ALTER BRIDGE – 25 OCTOBER 2010, 02 Academy, Birmingham


It’s been two years since Alter Bridge last graced the UK with their presence. Their long anticipated return sees them re-emerging even bigger and better than before. After taking time out to work on their latest release, AB III on the Roadrunner label, these are exciting times for a band that are unsurprisingly looking set for world domination.

Tonight was the penultimate UK show of the European tour and the band with the monster sound was ready to unleash their new material on a fervent crowd. With the anticipation building to epic proportions, it’s a miracle that the roof didn’t shatter with the sheer volume of the cheering crowd as Alter Bridge took to the stage.
Kicking off the night was the brilliant Slip to the Void; a perfect introduction to what was set to be a highly charged show. Since seeing Alter Bridge at the Wolves Civic back in 2008, they have blossomed incredibly and gone from being relatively small in the UK to selling out shows and packing out venues across the country. Myles Kennedy, as ever, delivered a breathtaking performance and had the crowd in the palm of his hand. It was nice to see such a large range of age groups at the show. Alter Bridge are living proof that exceptional musicianship and performance will always stand the test of time over faddish scene music.

This is a band unique in their accessibility and wide appeal to a diverse audience and through their spellbinding performance, earning themselves a loyal army of fans.
Although the tour coincided with the release of Alter Bridge’s third album, the set was well balanced and included all the old favourites from Blackbird and One Day Remains albums. The mixture of high emotion ballads such as Blackbird and Open your Eyes with the more upbeat classic rock feel of Isolation and Ghost of Days Gone By from the new album was fantastic and kept the set fresh and exciting and the buzz in the crowd was phenomenal throughout.
AB III has more of a feel good classic rock vibe to it than the previous two albums but it hasn’t lost its trademark Alter Bridge edge with plenty of soaring riffs and anthemic choruses like its predecessors. Ghost of Days Gone By was one of the highlights with its sunny classic rock ambiance and drop out sections, perfect for crowd participation. Other highlights included the beautiful Blackbird, a track unthinkable of ever being left out of a set and Ties that Bind and Come to Life, at the latter end before winding down in the encore.

Tonight’s show was one that will be talked about by fans for weeks to come and worth queuing around the block for a few hours and getting frost bite for. The only disappointment is that for the UK the tour is over. It only remains to say, roll on 2011 and hurry back soon Alter Bridge. We miss you already.


Set List
1. Slip to the Void
2. Buried Alive
3. Before Tomorrow Comes
4. Still Remains
5. Brand New Start
6. White Knuckles
7. All Hope Is Gone
8. Metalingus
9. Ghost of Days Gone By
10. Broken Wings
11. Ties That Bind
12. One Day Remains
13. I Know It Hurts
14. Come To Life
15. Blackbird
16. Isolation
ENCORE
17. Open Your Eyes
18. Rise Today

Review by Mel Jones