BLOG: Crossing The Alter Bridge With Willett

An amazing little rock outfit is swinging into Baltimore on Thursday night, as Alter Bridge will jam at Rams Head Live (7p). In my opinion Alter Bridge is one of the most underrated and underappreciated groups touring the scene today. The band is made up of three ex-Creed members - Scott Phillips (drums), Brian Marshall (bass) and Mark Tremonti (lead guitar); with vocals being handled by one of the strongest frontmen in rock today - Myles Kennedy. Tremonti, is a diverse talent on the axe. He creates soaring, blistering, sonic booms as a shredder coupled with a deft touch which allows for melodic, haunting, memorable softer riffs. Mark Tremonti can play. Phillips and Marshall are a solid 1-2 punch in the face as timekeepers and heavy hitters. I've spent many a night banging away in my basement trying to keep pace with Phillips while still working to deliver the same sense of rhythm and soul he squeezes out of his kit. I have much respect for Scott Phillips. Not much more I can say about Myles Kennedy other than - he can bury you with his astonishing power and lift you up off the ground with his melodic grace. Kennedy is one of my favorite voices in all of rock today. He is also fronting Slash's solo project and will be cutting an album with Slash later this year. Kennedy also spent time in 2008 working with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham on songs for a possible Led Zeppelin reunion. The Zepp hand-picked him for the project - enough said. Dive into Kennedy's old band - The Mayfield Four and give them a listen...amazing stuff. Myles Kennedy is truly one of a kind.

The band is touring in support of  their third album - ABIII. Early on the band struggled to gain acceptance due to the "CREED" stink that followed them around. Still, to this day I know people who wont give them a fair shake due to an unfair bias against CREED and whatever is held against that band, their music or frontman Scott Stapp. Let it go people. Alter Bridge is a fantastic rock band and will put on a fantastic, memorable rock-n-roll show. Prior to Thursday nights gig, I'll be sitting down with the band along with Casey Willett. We'll hang out with the guys and talk sports! They are huge sports fans and want the inside scoop on our Ravens, the direction of the O's now that Bucks in the fold and to grill us about why we don't have NBA and NHL here in Baltimore. Word is they have more questions than we do. I'll give them some Ravens gear to wear during the show...stop in to Rams Head Live on Thursday night and hang out.  You might actually get wowed enough to jump on ITunes and start downloading. These guys are for real. Hope to see ya'll there. - BULLDOG