They had to know, right? They had to know what to expect. Coming to Dublin after a wait this long, “Get Alter Bridge to Ireland” campaigns on social media, they had to know it was going to be something pretty special. In support of their latest record, ‘The Last Hero’, Alter Bridge’s sold out Dublin debut took place within the walls of The Olympia Theatre last night, a venue engrossed in artistic history with endless stories worth telling. And this proved to be no exception, being another of those tales that will be retold long into the future. For when it comes to unforgettable nights, this night was next to none.
It’s said that a fleet of fans formed lines overnight and held their place throughout the day, their enthusiasm unimpaired despite battered feet, tired eyes and sun burnt bodies. All of which meant that when supporting act Red Sun Rising took to the stage they were met with an almost full house raring and ready to go. And the band seized their moment. Fast, furious, giving it all they had, the bands showmanship and anthemic choruses hooked the audience from the get-go, earning them much respect as Red Sun Rising made their own Irish debut a success. But if the response for the support act was a strong one, the headliners were in for something electric.
In fairness, for a moment it seemed like it could all go horribly wrong, beginning as it did like an awkward first date. One by one, Alter Bridge strutted their way on to the stage and kicked it all off with “The Writing on the Wall”, “Come to Life”, “Farther Than the Sun” and “Addicted to Pain.” A good solid start by any standards. But this was Dublin. This was The Olympia. And in the intimate surroundings of the legendary venue the Irish audience were determined to get past the good into something much more up close and personal. No sooner had the lights gone down the venue erupted with a united cheer that would have seen battlefront warriors from Braveheart cower. Delivering a set where the standing audience came close to forming a single mosh pit, inches shy of leveling the barriers that divided the standing area, while folks seated in the balconies above matched the ground floor for energy, the band soon realized there was something different in the air and visibly seemed to relax and embrace the occasion. If there was any uncertainty on their part, the continuous chant of “Alter Bridge” throughout transitions, made plain the audience’s feelings on the night.
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With bassist Brian Marshall, front man and guitarist Myles Kennedy and guitarist Mark Tremonti all living on the edge of the stage, shifting positions regularly, the multi-generational crowd, who all live in a digital age, showed minimal use of phones on the night. Such was the energy, this crowd was not here to spectate; they were here to participate. Something Alter Bridge quickly realized, meeting the crowd’s energy head on, like two tidal waves colliding, with both band and audience giving themselves up to the experience, ensuring the night continually went from strength to strength. “Slip to the Void”, “Ties That Bind” and “Isolation” among others saw barriers dissolve between the band and fans, crafting exceptional moments, such as “Metalingus”, where drummer Scott Phillips truly shone, as well as the evenings undisputed highlight, vocalist Myles Kennedy’s haunting acoustic rendition of “Watch Over You” on which he shared vocal duties with the crowd. As the night wound down, with a lot of laughs in between songs, including an original composition crafted on the spot, the bands encore of duelling guitars from Kennedy and Tremonti led into a sincere and heartfelt thanks which prefaced show closures “Show Me a Leader”, and the finale, “Rise Today.” Yet neither the band nor the fans seemed to want the night to end. As point outs and plecs were flung amidst a sea of chants, this first date ended in moments that, in truth, said so, so much.
Alter Bridge’s Dublin debut was unquestionably one of the gigs of the year. A show that honored the loyalty between band and fans, musically it transcended the notion of genre, showing their rich Americana heritage, from delta blues dueling guitars to Roy Orbison phrasing on Kennedy’s exquisite vocals. In Dublin, Alter Bridge showed they are the real deal and one of the genuine torch bearers for rock as it heads into the future, on a night that will live on in the memory of all who were there, and in the imagination of those who were not. Throughout the night, each member of the band beamed with delight, as if genuinely surprised by the intensity of the Irish fans response. Both band and audience gave everything and more on this exceptional first date. A date so good, there just had to be a second. A mid-show announcement of their return to the fair city in October confirmed what everyone wanted to hear. But if Alter Bridge’s future Irish performances will be a force to be reckoned with, this was the one that will become the stuff of legend.