Critics' Corner

McKenzie Area was set ablaze May 13 by the notorious, full-bodied sound of performances by rock bands Halestorm and headliner, Shinedown. Halestorm was first to electrify the crowd with their magnetic stage presence and provocative lyrics.

Lead vocalist, Lzzy Hale and her brother, drummer, Arejay Hale started the band at the ages of 15 and 10 years, according to Lzzy Hale.

"Arejay and I kind of knew that this was our calling," Lzzy Hale said. "We sat our parents down and told them we wanted to do this. They were absolutely overjoyed."

The band took its name from the drummer while traveling to their first gig, a local talent show, according to Lzzy Hale. They met with disappointment after losing to a tap-dancing cowgirl, Lzzy Hale said. However Halestorm prevailed, and after going on to sign a deal with Atlantic Records and opening for nationally recognized rock bands this group is definitely here to stay.

"It's been a wild ride over the past 10 years," Lzzy Hale said, "It's kept us moving and that was always the goal."

The band is not your stereotypical rock band. They add originality to their show with "the infamous drum circle," which allows the audience to have fun without really knowing the songs, and by leading with a female vocalist, Lzzy Hale said. She said the band was recently described as being "music for the guys with a girl representing."

"You can kind of be an example for the girls but the guys can have a great time too," Lzzy Hale said "Definitely not tampon rock."

Though she is often mistaken for a girlfriend or family member of rockers she said she looks very positively on being the only girl in the band.

"The great thing, actually, about being in that position is that you stick out like a sore thumb," she said. "It's more like an element of surprise."

Lzzy Hale's amazingly full, rich vocals are flaunted in Halestorm's self-titled debut record. However, she said the only vocal training she ever had was in voice preservation.

Halestorm is touring with another powerful vocalist, Brent Smith of Shinedown. Lzzy Hale said the tour with Shinedown is going well. "We love those boys," she said "They're like family to us. I feel like a little sister among these amazing men."

Shinedown began in Jacksonville Fla. Brent Smith, the band's singer, was there writing and doing some demo work according to Barry Kerch, Shinedown's drummer. Kerch said the band members met through mutual friends.

"Next thing we knew we were on our way to L.A. to record our first record," Kerch said. "It happened relatively quick."

The name for the band came from a painting in Shinedown's old bass player's house, he said. A band member said it would be cool if there was a light shining down on the painting. The next day the bass player asked what the band thought about the name "Shining Down." The band thought it was cool but preferred a shortened version, Kerch said.

Shinedown spent a lot of time on their new record, "The Sound of Madness," and "really put it under a microscope," Kerch said. The insightful and often haunting lyrics are filtered through a deep sound from Smith and a robust volume of musical rhythms and layers entangled with passion and caught by the ear of the audience.

The band's third album does not just feature guitar, vocals, drums and bass, but also has some orchestral pieces in it as well, he said. Shinedown was able to work on this record with successful producer Rob Cavallo.

"We have no regrets on [The Sound of Madness]," Kerch said "It's doing very well for us and we're very proud of it."

The drummer said he still gets chills when he hears Shinedown's music, whether playing on the radio or as someone's ringtone.

Kerch said there is no such thing as making it in the rock business. You should always have some new goal to obtain. Sitting back and saying you have made it would be "giving up on yourself, your music and your fans who are the most important.