By Chaz Dykes of Chaz D Photography
Alter Bridge kicked off their 2023 Tour at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa Event Center in Tampa. Wolfgang Van Halen’s band Mammoth WVH is joining them on the tour along with RED.
The night started with RED, a christian rock band from Nashville Tennessee. Guitarist Anthony Armstrong and bassist Randy Armstrong (brothers), formed the band in 2002 with lead vocalist Michael Barnes with Brian Medeiros joining in 2019 on drums. RED gave a solid performance with a good mixture of heavy grooves, and melodic vocals.
Next up was Mammoth WVH. This was my first time seeing Mammoth WVH live and Wolfgang and the boys tore it up. I have been listening to the band’s first release for a while and I think it is one of the best rock albums to come out in a good while. The show was everything I hoped it would be and more. Wolfgang’s vocals were fantastic, and the guitar work was so good. The bass and drums drove this machine like a freight train. They opened the set with “Mammoth” and then went into “Mr. Ed.” The intro for Mr. Ed is very reminiscent of his Father. They performed the song “Distance,” which was written for Wolfgang’s father Eddie Van Halen. It was an emotional performance for Wolfgang, and rightly so, as the next day was his father’s birthday. If you have the chance to see Mammoth WVH don’t hesitate.
Alter Bridge were the main event and they came out firing on all cylinders. They opened the night with “Silver Tonuge.” The night also included performances of “In Loving memory,” Broken Wings,” “Metalingus.” The encores were “Rise Today” and “Open Your Eyes.’ This was my first-time seeing Alter Bridge live, and I really enjoyed it. They were loud, and the crowd was into every song they played. Miles Kennedy’s vocals were great. Mark Tremonti’s guitar work was grindy melodic and in your face. Brian Marshall filled the room with a fat bottom end from his tasty bass lines while Scott Phillips carried the band’s rhythm and the sound of his kick drum hit you right in the chest.
This was truly a great show to witness the bands complemented each other well. If you want to know more about all of these acts use the links below. Now go out and see some live music!!
https://alterbridge.com
https://www.mammothwvh.com
https://www.thebandred.com
