Pennsylvania Storm Unleashed 

by Dex 

Halestorm has come into the music scene with force. This rock band from Pennsylvania has been performing since 1998, when they were 10 and 13 years old, and have since made a name for themselves in the rock community. They have achieved international airplay and have been in several magazines. Most recent are Lindsay’s favorite, Revolver, and now CrankIt.

In March 2006, the band went on the Winterfresh Sno-Core Tour with Seether, Shinedown, and Flyleaf. This was a monster tour for them, and it helped propel them forward in the rock scene. They have done numerous tours since then, and continue to rock the stage. In September 2007, the band appeared on The Tonight Show.

Currently their debut album was recently released. It hit the streets on April 28, 2009. Make sure you get this album-it rocks. Lzzy Hale has what it takes, and can sing. Check out what the band had to say on the way through Greenville, S.C. recently.

Dex:  You are brother and sister?

Lzzy:  Yes.

Dex:  You started the band.  How old were you?

Lzzy:  I was 13, and he was 10.

RJ:  We were young ones.

Lzzy:  Young ones, in middle school.

Dex:  You guys have been together for how long now?

Lzzy:  We’ve been doing it for about 10 years, I guess, now.

Dex:  You guys are still together, and everything is great?

Lzzy:  Everything is great.  So far, so good.  We just never stopped.  We named the band Halestorm and started playing out, never looking back.  So, here we are today.

RJ:  One third plays to a dancing cowgirl at the Schuylkill County Fair, largest gig ever.

Lzzy:  Yes, our first gig ever at the Schuylkill County Fair--lost to a dancing cowgirl.  They’re big in Pennsylvania. If you’re a cowgirl and you can dance, especially tapdancing, you’re set for life.

Dex:  You have the new album.  It’s out and self-titled. Tell us about it.

Lzzy:  We tell people this album is kind of like biting into a juicy steak.  There’s nothing tofu about this record.  For me, personally, I am hoping to be an example.  This record is everything to me I did not have growing up personally as an idol for me.  No offense to any girl-fronted bands out there, but when we were growing up, none of them really did it for me.  I had to reach back to classic rock and some of my parents’ music to actually find something to grab onto.  We’re all very proud of this record.  It’s just everything that I would want to listen to.

Dex: You can definitely hear the classic rock tone when I hear the lead single “I Get Off.” You definitely bring that modern edge to it. Very cool stuff--I’m looking forward to hearing the new album, too.

Lzzy:  We’ll have to hook you up with a copy (laugh).

Dex:  You’ve been around for 10 years, and then the other members enter in.

RJ:  These jokers.

Dex:  When did you guys enter into the band?  Have you all been together for 10 years now?

Joe:  Not quite.  We’ve been in  the band six to seven years now.  We’ve been in for the long haul.  We replaced Lizzy’s dad.  Josh replaced Lizzy’s dad on bass.

Dex:  Really, your dad was in the band?

Lzzy:  Yes, when we first started out, it was funny.  Right before we decided to call it Halestorm, my mom said, “Maybe you should name it the Hale Family Band.”  We didn’t think that was cool enough, so we decided on Halestorm.  My dad was great.  He’s been in bands forever, so he’s a really good bass player.  We finally said, you know, we should really try to get someone our own age.

Joe:  It was kind of like ‘Partridge Family meets Spinal Tap,’ kind of dynamic.

Dex:  Wouldn’t it be kind of rough to have your dad on tour with you?  He’s just like, “Well, I don’t think you should drink.”

Lzzy:  Well, you know what?  If you ever meet my dad, he can drink all of us under the table.  My dad’s a rocker.  He retired from stage, but, whenever he comes out, he helps us drive the vehicle and we get to make him our roadie, and we hand him guitars.  Only in America can you be the boss of your dad.

Dex: One of the coolest things about this story is it’s such an inspiration for a lot of these bands.  A lot of kids start out a band in their garage, and you have taken it all the way.  Now you’re starting to get a lot of press. You were in Revolver magazine, correct?

Lzzy:  Yes.

Dex: When’s that coming out?

Lzzy:  The end of this month, for the June issue.

Dex:  What was that like?

Lzzy:  It was very cool.  We did it, kind of, on the spot.  It was a complete honor for me because I’m a fan of Revolver magazine.  The interview was hilarious.  They asked what the grossest things I’ve ever done were, being the only girl in a guy band.

Dex:  Give us a story.

Lzzy:  One of the questions was, “What’s one of the grossest things you’ve ever eaten?”  It was over Christmas in New York City.  I didn’t know what I was eating.  I went into this Chinese restaurant, and they had the special up. I couldn’t pronounce it. It was one of the cheapest things on the menu.  I said, “Ah, I’ll just have the special.” I finished the plate; it was great.  I asked the guy what it was, and he said it was pig testicles.

Lzzy:  I’ll tell you...This wasn’t actually gross for me, but, at one of our gigs in Johnstown, Penn., this guy actually ripped off his boxers, and while he was standing in the front row.  He cut it off with a key, that’s what it looked like, and he threw it up on stage at me.  I’m very flattered.  Some people think that’s gross, but I appreciate that because that was my first boxer short.  We still have it hanging in our practice room.

Dex:  If you can, will you tell the fans where they can contact or check you out online?  

Lzzy:  Yes, myspace.com/halestorm, and you can also go  to our website halestormrocks.com.  You can get our record right now and download it before it comes out.  You can also order a deluxe fan package, which includes three extra songs and a t-shirt.