Halestorm singer Lzzy Hale spoke to Offstage With DWP about her band's insistence on performing completely live, without the aid of backing tracks. Hale said, “We do it more selfishly, not necessarily as a statement. But it has kind of become this interesting statement.”
Hale continued, “I'm not a fan of when I find out my favorite bands do that . . . I'm not knocking anybody who does it — you do you. But for us, that's just not our M.O. “
She added, “Also, if we weren't actually playing, we would just get worse as musicians. We've been to shows where somebody's computer went down — the tracks are no longer there — and then they don't play anymore. And we're, like, 'Can't you just plug the instruments in?'”
In recent years, more and more bands have been given a pass for using backing tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent.
Halestorm has been off the road due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the band recently announced the launch of its #RoadieStrong campaign, aimed at providing essential financial assistance to road crews all over the world.