Photo of Eric Vanlerberghe of I Prevail by Colin Williams
Covering pop songs in metal music isn’t a new concept, with TikTok brimming with artists turning melodic upbeat jams into heavy hits. Rock band I Prevail were trailblazers for this trend all the way back in 2014, covering the popular Taylor Swift song “Blank Space,” and doing it so well they were certified platinum—with a cover! Covers aren’t all I Prevail do well, though, and with multiple Grammy nominations as well as a Loudwire Award for Hard Rock Song of the Year with their 2017 hit “Alone,” no one can argue they have ridden the coattails of other bands’ songs to achieve their success.
Wednesday night at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I Prevail was joined by another powerhouse group in Halestorm for their co-headlining tour. Halestorm—fronted by arguably one of the greatest metal vocalists of our time Lzzy Hale—returned to the city flanked by not only I Prevail but also Hollywood Undead and Fit for a King. Both opening groups could stand alone on their own headlining tours successfully, so this felt like one of those rare lineups where every group on the roster had something to offer that wasn’t worth missing.
With four bands taking the stage Wednesday, the set started early. Fit for a King began right on time at 6:30, and I have seen (and photographed) them before, so I knew to expect a set full of energy. Fit for a King is one of those bands you never forget seeing live because of their stage antics, and this show was no different, with the foursome starting the night with the single “Keeping Secrets” which dropped earlier this year. Bassist Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary is well known among fans for spending more time in the air than on the ground, with flexibility that even an accomplished gymnast would appreciate. O’Leary made sure everyone in the audience got the chance to catch his gravity defying jumps, switching sides with guitarist Daniel Gailey for the second song of the night, “Breaking the Mirror.” Vocalist Ryan Kirby impressed with raw vocals and minimal back tracking, something that is appreciated but rare in modern rock music. One unique quality of the band is each member sings, with both Tuck and Gailey offering their vocals up and both contributing a unique sound.
Kirby dedicated the third song of the night, “Falling Through the Sky,” to Hollywood Undead, and the fifth song of the night “Reaper” went out to Halestorm. Gailey had impressive moments with a solo in “Breaking the Mirror” as well as synchronized jumps with Tuck through the set. Who needs fire and confetti when you have acrobatics on stage? The set closed with “Technium” which released last week, and although Fit for a King was the heaviest band of the night, they meshed so well with the rest of the bands Wednesday that it felt like an absolutely perfect pick for this tour.
Music must have anti-aging properties because I know for certain I used to rock out to Hollywood Undead in sixth grade but the men on stage couldn’t have been any older than I am now. Who knew years of booze, boobs, and grooves would age you in reverse? The band may not have changed much in physical looks, but one noticeable change from my middle school days was a lack of masks. Even though the masks are gone, their identities still exist in infamy, with Charlie Scene, J-Dog, Funny Man, Johnny 3 Tears, and Danny living on. The band went all out on their production, with “Hotel Kalifornia” doodled on a cardboard sign hanging stage right and an old man probably recruited off Grand Avenue to randomly walk across stage playing a tambourine. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all left the show in Charlie’s Ford Fiesta circa 2009.
Hollywood Undead opened the night with “California Dreaming” to an ecstatic crowd, which grew louder during the following songs as beach balls were dispersed to be knocked around the pit. “Everywhere I Go” was a fan favorite, followed by “Renegade” where a machine gun guitar was utilized for a song with very political undertones. Midway through the set, the band pulled two kids on stage and proceeded to butcher their names before 7-year-old Zyler was asked to introduce the next song, which he did with grace, screaming “Coming in Hot Mother Fucker” while throwing his tiny horns. The children stayed on stage for the duration of the popular song, notably sober after Charlie Scene made it clear you have to be “at least ten” to drink or smoke, before being handed back to their excited parents in the audience. Hollywood Undead certainly knows how to woo a crowd, and very few stayed in their seats for this set. They slowed things down briefly with an acoustic “Sweet Caroline” which became a funny moment of the night as Charlie broke a guitar string for what was apparently the second day in a row. Need to tighten those G- strings a bit there, Charlie. Hollywood Undead closed the night with “Undead” off their debut album Swan Songs.
