Live Review: Alter Bridge, Daughtry & Sevendust at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Words and Photos by Adam Kennedy
The city of Newcastle is synonymous with the famous Tyne Bridge, but on Wednesday evening, it was US-rockers Alter Bridge who got the local rock fraternity hot under the collar.
You would have to look back to 2011 for the last time the quartet performed in the North East. A long overdue return to the very same arena the band performed 15 years ago was most welcome by the Geordie faithful. On that evening in question, Alter Bridge brought a special guest by way of guitar great Nuno Bettencourt who was passing through the area at the time as guitarist for pop superstar Rhianna.
Of course, frontman Myles Kennedy visited the region more recently with Slash and the Conspirators during their visit to the O2 City Hall in 2024.
Fast forward to the present day and a lot of water has passed under the Tyne Bridge since 2011. Five Alter Bridge records have been released since the group last toured the area with AB III. So, a lot of ground to cover during the show, and the four-piece did exactly that during a setlist that touched upon six of the band’s eight studio albums.
Alter Bridge are presently touring in support of their eponymous new album, which was released in January. With eight albums behind them, the four-piece eased the new material into their sixteen-song setlist, with only three tracks from their latest offering featuring including set opener Silent Divide and recent single Playing Aces. On the subject of the band’s new material, what was great to see was the vocal interplay between Tremonti and Kennedy during Tested and Able.
For the old school Alter Bridge fans there was plenty of reasons for rejoicing. A welcome dose of nostalgia featured mid-set by way of a run of songs from the band’s debut album One Day Remains. Classics such as a Tremonti-led rendition of Broken Wings and Open Your Eyes had the Tyneside crowd singing at the tops of their lungs.
Alter Bridge’s distinctive sound soared around the Utilita Arena as the group unleashed songs from their seminal album Blackbird. With the title track and the anthemic Rise Today being highlights of the evening’s proceedings. Whilst a spellbinding rendition of Watch Over You was seamlessly ushered in with a rare stripped back performance of Wonderful Life.
In main set closer Metalingus, Alter Bridge have a bonafide anthem worthy of bringing the proceedings to a finish. A two-song encore concluding with Isolation brought the evening to its end.
Whilst 15 years may have passed since the group’s last appearance in the North East, there has been no love lost between the US-based quartet and their Newcastle fanbase. At the Utilita Arena, Alter Bridge once again proved that they are ‘Myles’ ahead of the rest.
But what of the support you ask? Atlanta, Georgia based outfit Sevendust provided the entre to the evening’s three course musical feast. And just like the headliners, their arrival on Tyneside was somewhat overdue. You would have to look back to 2008 for the group’s last show at the then Carling Academy 2 in Newcastle.
After a few moments on stage, all was forgiven. Sevendust reintroduced themselves with an energetic performance, that was fuelled by charismatic showmanship and devastating guitar riffs. Songs like Is This The Real You introduced what is in store from the band’s forthcoming album. Whilst both Crucified and the brutal Face to Face resulted in the group winning over a lot of new fans in the audience. When asked if the crowd would have them back again – the response was an unequivocal yes from the Geordie fans. Sevendust were a perfect fit for the bill.
Daughtry bridged the gap between Sevendust and the headliners. The band recently performed at the O2 City Hall Newcastle and were warmly welcomed on their return to the region. Propelled by CO2 cannons, the band fronted by Chris Daughtry showcased what they are all about. A stripped back airing of Home, along with a cover of Journey’s Separate Ways were some of the highlights of the group’s mid-billing performance.
With three of the best bands on the contemporary rock/metal scene on one bill, at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle’s music fans certainly got a lot of bang for their buck, and we aren’t just talking about pyrotechnics.
