Lzzy Hale.
"Arejay and I kind of knew that this was our calling," Lzzy Hale said. "We sat our parents down and told them we wanted to do this. They were absolutely overjoyed."
The band took its name from the drummer while traveling to their first gig, a local talent show, according to Lzzy Hale. They met with disappointment after losing to a tap-dancing cowgirl, Lzzy Hale said. However Halestorm prevailed, and after going on to sign a deal with Atlantic Records and opening for nationally recognized rock bands this group is definitely here to stay.
"It's been a wild ride over the past 10 years," Lzzy Hale said, "It's kept us moving and that was always the goal."
The band is not your stereotypical rock band. They add originality to their show with "the infamous drum circle," which allows the audience to have fun without really knowing the songs, and by leading with a female vocalist, Lzzy Hale said. She said the band was recently described as being "music for the guys with a girl representing."
"You can kind of be an example for the girls but the guys can have a great time too," Lzzy Hale said "Definitely not tampon rock."
Though she is often mistaken for a girlfriend or family member of rockers she said she looks very positively on being the only girl in the band.
"The great thing, actually, about being in that position is that you stick out like a sore thumb," she said. "It's more like an element of surprise."
Lzzy Hale's amazingly full, rich vocals are flaunted in Halestorm's self-titled debut record. However, she said the only vocal training she ever had was in voice preservation.
Halestorm was first to electrify the crowd with their magnetic stage presence and provocative lyrics.
Lead vocalist, Lzzy Hale and her brother, drummer, Arejay Hale started the band at the ages of 15 and 10 years, according to Lzzy Hale.
"Arejay and I kind of knew that this was our calling," Lzzy Hale said. "We sat our parents down and told them we wanted to do this. They were absolutely overjoyed."
The band took its name from the drummer while traveling to their first gig, a local talent show, according to Lzzy Hale. They met with disappointment after losing to a tap-dancing cowgirl, Lzzy Hale said. However Halestorm prevailed, and after going on to sign a deal with Atlantic Records and opening for nationally recognized rock bands this group is definitely here to stay.
"It's been a wild ride over the past 10 years," Lzzy Hale said, "It's kept us moving and that was always the goal."
The band is not your stereotypical rock band. They add originality to their show with "the infamous drum circle," which allows the audience to have fun without really knowing the songs, and by leading with a female vocalist, Lzzy Hale said. She said the band was recently described as being "music for the guys with a girl representing."
"You can kind of be an example for the girls but the guys can have a great time too," Lzzy Hale said "Definitely not tampon rock."
Though she is often mistaken for a girlfriend or family member of rockers she said she looks very positively on being the only girl in the band.
"The great thing, actually, about being in that position is that you stick out like a sore thumb," she said. "It's more like an element of surprise."
Lzzy Hale's amazingly full, rich vocals are flaunted in Halestorm's self-titled debut record. However, she said the only vocal training she ever had was in voice preservation.
