Review - Alter Bridge - London Wembley Arena - Tuesday 29th November 2011

Having originally had tickets for the Newcastle Arena show a few days prior to this, and then realising that it was going to cost a small fortune to try and make it that far north on a Saturday, the relatively impromptu trek to see the band play at Wembey Arena had to be done.

I have followed Alter Bridge from the very beginning, and was there at the outset, when nobody really gave a shit. The prospect of missing their big step up to the arenas did not sit well with me, so having finished work at 5pm that evening, I made the trek to pastures unknown.

My train got in just after 7pm, I then made a boo-boo on the bloody tube, and then had to trek through the ghetto of the outskirts of Wembey, before a nice bus driver dropped me in the vicinity of the arena. I got there at about 8.10pm, just in time to catch the last 20 minutes of an hour long Black Stone Cherry set. They sounded on top form, and their headline tour in the early part of 2012 will be a must. Lead singer Chris Robertson has one of the finest rock vocals around at the moment, and their set seemed to go down well with the baying throng, Blame It On The Boom-Boom sounded intense (I still can't believe I didn't like it on first listen), and the closing Lonely Train got the vocals of the crowd well oiled for the main attraction.

Alter Bridge though were, as always, world class tonight, on an evening where they filmed the entire show for a future live DVD release. They are in the form of their lives at the moment, and deserve all the plaudits that come their way.

Their step up to the arenas is a timely honour of their talents, and I am so glad I made the trek to witness an incendiary performance of the highest calibre.

As Myles takes to the stage, the place goes mental, with his solo opening of Slip To The Void really hitting the spot. By the time THAT riff kicks in, and Tremonti starts to take flight, it is clear that tonight is going to be a momentous occasion and a real milestone for the band. From the opening track of their latest ABIII release, straight into the opener from their seminal debut, Find The Real sees the band take it back to where it all began.

Over an elongated two hour set, the band dip and weave through highlights of all their albums, sounding simply gargantuan in the process. Ghosts Of Days Gone By, Before Tomorrow Comes, Come To Life and White Knuckles all come out early. By the time the thunderous Metalingus takes shape, the band are unstoppable. Live, they sound heavier than ever, and Tremonti's guitar work still proves again just why he is the finest guitarist of a generation, if not of all time. From the heavy riffs, to the sumptuous guitar leads and solos, he is simply in a class all his own.

Myles too is an undoubted star, his voice filling every corner of what could be a cavernous and soulless arena on other nights. Not this evening. Yet again, one of the finest vocal talents in the world proves just why he is so highly thought of with his indescribable range.

Broken Wings is an epic moment of real power balladry and I Know It Hurts from the latest release also makes a thrilling return after their UK stint late last year. Buried Alive returns to the set, and Ties That Bind is still one hell of a technically powerful song, where Tremonti simply goes to town.

The acoustic section with Myles taking to the stage alone for emotional renditions of Wonderful Life and Watch Over You sees the crowd light up the arena with their phones, leaving a clearly overwhelmed Myles take the plaudits, truly touched by the response at the climax of the latter. He sounds like he can't believe his luck at playing Wembley, and it is this humble nature which endears him evermore to his fan base. It is a touching, honest and emotionally moving moment for Myles and crowd alike. Isolation quickly follows and thunders home to close the set proper.

As the band take the stage for their encore of the quintessential Open Your Eyes and Rise Today, you feel as though you have just witnessed something very special. Open Your Eyes is still one of the greatest songs ever written, and that solo is one of Tremonti's best. A huge hook, a massive chorus, and a life changing piece of music.

Alter Bridge raised their game tonight, proving just why they are one of the best damn rock bands in the world. I can only hope that one day we see this band raise the bar yet again, and make the step up to festival headliners. If there is one band in the world who deserves the chance, and who would deliver, it is Alter Bridge.

Unmissable, and more than worth the trek. 3 hours sleep in a hotel, 5.27am train back to Bristol, and then back at the office by 9am. All in a day's work. I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I would never have forgiven myself if I had.

Breathtaking.

Setlist - Slip To The Void / Find The Real / Ghosts Of Days Gone By / Before Tomorrow Comes / Come To Life / All Hope Is Gone / White Knuckles / Brand New Start / Metalingus / Broken Wings / I Know It Hurts / One Day Remains / Cour d'Alene / Buried Alive / Blackbird / Wonderful Life / Watch Over You / Ties That Bind / Isolation / Open Your Eyes / Rise Today

Setlist - Black Stone Cherry - Change / Blind Man / Yeah Man / Soul Creek / In My Blood / Rain Wizard / Things My Father Said / White Trash Mllionaire / Peace Is Free / I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man (Muddy Waters cover) / Maybe Someday / Blame It On The Boom-Boom / Lonely Train