On July 3, after the sun went down, the air cooled off, and before fireworks lit up the sky, powerhouse rock band Halestorm rocked the stage in front of thousands in attendance for the NS Great Lakes Rock White and Blue show.
    Screaming fans from  around Chicagoland and fans from as far as Buffalo, N.Y. traveled to see Halestorm and the fireworks show that followed.
    Halestorm, a York, Pa. band, began playing in their garage and started performing at local concert venues in 1997 with siblings Elizabeth and Arejay Hale. The band also included their father, Roger, who played bass guitar.
    After their first professional gig in 1998, at the Blue Mountain coffee house in Hersey, Pa., the band released their first album “(Don’t Mess With The) Time Man.”
    After numerous roster changes, the band solidified its lineup with Lzzy Hale, guitar/vocals; Arejay Hale, drums; Joe Hottinger, lead guitar/backup vocals; and Josh Smith on bass.
    The concert was spectacular and after the hour-and-half-set of loud rocking music and soft melodic songs, I had a chance to interview Lzzy Hale and Hottinger.