Volbeat, Halestorm Rock Pine Knob
Nothing beats crisp summer air with some head-banging anthems, and on August 19th at the iconic Pine Knob Music Theatre, that was delivered tenfold. With killer opening acts from a metalcore band that’s been on the scene since 2008, The Ghost Inside, and a well-loved band that’s become a staple on the hard rock scene, Halestorm, the night was sure to be an exciting one! Not only are these bands legendary on their own, but they set the stage beautifully for a name we all know and love in the rock scene: Volbeat.
THE GHOST INSIDE
First to the stage was none other than California’s own, The Ghost Inside, with powerful vocals by frontman Jonathan Vigil. Performing everything from guttural screams to melodic choruses, Vigil showcased his spin on that classic metalcore sound that metalheads alike have come to love by opening with their hit song “Going Under” from their 2024 album ‘Searching for Solace.’ Following swiftly with another well-known anthem, “Dear Youth (Day 52),” the upbeat guitar riffs and fast-tempoed drums had the crowd on their feet, hair flying to the rhythm of the music. While the song sounds hardcore due to its speed and tempo, the lyrics are actually quite deep, touching on how we once believed we “had the world in our hands” in our youth, giving the piece a longing feel to go back to simpler times– a concept we can all relate to every now and then! Last up was a motivation-focused number named “Earn It,” once again from the band’s 2024 album ‘Searching for Solace.’ Vigil’s lyrical genius was the centerpiece of this one, reminding every fan of the simple fact: “If you want it, go get it.” Overall, The Ghost Inside did not disappoint, hyping the crowd up and promising an awesome night ahead!
HALESTORM
Next up was a hard rock and metal staple: Halestorm. This hardcore powerhouse of a band, frontwomanned by none other than the legendary Lzzy Hale herself, has been around since 1997. Since then, Halestorm has won a Grammy for “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance,” making Lzzy Hale the first woman to earn a Grammy in this category, sold millions of albums with multiple top-ten hits such as “I Miss the Misery,” “Love Bites (So Do I),” and “I Get Off,” as well as earned a platinum-certified album, ‘The Strange Case Of…’ in 2022.
In short, Halestorm’s journey to stardom has been nothing short of incredible, solidifying Lzzy Hale as one of the great influential women in the rock scene. Opening with a new banger, “Fallen Star” from Halestorm’s latest album, ‘Everest,’ the band took the stage with the same force and style they’re known for. Between Lzzy’s powerful vocals, raw lyrics, and the hard-hitting beat, the crowd was absolutely ecstatic, feeding off of their energy. Next up was the iconic “I Miss the Misery,” a song every fan knew the words to. Whether you’ve heard this one on the radio, at another show, or even in a rock mix, this anthem appealed to everyone alike, being arguably one of Halestorm’s most well-known and well-loved songs. Naturally, to follow-up this piece of rock and metal history, the band performed their Grammy award-winning hit “Love Bites (So Do I).” Every song, Lzzy puts her heart into it, creating that intimate atmosphere with fans while simultaneously being the rock goddess she’s known to be. Between the band’s showmanship, the killer backing guitar riffs, the hard-driving drums, and Lzzy’s vocal prowess, both the crowd and I were enthralled in their performance. While this wasn’t my first time seeing Halestorm live, they never failed to impress, and it felt just as magical as the second time around!
VOLBEAT
The crowd was buzzing with anticipation as the main event of the night entered onto the stage with a bang: Volbeat. This three-piece group of rock legends had the crowd screaming as they burst onto the stage with the wickedly popular “The Devil’s Bleeding Crown.” With over 143 platinum and gold certifications worldwide, numerous hits holding the #1 spot on the charts time and time again, and over 400 million listens to their top hit on Spotify, “Still Counting,” this band, hailing from the way of Denmark and formed in 2001, has been a recurring name year after year for good reason. With Volbeat’s unique blend of rockabilly, punk rock, and metal, they’ve crafted their own one-of-a-kind sound and have established themselves as true pioneers of the 2000’s on the hard rock and metal scene.
Volbeat has become a staple in Rock due to their natural talent and well-known songs. Frontman Michael Poulsen’s vocals differentiate from that of any band I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing live, with his immaculate range, masterful songwriting, and distinctive sound, making this show one for the books. Next up was “Lola Montez,” a piece that was a bit simpler and more organic than the one before it, but no less impressive live. With an upbeat tempo and intriguing lyrics, telling the story of the seductive “Lola Montez,” the crowd was dancing right along, singing word-for-word. Last but certainly not least was “Sad Man’s Tongue,” with none other than the iconic Johnny Cash’s song “Ring of Fire” as the intro. This piece leaned more into the rockabilly feel Volbeat has to their music, but simultaneously made it fun and upbeat, continuing off of the story told in “Ring of Fire.” Although I hadn’t delved too deeply into Volbeat’s music before this concert, I can certainly see now why they’re such a heavy hitter in the rock scene, creating banger after banger for the world to enjoy. The band’s performance was just as electric as their music!
After a long night of three stunning performances, I was left utterly satisfied, adrenalized from their energy, and more than excited to experience them again. There’s a reason these three names are loved by many, and their reputations preceded them, living up to the hype just as I had hoped they would. As I left Pine Knob, the crowd was still buzzing around me, some talking about how good Volbeat was, others laughing and smiling about being able to see Halestorm for the first time. If you ever get the chance to enjoy any of these bands in a venue near you, do not hesitate to snag some tickets!