15.06.2023 Alter Bridge

Graspop Metal Meeting

Dessel (Belgium)

After the sweat‑drenched performance by Papa Roach, things continued with an equally big name. Alter Bridge were up next, a band I had wanted to see for a long time. Having already seen Tremonti, the solo project of guitarist Mark Tremonti, at Wacken Open Air in 2018, it was now finally time for the full Alter Bridge lineup: frontman Myles Kennedy, Creed members Mark Tremonti on guitar, Brian Marshall on bass, and Scott Phillips, well hidden behind his drum kit.
Things were noticeably calmer here than they had been with Papa Roach. With classic hard rock, the guys played their way confidently through a strong set that covered nearly their entire body of work. They opened with “Silver Tongues” from their current album “Pawns & Kings”, and then moved through the different eras all the way back to their 2004 debut “One Day Remains”, from which they played “Metalingus” shortly before the end. It wasn’t nearly as packed in front of the stage. There were no crowdsurfers, no circle pits, everything was much more relaxed. The stage setup was simple: just the backdrop and the band. No big light show (which wouldn’t have had much effect in the sunlight anyway), no dramatic posing, no extras like fire or smoke. But Alter Bridge didn’t need any of that. Everything felt cohesive. On and in front of the stage, everyone was clearly enjoying themselves and that’s what matters most. It was a genuinely relaxing set, perfect for recharging before the two headliners of the day.
Perhaps due to the experience of bandleaders Kennedy and Tremonti, everything felt very rehearsed, leaving little room for spontaneous emotion. Still, it was a truly great performance that left nothing to be desired. You could tell the band didn’t need a flashy show with lots of effects. The music spoke for itself, and the many people in front of the stage clearly agreed. I enjoyed it a lot, and with that, I looked ahead to the two headliners still to come.