Review by Catherine McCauley for MPM
There’s a chill in the air as we arrive in Belfast for the Tremonti gig. There is a quiet buzz outside the limelight. However, once inside we find the Venue packed with eager fans. I note a real mix of ages and genre of fans which is always great to see for bands with such longevity as Tremonti.
The support band tonight are the mighty Florence Black, a three piece rock band from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. The band consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Tristan Thomas, bassist/backing vocalist Jordan Evans and drummer/backing vocalist Perry Davies. Active from 2013 the band have toured with Stone Sour, Reef and Those Damn Crows.
Their most recent release Bed of Nails, their second album was released February 2024 and received excellent reviews.
From the opening note the band, all dressed in black, capture the attention of the crowd with classic rock tunes which have us all captivated.
It’s clear that many in the crowd, already fans singing along and rocking out to Florence Black’s heavy and anthemic offerings. Perry Davis wind milled throughout their set never missing a drum beat. Tristan and Jordan’s guitars surged and the accompanying, in places, heavy harmonies and choruses have the crowd mesmerised. This is not a common sight for a support band.
The already filled Limelight Venue give their full attention as if the band are the headliners. When Tristan announces that they will back in September for their own headlining Tour the crowd erupted with excitement and anticipation.
I am an instant fan of this band and will definitely be back for their headline show. Since seeing the band live I’ve discovered they’ve nailed a cover of fellow welsh rockers Budgies Breadfan – also previously covered by Metallica – check it out. These guys are definitely a band not to be missed.
Tremonti
Tremonti are an American heavy metal band fronted by the charismatic Mark Tremonti. Tremonti, is best known as the lead guitarist for the bands Creed and Alter Bridge. The band also consists of Rhythm guitarist Eric Freidman, bassist Tanner Keegan and drummer Ryan Bennet.
Mark takes to the stage wearing a Florence Black t-shirt the atmosphere in the venue goes up another notch. The band launch into a ferocious set with Wish You Well the crowd burst into song along with the band clapping their outstretched hands in unison. Followed by Cauterize and You Waste Your Time.
Fourteen years and six albums deep the fans lap up the anthems blasted out by the energetic band. Following Tomorrow We Will Fail, Mark praises his “brother” Eric, paying tribute that he had been signed to Steve Vai’s record label at the age of fifteen, he was also the youngest guitarist endorsed by Fender at the tender age of thirteen. Eric provides not only blues influenced rocking guitar solos but also beautiful yet heavy harmonies.
Eric entrances the eager fans with an enigmatic solo which then leads into The Things I’ve Seen. The camaraderie is palpable with Tremonti, despite the draw of the lead man Mark himself, all musicians are equally talented and he encourages them to showcase their talents.
The crowd are enthralled by the thrashy set so far. Ryan Bennet is entertaining to watch as he twirls and throws his drum stick in the air whilst on the drums, we can feel the ferocity of his double bass drumming in our chests as he powers through the setlist.
A friend was delighted to receive a broken stick at the end of the gig – evidence of the ferocity yet skilled talents of Bennet. Tremonti himself informed the audience that didn’t think he’d make it past two songs tonight as he has a sore throat but thanked the crowd for helping him to pull through and deliver a full set. His vocals were not impacted as he exhibited such a vocal range and harmonised beautifully with Friedman and Keegan. The band continued with Throw Them to the Lions, with rapture.
Tremonti introduced Flying Monkeys explaining that this song was about individuals who cannot forgive nor forget – he reflects that he used to be like this himself. A fan at the front rail held up a toy monkey during the song. Another loyal fan held up a poster asking Mark “Please sign her book. The loyalty to this band is evident within the crowd who are roused by an energetic setlist.
Next the exceptional Dust has the undivided attention of the crowd due to the emotionality of the song yet blinding solo. Tremonti announce that Marching In Time, dedicated to his daughter Stella, will be their last song which I think genuinely surprised their adoring crowd as the gig seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. As the band departed the stage. The crowd remained in situ cheering and begging for more. As the band reappeared to treat us to their final two tracks Wicked Things and A Dying Machine the crow were enthusiastically receptive.
I was blown away, this being my first time seeing Tremonti and it will certainly will not be my last. Their setlist was uplifting yet heavy with technical guitar work and dynamic and rhythmic drumming. In preparing for this review I discovered that Philanthropist Tremonti, released Mark Tremonti Sings Sinatra which he gifted to the National Down Syndrome Society as part of his organisation Take A Chance For Charity.
He did so fundraising in honour of his daughter, Stella who has Downs Syndrome. Tremonti played with the surviving members of Sinatra’s band on this album there seems to be no end to this man’s talent !!. It was fitting then that the band finally left the stage to Tremonti’s cover of My Way. Fantastic gig from start to finish.
Photography by David Stewart for MPM
