We went out to review the Snocore tour last Tuesday night. I enjoyed the show for the most part got to see some really great acts. Also, I got a chance to sit down with Halestorm (see the Interview), and got a feel that this tour has gotten off to a good start. With this being the 3^rd day of touring everyone gave their fans what they wanted. And some got to see new bands that they may have never heard about if not for this tour…

Halestorm

On the way to the show Sam and myself were trying to go through what we had on the bands we were supposed to interview. Which were going to be Shinedown and Halestorm. All he had gotten was a press pack on Shinedown and just an ep of Halestorm. We really didn’t know a whole lot about Halestorm other than what I found on them online, which wasn’t much.

Once we got there and met up with their tour manger she took us to meet them and we got to sit down and talk with them with what little we knew at the time. They asked if we liked their music, which I think we both kind of felt bad for not really getting a chance to hear a lot of their stuff. I had heard two of their songs I found online but they were more the softer ballad type of songs so I really didn’t think they were going to be something I would like.

So after the interview we went out to see them play and once they played their first song, we both looked at each other like “Damn!” They were not only hard but she has a voice that could rival some of these so-called pop princesses, but with the band playing behind her, you couldn’t tell how good she was until she sang acapella on their song, “Its Not You.”

As she wailed the opening line “I’m in love with somebody,” her voice carried throughout the theater. When we met the band, Lzzy had shown us where she had cut her hand the night before during their set, so even with an injured hand she preformed great. At one point in the show they brought out a set of quad drums and began playing them all together with an almost tribal sound, which was something I have never seen any band do.

So after getting to listen to them live, I think I can truly say I have become a fan of Halestorm and to Lzzy, Arejay, Josh and Joe, thank you for giving us some of your time and we look forward to hearing your album when it is released and to seeing you again sometime soon here in Houston. If and when this band comes back take the time to see them, I think most will enjoy their sound and become just as much of a fan as I have.

Flyleaf

This Texas band brought their act to the Snocore tour and seemed to have a good-sized fan base around them. As the people who knew them and liked them went along for the ride, they did their songs “I’m So Sick “and “Fully Alive,” but I just couldn’t get in to them.

They had a good sound and the vocalist does a nice job on her vocals as she can go from singing like a little girl to a scratching yell, but it just didn’t seem to fit my taste. Some of the people that have heard them tell me how much they like them. And that they have seen them play several live shows and have always put on a good show, which they did if you could keep up with the band, as they went jumping and flying all over the stage.

Flyleaf puts out lots of energy as they went through their set, which lasted about thirty minutes. Maybe if they got a chance with more time for the set. They could have really shown us that there is more to them. Their self titled album FLYLEAF out now. So if you’re a fan of bands like Evanescence and maybe Kittie you may dig their sound. The last thing I will say about Flyleaf is to go see them for your self and make your own decision…

Shinedown

To tell you the truth I wasn’t all that big of a Shinedown fan to begin with. Not knowing a lot of their music other than what I have heard on the radio, but when they took the stage they got not only mine but every person in the theater attention.

With the opening riffs of their song “Heroes,” the place just erupted. When they take the stage, Shinedown brings so much with them. From their big sound to one of the most energized front men I have ever seen. Brent Smith gave a commanding performance as he led the crowd in to song after song never leaving a person there disappointed.

As their set rolled on he would tell stories of how the song came to be and it gave the place a feel of a private performance rather than a big scale rock show. They did an amazing job on the song “45” as with their rendition of “Simple man”. The show never seemed to slow down at all the crowd keep asking for more and Shinedown gave it.

I think one of the things I respected the most from them is the fact that they thanked the people so many times and not in a cheesy rock star way either. It was very heart felt when Brent told everyone that they had one thing in common and that was making it possible for them to do this for us. Which is where the title to their new album comes from “Us and Them “.

Shinedown kept everyone on their feet till the very end when they finished the set with their hit “Save me”. I don’t think anyone in the place was left unsatisfied at all, except that they all wanted more. As for me I will defiantly give them a closer listen to. All I can tell you is even if you have their albums and love their music, until you see them live you are missing out on one of the greatest rock acts out there right now. Not only will they give you a great show and make you a fan all over again. They will make you feel their music…

Seether

This was the band I was so looking forward to seeing. Being that they are one of my current favorites right now. They walked on stage and started strumming the opening cords to “Gasoline,” but as much as I like Seether and am a fan, their live show didn’t come over as well as I hoped it would have.

Shaun Morgan’s vocals seemed to be on and off. As he did some songs great, others seemed to be rushed through the whole show wasn’t bad they did go through a pretty good set of songs from both the new and previous album. And for the most part I did enjoy getting to see them live, but their music seemed to have lost something in the transition between their recordings and the live show. But then again if you have heard their first album you know they can have a garage band kind of sound, which gives them more of a genuine feel of a true rock band.

They did however do an incredible job on their song “Broken”. They brought out Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, who if you read their review has a tremendous voice and did a great job on the song. Shaun also dedicated the song “Fine Again” to the memories of Dave Williams of Drowning Pool and Dimebag Darrell Abbott of Pantera. Both of who were from Texas.

I’m not going to sit here and tell you not to go see Seether. If you’re a fan like I am your going to want to go see them and look for all the good things in their show and I did I really did. And as much as I hate to say that some of it wasn’t that great. I have to be honest and say it. I will however see them again if given the chance and see if maybe it was just this night or maybe it was just me who knows. But I can still honestly say I am and will still remain a fan of Seether