The power of Hale is bigger than fame – report of Halestorm’s concert in Munich 25.11

It is a snowy Saturday in Munich, where the Chaoszine team travelled to witness a show of the Back From The Dead Tour 2023, with three bands eager to hype the audience present at the sold-out Muffathalle. We arrived at the venue at 6 PM when doors were scheduled to open, and we found a huge line of fans already waiting to take place in the front rows. Luckily, the line dissolved as quickly as the snow was falling, so in a few minutes, we entered and set up shop, ready to enjoy a night of music and entertainment. A very special thanks to Propeller Music & Event for their kindness and professionalism in having us!

Mothica

Whenever I attend a show in Germany I expect punctuality, and this time was no different. The clock strikes 7, the venue goes dark, and the first band of the evening takes place on stage. I would not define Mothica as a purely metal act, but more rock with several influences, from gothic to pop, from electronic to punk. And despite this, it was a very enjoyable set. The whole group was extremely passionate and gave it all to the crowd in Munich. I was very moved when lead singer McKenzie shared a bit of her personal story to introduce some of the tracks: she outed her abuser, struggled with depression and even attempted suicide. “I was happy I failed [suicide]”, she said, while her feelings almost choked her voice. We are also happy she failed in taking her life because otherwise, we would not have discovered this talented artist who has made an impression on everyone. It makes me so happy when opening bands decide to play a cover (or two, in this case) because it makes their performance even more memorable. So keep an eye on Mothica because they definitely have more to offer to the world of music.

Setlist:

1. CASUALTY
2. Can You Feel My Heart (cover)
3. VICES
4. Toxins
5. buzzkill
6. forever fifteen
7. All Star (cover)
8. upside
9. SENSITIVE

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Black Veil Brides

To tell you the whole truth, the main reason why I knew Black Veil Brides was because of a tweet from about 10 years ago, where one of their fans asked the band if they could come to the Philippines to play a show but instead tagged another BVB, which is the Borussia Dortmund’s football team account. The club replied, “Well, we are not a band”, and I have laughed about this for so long I don’t think I’ll ever stop. But memes aside, this band does not need a presentation: their majestic intro with organs and orchestrations welcomed each member on stage, and the crowd went crazy. The stage presence of this group is simply outstanding: everyone was moving around and playing with all their hearts, which shows how dedicated and skilled they are. Furthermore, the symbiotic relationship between the band and their fans was palpable. It wasn’t just about singing along to the anthemic choruses; it was a collective celebration of unity and resilience. Songs like “In the End” or “Wake Up” transformed into anthems, with the crowd echoing every lyric, their voices merging seamlessly with the powerful vocals resonating from the stage. I think that the blending of heavy melodies and poignant lyrics created an atmosphere that was as immersive as it was exhilarating. I have been absolutely mesmerized by this group, and I can’t wait to dive into their discography a little bit deeper so I can fully appreciate their art.

Setlist:

1. Crimson Skies
2. Rebel Love Song
3. Wake Up
4. Nobody’s Hero
5. Devil
6. Scarlet Cross
7. Torch
8. The Legacy
9. Knives And Pens
10. Fallen Angels
11. In The End

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Halestorm

The opening act and the support band both had intros playing before they came on stage, so I was kind of expecting it as well from the headliner. I was pleasantly surprised instead to have the lead singer Lzzy screaming, almost ordering the audience to “Raise your horns / Raise ’em high“, and of course, we obliged. It was only a short a cappella moment, though, because then came the power, the heavy and the metal with the opening iconic track “I Miss The Misery“, which showed us what this American band can do. A particular moment happened just shortly after this, where a person in the audience was holding a sign that said “Lzzy Draw Me A Tattoo”, so with the help of the security staff, Lzzy grabbed the banner and a white marker and drew a tattoo as requested, while the rest of the band was jamming. It was very heartwarming and cute, once again proved that Halestorm cares about their fanbase. Lzzy on stage is a beast, in the best possible meaning of this term: she sings, screams, shouts, dances, jumps, and plays without holding back a single ounce of strength. The same is her brother, Arejay, on drums, a monster of percussions who showed his talent on a very long drum solo, with some cheers from the audience that were the only thing intermittent. When a band has a solid lineup, it is very clear, and this is the case for Halestorm: with Joe Hottinger on second guitar and Josh Smith on bass, which Lzzy addressed as the “secret weapon” of the group. We got treated to two acoustic songs with Lzzy on vocals and Joe on guitar right at the beginning of the set, and it was a wonderful touch. The surprises, though, were not finished because, for the encore, Lzzy played three songs just by herself on the piano, tearing every single person apart. I personally cried my eyes out on “Dear Daugther” and “Shatter Me“, as Lzzy stated that she could have used a friend in high school who liked rock music and dressed in black. Thankfully now there are plenty of people who love her and the band, so all in all, it’s a happy ending. “Raise Your Horns” was repeated, and trust me when I say that the circa 3,000 people there had their horns up in the sky. The concert ended with Lzzy saying, “Tonight this is our church, and you are my people“, introducing “The Steeple“. As I wrote in the title, the power of Hale is bigger than fame: this group deserves so much because they put up a wonderful show. Don’t miss it if they come to a city near you!

Setlist:

1. Raise Your Horns (a cappella)
2. I Miss The Misery
3. Love Bites (So Do I)
4. Do Not Disturb
5. Amen
6. Brightside
7. Terrible Things (acoustic)
8. I’m Not An Angel (acoustic)
9. Familiar Taste Of Poison
10. Takes My Life
11. Drum Solo
12. Back From The Dead
13. I Get Off
14. Wicked Ways
15. Freak Like Me
16. Dear Daughter / Shatter Me / Raise Your Horns (only Lzzy on keyboards)
17. Here’s To Us
18. The Steeple

Photo: Silvio Colombo.