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By GREG MAKI
My introduction to Halestorm occurred in February when this year’s installment of the Winterfresh SnoCore tour rolled through Baltimore. Halestorm took the stage first, but easily outshone the bands that followed (Flyleaf, Seether and Shinedown—three bands I also enjoy). Their presence on the Equinox Tour was the biggest reason why I went back to see a Shinedown-headlined tour again less than two months later. Now if only Shinedown would let them go home to record a proper debut. In the meantime, Atlantic Records has released One and Done, a five-song EP recorded live in Philadelphia, an almost hometown show for the York County, Pa.-based band.
The disc opens in the same fashion that Halestorm began performances on both SnoCore and Equinox, showcasing the band’s greatest strength: frontwoman Lzzy Hale. In the a cappella intro of “It’s Not You,” she unleashes a powerful, passionate voice belying her mere 21 years. Comparisons to Janis Joplin and Heart frequently are tossed around in connection with Hale’s voice and they’re not exaggerations. She is a major talent, a star in waiting.
The rest of the band does much more than ride Hale’s coattails. Listen to guitarist Joe Hottinger’s solos on “It’s Not You” and “Takes My Life.” Rock out to “The Hand,” with the heavy riffing of Hottinger and Hale, who also plays rhythm guitar, on top of the thick, chunky foundation laid by bassist Josh Smith and drummer Arejay (Hale’s younger brother). Don’t forget the bouncy “Blue Eyes,” which brings to mind the Queens of the Stone Age hit “No One Knows.” Perhaps most impressively, the band shows an appreciation for and understanding of dynamics on the aforementioned “Takes My Life.” At first, a lonely bassline accompanies Hale’s voice. Then the rest of the band attacks and the song rocks harder than any other on the disc.
Another strength of this EP is that it truly is “live.” There are no overdubs here, nothing that makes this band appear to be something it’s not. As amazing as they are, Hale’s vocals aren’t perfect. But it’s the small imperfections—the rawness of it—that captures what rock music—and Halestorm—is all about. I’m dying to hear more from this band. If they come to your town, they are not to be missed.
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