On July 24, 2025 I headed up to the Toyota Amphitheater in Wheatland, California for an epic show. The nights show featured The Ghost Inside, Halestorm and Volbeat. This, like I said, seemed to be an epic show. For some of the attendants, it wasn’t a great one. More on that later.
The Ghost Inside kicked off the evening with an impressive performance. Hailing from El Segundo, California, this hard-hitting band captivated the growing crowd right from their first song. Their metalcore sound was showcased perfectly throughout their seven-song set.
Despite their vibrant music, the band has faced significant challenges in the past. In 2015, they were involved in a tragic bus accident outside El Paso, Texas, which resulted in the deaths of their bus driver and another driver. This event forced them into a hiatus, impacting their momentum.
Their drummer, who lost a leg in the accident, delivered a stunning performance, as did the rest of the band. Overall, The Ghost Inside was one of the highlights of the evening.
Follow The Ghost Inside band members on social media
Jonathan Vigil – lead vocals
Zach Johnson – lead guitar, backing vocals
Jim Riley – bass, backing vocals
Andrew Tkaczyk – drums
Chris Davis – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Halestorm took the stage next, and the band was a sheer delight. They kicked off their set with “Fallen Star”, instantly setting the tone for an incredible performance. From the very first note, they hit their stride, and the energy was palpable. Following that, they played “I Miss the Misery”, where the powerful guitars shredded through the sound, and Lzzy’s vocals pierced the air like a knife. The crowd responded enthusiastically with a tremendous round of applause.
Next up was “Love Bites (So Do I)”, and once again, they delivered a fantastic performance. The audience was fully engaged, singing along and erupting into applause at the end of the song. They then showcased “Everest”, an exciting track from their upcoming album, which left the crowd in awe.
The following songs, “Darkness Always Wins” and a snippet of “Familiar Taste of Poison”, were excellent, along with “Amen”. “I Am the Fire” brought even more energy to the set, and the audience showed their appreciation with stellar applause.
Then it was time for the drum solo, and the drummer, Arejay, absolutely killed it. He gave everything he had to the kit, even breaking out his extra-large sticks toward the end to showcase his control.
The next song was particularly special: “Rain Your Blood on Me”. As they played, an unexpected rainstorm hit, accompanied by lightning. While we are used to pyrotechnics at concerts, this was an extraordinary display courtesy of Mother Nature!
To close out the night, Halestorm paid tribute to the legendary Ozzy Osbourne with their rendition of “Perry Mason”. They truly did it justice, providing a fitting tribute. With the last song concluded, it was time for them to say goodnight.
Follow Halestorm band members on social media
Lzzy Hale – rhythm guitar, lead vocals, keyboards
Arejay Hale – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Joe Hottinger – lead guitar, backing vocals
Josh Smith – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Setlist
1). Fallen Star
2). I Miss the Misery
3). Love Bites (So Do I)
4). Everest
5). Darkness Always Wins
6). Familiar Taste of Poison (snippet)
7). Amen
8). I Am the Fire
9). Drum Solo
10). Rain Your Blood on Me (A thunderstorm broke out during the song)
11). Perry Mason (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
When Volbeat hit the stage, the audience was filled with excitement. However, that excitement quickly turned to disappointment for some attendees. The lead singer and guitarist experienced vocal issues that affected his ability to sing. He informed the crowd of this limitation after the first song, “Warrior’s Call / Pool of Booze, Booza”. Despite his struggles, he gave it his all, likely more than a doctor would have advised.
Next came “Lola Montez”, during which he sang part of the song, but the audience picked up where he left off, creating a special moment. For “The Devil’s Bleeding Crown”, it was clear that his voice was lacking its usual power. Fortunately, the crowd filled the gaps by singing the lyrics for him.
Before performing “Enlighten the Disorder (By a Monster’s Hand Part 2)”, he again apologized for his vocal issues. The next couple of songs continued in a similar vein, featuring strong guitars and a fantastic drummer. “In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom” was spectacular, even with fewer lyrics. His guitar work was phenomenal as they played through the song.
Following that, they performed “By a Monster’s Hand”, a fantastic track that really rocked. When they launched into “Die to Live”, they jammed, and while he managed some vocals, he was clearly run down. The next three songs followed the same pattern—mostly instrumental with some vocal parts and even a bit of whistling.
The final song, “Still Counting”, was performed as he announced that he was off to find a doctor. Despite the challenges, the song was incredible, and the band put in a great effort. While the vocal issues presented a problem, they adapted as best they could.
I hope those who complained were still able to enjoy the performance. I look forward to the band returning and shredding the venue again! It was a shame about the vocal difficulties, but as he said, life happens, and sometimes it just sucks.
Follow Volbeat band members on social media
Michael Poulsen – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
Jon Larson – drums
Kaspar Boye Larsen – bass, backing vocals
Flemming C. Lund – lead guitar, backing vocals
Setlist
1). A Warrior’s Call / Pool of Booze, Booza
2). Lola Montez
3). The Devil’s Bleeding Crown
4). Enlighten the Disorder (By a Monster’s Hand Part 2)
5). San Man’s Tongue (With Johnny Cash Ring of Fire Intro)
6). Demonic Depression
7). Shotgun Blues
8). In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom
9). By a Monster’s Hand
10). Die to Live
11). Black Rose
12). Seal the Deal
13). For Evigt
14). Still Counting
Follow The Ghost Inside on social media
Follow Halestorm on social media
Follow Volbeat on social media