This was definitely an evening of firsts - first time at the new Carling Academy Venue in Newcastle and the first time, despite glowing reports from other HardRockHousers that this reviewer had the chance  to see Alter Bridge live.

So in keeping with the theme of firsts, first a word about the venue. Despite a supposed opening time that was advertised as 6.30pm when we arrived at the venue there was still a massive queue waiting to gain entrance and once we finally did make it into the lobby there appeared to be a hold up in collecting previously purchased tickets - not an auspicious start then. However once inside things improved and the Academy is a venue made for live music, with its cavernous roof giving rise to superb acoustics.

Now for another first, opening act Logan, a band I will admit to having never heard of before. Listening to this band you would never believe they hail from Glasgow such is the influence that post-grunge Americana has had on their sound.

A wise man once said that any band should play every gig as if its their last and for a new band any new fan you make is one more than you had previously. Judging by the clamour for the bands CD 'Welcome To The Wasteland' post show, I guess they made a few hundred new fans here then. With a sound that borrows liberally from the likes of Pearl Jam, Seven Doors Down and yes Creed. this was a tailor made gig for Logan and they certainly made the most of the opportunity. OK at times their stage craft wasn't perfect and there appeared to be an edge of nervousness to the performance, but experience and time will rectify such faults, but the band certainly have something about them and are certainly as good as any new UK based band I have seen in recent months.

There are many, on noticeboards and discussion treads across the web, who bemoan the slow and painful demise of what was the glories of stadium rock, well news flash people, Alter Bridge, along with the likes of Nickelback, are the melodic rock stadium acts for the twenty first century.  From set opener, the title track to their debut album,  'One Day Remains' it was obvious that this was a band on fire, huge anthemic songs, big guitars and the presence of a charismatic frontman are sure as hell the ingredients of a good rock and roll show and Alter Bridge have them all in spades.

Showcasing the majority of the tracks on their debut album Alter Bridge tore into the Newcastle crowd with a smile etched right across their collective faces. Originals 'Burn It Down', 'Watch Your Words' and 'On Broken Wings' all proved highlights, but then throw in the covers of AC/DC's classic 'Whole Lotta Rosie' & Zep's 'Rock And Roll' and it is obvious that this is a band who draw on the best of the past and take it forward into the future. In the here and now  guitarist Mark Tremonti has the opportunity to rock out that was perhaps not available to him in his previous outfit and he certainly makes the most of it, throwing out solos and pin sharp riffs with ease and seemingly enjoying every minute on stage. In vocalist Myles Kennedy they also have the perfect foil to Tremonti, a frontman with the ability and confidence to command respect at gigs a hundred time bigger than this, and a voice that fits the music to a T. Oh and in 'Down To My Last' the band have a song that could very well be the metal equivalent of Robbie William's 'Angels' - its that good and a tune I haven't been able to get out of my head since damn them

Actually it was quite interesting to note the hoodie brigade looking somewhat bemused over the two cover songs named above, but I guess this is the cross generational appeal that Alter Bridge have. There is something here for everyone, from the teenage Kerrang reading type to the dyed in the wool denim and leather brigade. Having had a passionate dislike of all things Creed (oops I used that C word again) this was a band that I really didn't have any urge to investigate. Big mistake and one I am glad to have corrected.

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