
Photos and Review by Renee Clark Quade
On a night designed to capture the feel of a personal jam session rather than an arena rock show, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger transformed the MGM Springfield stage into their own intimate living room, offering fans a raw and unfiltered musical experience. The stage was set to reflect their music sanctuary—complete with a sleek black couch adorned with fuzzy purple pillows (a nod to one of Lzzy’s favorite colors), a metal-drip coffee table with melting legs, and flameless candles scattered throughout. From the moment the audience entered, it was clear this would not be the typical high-energy Halestorm show. Instead, it was something more personal, more raw, and, in many ways, more powerful—an unforgettable experience for fans on January 24, 2025.
Before the show even began, Joe set the tone by playing records from his vinyl collection as people filtered into their seats. While the venue’s seating arrangement made for a more reserved and stationary crowd, Lzzy wasn’t about to let that stop her from connecting. Kneeling down for much of the first few songs, she locked eyes with the first row, pulling them in with her presence. Unlike a full-band Halestorm show where she’s splitting her focus between singing and playing guitar, this setup allowed her to be completely free, placing all her energy into her vocals. And it showed. Lzzy seemed more at ease than ever—like she’s finally embraced the fact that perfection isn’t the goal, authenticity is.

One of the biggest takeaways from this particular set was how openly Lzzy and Joe addressed their relationship. For years, they’ve kept their romantic connection private, but on this tour, they’ve let their guard down. The way Lzzy looked at Joe as they played together gave the audience a rare glimpse into their dynamic—one that felt like a true Johnny and June moment, radiating unconditional love. They also didn’t hold back on letting their personalities shine through. There was laughter, teasing, and even dad jokes—Lzzy delivering one before Joe followed up with a perfectly corny “dad laugh,” claiming he was channeling Lzzy’s father. It was refreshing to see them both so candid.
Musically, the setlist was a well-balanced mix of Halestorm favorites, deep cuts, and carefully chosen covers. A stripped-down rendition of Skid Row’s “I Remember You” brought out a nostalgic singalong, while their take on Fleetwood Mac’s “Gold Dust Woman” was introduced with a heartfelt nod to the female rock icons that paved the way for artists like Lzzy. “There are a lot of very, very great women that came before me that had to go in the (music) business in a very hard way so that I am able to do this in front of you right now. This is by absolutely one of the greatest witches to ever live. It’s by Stevie Nicks, this is called ‘Gold Dust Woman,'” Lzzy told the crowd before delivering a hauntingly powerful version of the classic.

One of the standout moments of the night came before “The Reckoning.” Touching on her recent social media posts, Lzzy addressed the personal nature of the poetry she’s been sharing. “I’m not posting these things to show off. A lot of you earlier today were talking to me about it. I’m not posting any of this stuff being like, ‘Hey, look at me, I’m a writer.’ It’s just as much for me as it is for you. I’m trying to use this beautiful platform that I am so lucky to have in the right way. And I hope that you know that I’m with you, I hear you, I see you. This next song that we’re gonna play for you started out as a beautiful poem and we made it into a song. This is called ‘The Reckoning.'” That raw honesty added another layer of depth to an already moving performance.
Later in the set, Lzzy took a moment to reminisce before launching into “Familiar Taste of Poison.” “We’ve been around for a while. We come from humble beginnings. I’m from Pennsylvania. Joe’s from Wisconsin. I grew up on a 20-acre farm and when I got too loud writing my songs in the house, my dad made a little space for me in his garage and I had a TASCAM four-track cassette recorder, and it was there that I actually wrote this song. So this is for all of our old die-hard fans who haven’t forgotten about us. You’ve been with us for so many years. And this is also to all of our brand-new fans seeing us for the first time tonight. This is called ‘Familiar Taste of Poison.'”

As the night wound down, the duo continued to break down barriers between performer and audience. After a couple boldly ran to the stage for a selfie, Lzzy waved more people forward, erasing the formal seating divide and creating a moment of true connection. Unfortunately, due to casino-imposed time restrictions, the set was cut short at an hour and a half instead of the planned two hours, but even with a condensed set, the impact was undeniable.
Closing out with a mix of Halestorm staples and unexpected covers, including Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” Lzzy and Joe proved that their Living Room Sessions are more than just a stripped-down version of a rock show. They’re a space for storytelling, vulnerability, and an unpolished look at the duo’s passion for music and each other.
For fans who have followed Halestorm’s journey, this tour was a rare chance to see the band’s heart and soul laid bare. And for anyone experiencing them live for the first time, it was a perfect introduction to what makes Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger so compelling—not just as musicians, but as people. Here’s hoping they bring this concept back for another round because one tour just wasn’t enough.
Setlist:
White Dress
Mz. Hyde
I Like It Heavy
I Remember You (Skid Row cover)
The Reckoning
Familiar Taste of Poison
Lzzy’s Piano Solo – Dear Daughter
I Get Off
Gold Dust Woman (Fleetwood Mac cover)
Love Bites (And So Do I)
I Miss the Misery
Do Not Disturb
Girl Crush (Little Big Town cover)
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga cover)
See photos from the show below:
































































