Live Review: Alter Bridge, Living Colour

The sold-out venue was already jam-packed when Living Colour strode out, even the uninitiated paying their respects to the New Yorkers. Questionable fashion choices (golf hats, checked woollen pullovers) aside and appearing every inch a three decades-old outfit, they were nonetheless mighty seasoned performers, eclectic heavy rockers proficiently infusing jazz, metal and soul. Singer Corey Glover ventured to the barrier on a few occasions; virtuoso-like lead guitarist Vernon Reid's effortlessness ensured more than one patron was overheard dubbing him a freak. This reviewer couldn't summate said skills any better.

Funked-up Middle Man and Type kept considerable momentum flowing, and stone-cold classic Cult Of Personality sent diehard and casual fans into raptures. The quartet packed sufficient swagger and prowess to recite James Brown and The Clash cuts with equal aplomb, leaving many marvelling that they'd just witnessed something exceptional. They had.

“How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?” Die Hard's John McClane exclaimed. Although visibly ecstatic about sharing the stage with their heroes, Alter Bridge may have secretly pondered a similar conundrum. At their previous Sydney Sidewave, they were usurped by glam jokesters Steel Panther. On this occasion, the efficient Americans did little wrong, offering a setlist practically bulging with beloved, anthemic riff-monsters Isolation, Ghost Of Days Gone By, Addicted To Pain and Metalingus. Also, despite being under the weather, golden-voiced, engaging frontman Myles Kennedy ably applied himself, while Mark Tremonti's Blackbird guitar solo remained something to behold. The axeman also adopted lead vocal duties for memorable Waters Rising. 

Alter Bridge has quietly ascended up the rungs of the hard-rock ladder in recent years, with minimal pretension and a few cheesy poses. This show won't detract from such progress; the crowd-pleasers simply had the misfortune of following a sterling display, and therefore felt just a tad anti-climactic.