Live Review: Alter Bridge, Like A Storm

Like A Storm's accessible brand of hard rock ensures they're the type of act often associated with Alter Bridge; albeit by those who only afford the headliners a cursory glance.

The North American-based Kiwi crew's decidedly safe fare - sounding like it was assembled with a firm eye on rock-radio rotation - was well-received by many in attendance, too. Didgeridoo excursions offered fleeting points of difference, and the members' beaming smiles indicated they clearly wanted to be there. That said, their banal songs were as weak as your nanna's cordial. A pedestrian AC/DC cover and cliched banter littered a forgettable display.

Alter Bridge's recent Sydney headlining performances have positioned them at risk of being usurped by others on the bill. In those instances it wasn't for lack of trying on their part, but there was zero threat of that occurring this time around. An at times muddy mix could have dampened the atmosphere, but proved an obstacle the US heavy rockers overcame with the aplomb of a road-hardened, well-honed outfit. Possessing an array of anthemic hooks you couldn't shift from your cerebral cortex (Ghost Of Days Gone By, Open Your Eyes, Rise Today) and capable of eliciting venue-wide singalongs certainly aided the cause.

Frontman Myles Kennedy's soulful, golden pipes can pervade a cavernous arena, let alone a theatre-sized room, and he maintained a likeable demeanour throughout a nearly two-hour affair. His brief solo acoustic jaunt reinforced this sentiment, even moving two female punters nearby to tears. Kennedy's chemistry with riff-meister Mark Tremonti (who ably handled lead vocal duties on Waters Rising) is a cornerstone of their success on record, and readily apparent live as well. The pair's guitar solo trade-off during stirring Blackbird remained something to behold. Supported by a taut rhythm section, this was a show executed with characteristic self-assurance and melodic sensibility.