Halestorm / In This Moment - Rock City, Nottingham (UK) - 11th March 2013

A Monday night would never be my ideal choice to see a live show, especially when it involves a five and a half hour round trip in weather conditions that generally form the basis of a Hollywood disaster movie, and also when I have to work the next day. Tonight is different though. I'm a big In This Moment fan and this is my first chance to see the band perform live. The fact that I am also conducting an interview with lead singer Maria Brink prior to the show, in a warm tour bus away from the sub zero Nottingham temperatures, is an added incentive.

Due to what seems like a lack of organisation I miss the opening band of the night, Sacred Mother Tongue. There are a large number of people still queuing to get in the venue as the band finish their last song and take their leave. It just gives me time to take my place in the photo pit, for the first few songs of In This Moment's short set. As the lights dim and Maria appears centre stage to tease us with 'Rise With Me', the atmospheric opening track from the latest 'Blood' CD. Clad in leather suspender belt and stockings, with a rubber like shirt, she is an image from most men's fantasies and holds the attention like few other vocalists I can think of. The sound is a little shaky at the start but once it settles down, the band take no prisoners. Maria's main partner in crime, diminutive guitarist Chris Howorth, pulls more faces than Jim Carrey as he riffs and solos through some brutal but infectiously melodic songs. The set concentrates on the new CD, only 'Blazin' – from 'Star-Crossed Wasteland' – breaking up the 'Blood' repertoire. Maria informed me that In This Moment would hopefully be back in June on their own terms and if that is true then my birthday month could be extra special.

If I'm honest, I'm really in Nottingham to see In This Moment so I'm treating their appearance with Halestorm as a bonus. This is my third Halestorm show in 12 months or so and the fact that Rock City is packed solid highlights just how far they have come, and how much their popularity has increased, since I first saw them supporting Theory Of A Deadman, a mere three years ago. Sophomore release, 'The Strange Case Of...', appeared in a number of 2012 top 5 lists and the band has since been recognised further by the music industry with a Grammy award. The energy levels are high and Lzzy commands the stage like a high-heeled Goddess. Arejay is one of the most entertaining drummers I've seen in recent times, pretty much a show on his own at times. Josh and Joe are the band's unassuming bass player and guitarist, integral to the band but content it seems to let Lzzy, and to a lesser extent Arejay, take most of the plaudits. They tear through 'Freak Like Me', 'Love Bites', 'Dirty Work', 'Rock Show' and 'Daughters Of Darkness' before treating us to a run through Dio's 'Straight Through The Heart'. The highlight of tonight's performance for me is Lzzy's solo spot, 'Break In', followed by an equally mesmerising 'Bitter Taste Of Posion'. Emotional on many levels and a showcase for some great vocals and songwriting.

It wasn't the greatest show ever but I think that may have been due to a combination of factors that had nothing to do with the bands. In terms of value for money however, how could you argue with the £10 ticket price!

Dave Bott