I always imagine a debate for co-headlining tours of who goes on last, but I Prevail and Halestorm chose to alternate nights so they both had a chance to close shows. For St. Louis, Halestorm was the third band of the night. This was my fifth time seeing Halestorm, as they returned to touring recently after a well-deserved break. Vocalist Lzzy Hale recently filled in for Skid Row, returning from that run to dive straight into this tour. I took several notes through this set, but the one that sticks out the most was “My God, this woman in a powerhouse.” You could hear the phlegm rattling in her throat as she let out screams that went on for what seemed like minutes, never faltering or weakening. With no doubt this was a live performance, Lzzy, flanked by guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith, took the stage with “I Miss the Misery” and I swear I died in that moment. Halestorm’s new stuff is great, but her old songs are iconic and “I Miss the Misery” deserves its own Wikipedia page. Hale’s brother, Arejay Hale, never disappoints on drums, with Halestorm making time to let each member on stage shine for their individual talents. Arejay had his hair dyed vibrant green to match his drum set, playing so violently he cracked a cymbal during the second song of the night, “Love Bites.”
Halestorm had a seemingly unlimited number of guitars, with Lzzy changing instruments what seemed like every song. Lzzy made a point to let everyone know “we grew up on this stage, we’ve been playing here since 2009,” giving accolades to a city that saw her from her days as a young artist. She dedicated “I Get Off” to the freaky women in attendance, and did the back half of the song acapella with mind-crushing ad libs and vocal runs. Hottinger got a chance to show his skills with solos during “Mayhem” and “Familiar Taste of Poison.” The bass was cranked as well for the latter, with seats rattling from the intensity. It is always refreshing to hear bass, it seems a lot of modern rock turns their bass down to favor drum and vocals. Lzzy belted out “Take My Life,” finishing the song laying down on stage while playing guitar and singing with the same intensity she was standing. I’m telling you, she is not human. Arejay has been doing a similar drum solo for many years in the set, so I fully expected this, and was shocked to see they had added each member of the band to the solo in a drumline for this tour. The amount of talent in Halestorm is unparalleled. Hottinger brought out an LED-lit guitar for “Black Vultures,” following up with “Psycho Crazy” and “I Am the Fire” before closing the night with “Steeple.”
I Prevail closed the night, opening their set to massive LED boards playing graphics that felt very Bad Omens-esque. This set was a bright one, with extremely vibrant white lighting, vibrant enough that I put my sun glasses on at one point. Although it was visually impressive from the crowd, I did not envy the photographers in the pit! I’ve followed this band for many years, with their lyrics making it both into my wedding vows as well as on the back on my arm in tattoo form, so any time I get a chance to see their set I will make it happen. The band has faced some difficulties recently with vocalist Brian Burkheiser undergoing major surgery for EAGLE syndrome. Many bands would’ve let this derail their plans, but I Prevail stood true to their namesake and prevailed through the challenge with guitarist Dylan Bowman stepping up to do vocals in Burkheiser’s place for their recent tour overseas. Burkheiser returned for the current tour and spoke to the mental health struggles he has faced while coping with his illness and how he has used support from fans to help him overcome.
With help from screamer and co-vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe, I Prevail opened with “Fear in Letting Go” off their most recent studio album, True Power. One thing I noticed early in the set was a new member, with Jon Eberhard joining the tour on keys and bass. “Body Bag” came next, a heavy track that really shows the depth of Vanlerberghe as a vocalist. His screams seem effortless but carry a power behind them that makes you want to rage. I Prevail is a dynamic band as they have some of the best screams in the genre currently, but are also able to do softer songs with Burkheiser complementing Vanlerberghe in a way that just works. The set stayed heavier with “Self-Destruction” before slowing down a bit for “Bad Things.” I have seen I Prevail several times but this was my first show with “Blank Space” back in the set, with Vanlerberghe making it known that he hates performing the song but realizes it’s a fan favorite.
“Blank Space” marked the middle of the set, and periodically through the night we were treated to more graphics onscreen. Drummer Gabe Helguera and guitarist Steve Menoian were elevated on a platform with Eberhard, making it possible to watch each member without difficulty. I Prevail kept things elevated with little time between songs, progressing through a twelve-song set in a shockingly quick amount of time. They ended the night with “Hurricane,” dedicated to their friends in Halestorm. I’ll admit I was surprised and a bit disappointed they did not perform “Can You See Me in the Dark,” their newest single with Halestorm, but the set list for the night was filled with so many great songs that I didn’t even realize it was missing until after the set. It is rare I see a tour so packed with amazing bands, and I’ve had a bit of post-show sadness since this one ended. The tour continues through the 17th of this month, if you get a chance to snag tickets you will not regret it. | Erica Vining
