A Triple Treat in Oberhausen: Sevendust, Daughtry & Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge recently released their eighth studio album and are now touring Europe and the UK. We were not only happy to review the album, but also lucky enough to see them live at their sold-out show on the What Lies Within tour at Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, Germany. And when I say sold out, I mean absolutely packed. With support from Sevendust and Daughtry, the legendary American band brought a fantastic line-up to the stage. It was one of those concerts you remember forever.
First on stage were metal band Sevendust. With their rhythm-driven, guitar-heavy sound, beautiful riffs and the soulful vocals of frontman Lajon Witherspoon, the band showed why they’ve been going strong since their debut album in 1997, collaborating with other big names in the scene along the way. Humble as ever despite their success, Witherspoon wore an Alter Bridge t-shirt from the current merch line and mentioned how it was a dream come true to tour with the band. They left the stage to raucous applause.
The second heavy-hitter of the night was Daughtry, fittingly named after singer Chris Daughtry, who seemed to have brought their own fan club along — many in the queue had mentioned how excited they were to see them live. They played several of their popular hits, such as ‘The Day I Die’, ‘It’s Not Over’ and ‘Over You’, as well as their well-known Journey cover, ‘Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)’. With an absolute powerhouse of a singer and an unforgettable hard rock sound, the band had everyone stomping their feet and moving to every track.
After two major bands dominated the stage with nearly unrivaled passion, it was finally Alter Bridge’s turn. They opened heavy with ‘Silent Divide’, the intro track of their recent self-titled album, immediately giving the crowd a taste of what to expect. It was followed by the fast-paced ‘Addicted to Pain’ (my personal favorite from my teenage years). While I felt breathless just singing along in the photo pit, Myles Kennedy managed to hit every note on both vocals and guitar from start to finish. At Turbinenhalle, he once again proved what passion, drive and talent can achieve.
They of course played ‘What Lies Within’, the song the tour is named after. The title is fitting, as Alter Bridge are known for their unapologetic approach to deeper, darker themes and emotions. But sadness and regret aren’t the only subjects Kennedy and Mark Tremonti explore, there’s always an undercurrent of hope and passion running through their work. That passion is reflected in their guitar-heavy sound. With Brian Marshall on bass, Kennedy and Tremonti on simultaneously dueling and complementing guitars and Scott Phillips on drums, their sound is absolutely massive.
‘Tested and Able’, my favorite track from their recent studio album, demonstrated that Kennedy and Tremonti are not only the perfect guitar duo, but an outstanding vocal pairing as well. I’m honestly not sure whether I preferred it live or on the record, it was just that good. Alter Bridge didn’t just focus on their newer material though. With ‘Open Your Eyes’ and ‘Broken Wings’, they reached not only their long-time fans but also many others in the crowd. One person told me “I originally came for Daughtry, but Alter Bridge made me cry, it was so beautiful.”
‘Silver Tongue’ shifted the sound back to hard and heavy, introduced by Kennedy’s slower-paced crooning offset by fast, intricate guitar work. What’s always fascinating is how seamlessly they switch tempos within a single song without it ever feeling disjointed. Instrumentally, everything stays tight, there’s no stumbling, neither on stage nor in the crowd.
They finished their main set with the ever-popular ‘Metalingus’, which could very well serve as their thesis statement. “On this day, it’s so real to me, everything has come to life / One more chance to chase a dream”, Kennedy sang, the song ending with thunderous guitars and drums as one big wall of sound.
‘Blackbird’ and ‘Isolation’ were perfect choices for the encore, concluding the night on both an emotional and sonically resonant high note.
If you haven’t experienced Alter Bridge live yet — what have you been doing all this time? How did you manage to miss them until now? It’s definitely time to change that. With a live show that effortlessly blends power, emotion and outstanding musicianship, they continue to prove why they’re one of the most compelling acts in modern rock right now. And with several festival appearances lined up this year, you might not have to wait long for your chance to finally see them for yourself
