A couple of months before meeting Halestorm, I played one of the band’s most famous songs for Uma, a ripping near-metal masterpiece called “I Miss the Misery.” Her initial reaction was how much she felt lead singer Lzzy Hale sounded like Dany Villarreal, the lead singer of The Warning.
Good call by the kid, as Lzzy was actually an idol and mentor to Dany. In fact, there’s a famous clip of Lzzy gifting Dany a guitar on stage, the older generation of rockers passing down the music to the new generation.
But what she liked most was Lzzy’s harsh vocals, as I’d find out weeks later as we stood in line to meet the band. We were at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield. Somebody with the band’s crew met a group of about 20 of us VIPs at the gate and directed us down a long walkway to a large pavilion tent tucked away off the main drag.
We asked the very kind folks behind us if we could be last in line. With Uma in tow, I know she has more questions and usually takes longer, so not having anybody waiting behind us usually works best.
The two women in front of us told us a story about how the last time they met the band, one proposed to the other RIGHT AT the meet-and-greet. Everybody celebrated! They said they’d seen the band 15 times! This was our first.
“They’re gonna love you,” one said to Uma.
Day By Dayer and our good bud Scott Dana Gordon-Macey, the musician behind The Macey Project, was there as well! He was coordinating with the band to pick up one of Lzzy’s guitars for his home studio. In fact, during the show, Lzzy actually called him out by name from the stage!
Here’s a link to Scott’s latest Halestorm-inspired release, “I’m Forever Yours.” Check it out: “I’m Forever Yours” at Scott’s website.
Before long, we were up! The band was set up at the front of the long tent, and as soon as we approached and they saw a kid, they all got excited. No sitting at a table, no barriers. Immediate attention and interaction! The band’s guitarist, Joe Hottinger, and bass player, Josh Smith, gave Uma picks for her collection and shook our hands. Lzzy threw her arms around Uma and hugged her, me too, and gave her a special Lzzy pick. The band’s drummer, Arejay, asked Uma if she played any music.
“Piano and violin, and just a little bit of drums.”
His eyes lit up. “Do you like it?”
“Yeah, but I’m sort of teaching myself and trying to fit it in between everything else.”
“There’s tons of videos out there you can follow; you totally can teach yourself,” he said. “Even if you just go outside and bang away, keep playing!”
While Uma was talking to Arejay, I took the opportunity — as I always try to do — to thank Lzzy for being an inspiration to kid musicians, especially girls.
“Oh my God,” she said, “that’s what it’s all about, that’s the whole point! We were kids once too! I’m so glad you brought her.”
Lzzy complimented Uma’s outfit. Uma asked her if she taught herself or took singing lessons.
“I was super shy, so I’d just sing in the woods when I was alone, but then later I took lessons so I didn’t hurt myself,” she said.
Turns out Lzzy took vocal lessons as a teenager from Steve Whitman, frontman of the 80s band KIX. Whitman taught at the Maryland Institute of Music.
“Keep going,” she told Uma. “No matter what you end up doing, keep singing and playing!”
The band’s cameraman lined us up for photos, and then there were more hugs all around. Lzzy leaned in toward me at one point and said, “She’s really cool; keep doing what you’re doing Dad.” I appreciated that.
Halestorm would go on to play an incredible 11-song set for their Babymetal opening performance. They were loud, and Lzzy’s vocals showed why she’s considered the best female voice in rock. Some highlights that Uma picked up on included a ripping cover of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and the song “Love Bites,” another Halestorm classic with lots of growls and screams.
The band closed their set with Uma’s favorite, “I Miss the Misery.”
Later in the evening, as we made our way out to the car, Uma said, I kid you not, “I think I want to learn how to play guitar.”
“What?”
“Guitar, like Lzzy. And I’m going to practice my screams.”
Inspiration comes at you all the time, sometimes when you least expect it. Listening to a musician’s work is one thing, but actually meeting the person behind the art can be an entirely different experience.
Looks like it might be time to invest in some sound absorbers for the sunroom.
Here’s a video we took of “Lovebites!” Enjoy!
Dan Szczesny is a long-time journalist, author, and librarian living in New Hampshire. He’s written several books of travel memoir, poetry, non-fiction, and hiking guides. Along with his daughter, Dan writes a daily Substack newsletter called Day By Day, and he edits his daughter’s music interview Substack called Interviews By Uma. https://danszczesny.substack.com/
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