Less than 24 hours after tearing through one of the biggest rock festivals in the country at Sonic Temple, Pennsylvania’s own Halestorm rolled into Grantville on Saturday night and turned the Hollywood Outdoor Concert Series at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course into a massive hometown celebration. With Hinder and York, PA rockers Small Town Titans joining the bill, the night felt like a full blown hard rock party from the second gates opened. Everywhere you looked there were divorced dad rock shirts, faded band tees, beer in the air, and at least one fan somehow rocking a wedding dress in the crowd. It was exactly the kind of beautiful chaos a summer rock show should feel like.
Small Town Titans kicked things off early and immediately won over the crowd with their gritty blue collar rock sound. There was a real hometown pride feeling in the air seeing another Pennsylvania band open the night on a stage this big. Phil Freeman’s vocals carried across the venue with ease while the band mixed heavy riffs with catchy hooks that got the crowd moving quickly. One of the biggest highlights of their set came with their powerful take on Michael Jackson’s “Black or White,” which transformed the pop classic into a booming rock anthem and had the crowd fully locked in. Fans packed close to the barricade early, and by the end of the set it was obvious a lot of people either became new fans or were reminded why Small Town Titans continue building momentum.
Hinder followed with a set full of radio rock staples that had the crowd singing almost every word back at the stage. From the opening moments, the band leaned hard into the nostalgia factor in the best way possible. Massive choruses and familiar hooks echoed throughout the venue while fans threw drinks in the air and sang along like it was 2006 all over again. Marshal Dutton sounded strong all night and the band kept the energy high between songs, turning their set into one giant late 2000s rock throwback party. At one point, a quick burst of rain rolled through the venue, but honestly, by the end of Hinder’s set most of the crowd probably did not even notice it happened. Everyone seemed too caught up in the music, the memories, and the atmosphere to care. By the end of their performance, the crowd was fully locked in and ready for Halestorm.
Then came the home state heroes.
The second Halestorm hit the stage, the entire atmosphere changed. The roar from the Grantville crowd felt enormous as Lzzy Hale and company launched straight into “Fallen Star.” It was the perfect opening statement for a band returning home after dominating Sonic Temple the night before. You could feel how much this show meant both to the band and the fans packed into the venue.
“I Miss the Misery” and “Love Bites (So Do I)” turned the front of the crowd into absolute chaos with nonstop singing from fans of every age. Lzzy Hale sounded unreal throughout the night, effortlessly switching between towering screams and emotional melodic moments. One of the biggest reactions early came from “WATCH OUT!” which brought a heavier edge to the set and showed just how aggressive Halestorm can still sound live.
The band kept the momentum rolling with fan favorites like “Freak Like Me,” “I Get Off,” and “Mz. Hyde,” each one hitting harder than the last. Joe Hottinger’s guitar work ripped through the humid summer air while Arejay Hale once again proved why he is one of the most entertaining drummers in rock. His extended drum solo became one of the biggest moments of the night, getting the entire venue on its feet.
By the time the encore arrived with “Rock Show,” “I Like It Heavy,” and the always emotional “Here’s to Us,” nobody in Grantville wanted the night to end. Thousands of voices sang together under the Pennsylvania night sky while Halestorm soaked in every second of their home state headline moment.
What made Saturday night so impressive was knowing this happened less than a day after the band played Sonic Temple. There was no exhaustion, no slowing down, and no signs of burnout. If anything, Halestorm looked even more energized being back home in Pennsylvania.
From Small Town Titans opening the night with hometown grit, to Hinder delivering a massive nostalgia rush, to Halestorm completely owning the stage for nearly two hours, the Hollywood Outdoor Concert Series could not have asked for a stronger kickoff weekend. Saturday night in Grantville felt like a victory lap for Pennsylvania rock music.
Halestorm Tour
Photos by T. Cody Strubel & Matt Christine
