LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Alter Bridge, Mammoth WVH, Red in Boston, MA (02.08.23)

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LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Alter Bridge, Mammoth WVH, Red in Boston, MA (02.08.23)

The history of Alter Bridge and the history of Boston’s live music scene will forever be intertwined. In October of 2004, just three months after the formation of Alter Bridge, the group were performing at Avalon – on the site which House of Blues now stands – and the Boston Red Sox were playing in Game 3 of the 2004 ALDS playoff series, the stars would align for a moment that many reminisce about around here. After winning the game on a walk-off home run, several members of the Boston Red Sox made their way to Avalon and joined Alter Bridge on-stage for their encore to celebrate their win.

A lot has changed since then, and in those 19 years, the Red Sox have four championships while Alter Bridge have seven full-length studio albums. But the band will always hold a special place in the heart of local concertgoers, last week they were in Boston for their latest visit, this time in support of their latest studio album, Pawns & Kings.

The record debuted at No. 2 on the US Hard Rock charts. Clocking in at 53:34 it’s their shortest album time-wise to date. It does however feature their longest song to date, “Fable of a Silent Son” at a little over 8 mins.

Last Wednesday night, they took over Boston’s Roadrunner, their first visit to one of the cities’ newest venues. Playing through a 16-song setlist, they visited 5 of their 7 records, electing to skip over their last two albums prior to Pawns & Kings. At this point in their career, the band operates as a well-oiled machine, ideal for bigger stages. Vocalist Myles Kennedy commands the stage as a seasoned frontman should, stopping every now and then for a little banter with the audience.

Just around the halfway point of the show, Kennedy broke out an acoustic guitar for a rendition of “Watch Over You” from their Blackbird album. After that guitarist, Mark Tremonti joined Kennedy for another acoustic tune, “In Loving Memory” a song that Tremonti penned for his mother shortly after she passed away.

It was back to the heavier tunes after that as the band blended two songs from Pawns & Kings with staples like “Metalingus” and “Rise Today” the latter of which was the night’s finale as part of a two-song encore.

Support on this tour comes from Tennesse rockers Red and Mammoth WVH, the latter of which is the powerful rock outfit fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the late great Eddie Van Halen. Mammoth released their self-titled debut studio album in June of 2021 to a No.1 spot on the US Hard Rock charts. During their opening slot, they would perform 8 of the record’s 14 songs. Included in the set was “Think It Over” which Wolfgang stated was his father’s favorite Mammoth song.


PHOTOS: Alter Bridge, Mammoth WVH, Red at Roadrunner in Boston, MA on February 8th, 2023:

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