Photos and Review by Raven Divito
@rockinshots

Halestorm Bring the Thunder to Wheatland’s Toyota Amphitheatre on July 24, 2025

With their highly anticipated new album Everest dropping August 8 and a headlining UK arena tour on the horizon, Halestorm is charging into one of the biggest years of their career. And if their special guest set at Wheatland’s Toyota Amphitheatre was any indication, they’re more than ready to own it.

From the moment they hit the stage, Halestorm wasted no time setting a relentless pace. Opening with the bold and booming “Fallen Star” from the upcoming Everest, they tore into the night like a band with something to prove—though they’ve long since solidified their place as one of rock’s most dependable live forces.

Lzzy Hale was a force of nature—decked out in a leather skirt and studded jacket, her vocals cut through the evening air with urgency and bite. The crowd roared for hits like “I Miss the Misery” and “Love Bites (So Do I),” while the band dropped their explosive new single “WATCH OUT!” into the mix like a grenade.

Though billed as a support act, their performance was more like a co-headline—a full-force, no-prisoners kind of energy.

Let’s meet the band:

• Lzzy Hale – Vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
• Arejay Hale – Drums, backing vocals
• Joe Hottinger – Lead guitar, backing vocals
• Josh Smith – Bass, backing vocals

At the heart of Halestorm’s live power is their unmistakable chemistry. Sibling duo Lzzy and Arejay bring a natural synergy, trading glances and musical cues like it’s second nature. Arejay’s showmanship—giant drumsticks, wild solos, theatrical antics—is met with equal parts amusement and support from his bandmates.

Joe Hottinger and Josh Smith are equally magnetic, locking in tight grooves while flashing grins and nods across the stage. And while Lzzy is every bit the commanding frontwoman, she never hogs the spotlight—each member gets their moment, and the band moves as one.

This unity fuels the show’s authenticity. Nothing feels staged; it feels lived in. Solos stretch. Jokes land. Mistakes, if any, are met with laughter and locked eyes. The fans can feel it—it’s real.

Midway through the set, things took a darker turn with the haunting “Darkness Always Wins,” which bled into a brief, eerie tease of “Familiar Taste of Poison.” But soon enough, Halestorm was back to full throttle with the punchy “Amen” and the towering “I Am the Fire.”

And then came the weather.

As they launched into the brooding “Rain Your Blood on Me,” the skies answered with actual thunder and light rain. Lightning flashed overhead as Lzzy’s vocals sliced through the storm—an electric moment that felt both cinematic and supernatural. No one moved. No one wanted to miss a second.

Arejay’s solo followed—a signature burst of chaos and charisma, complete with oversized drumsticks and relentless, double-kick destruction. And to cap it off, the band delivered a surprise tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: a savage, amped-up rendition of “Perry Mason” that had fists pounding and heads banging until the final note.

In just 45 minutes, Halestorm packed a full album’s worth of intensity, emotion, and connection. It wasn’t just a concert—it was a statement. They’re not just on the rise—they’re already at the summit, with Everest still ahead.

Catch them while you can—because Halestorm is unleashing the storm all year long.

For tour dates and updates, visit www.halestormrocks.com