Halestorm rocks hometown crowd at Giant Center in Hershey

Central Pennsylvania is home to a few notable rock groups, such as Poison from Mechanicsburg or Live from York.

But Halestorm, founded in Red Lion by siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale, may just be the loudest rocking of any of them.

The band performed at the Giant Center on Aug. 16, opening once again for Danish rock group Volbeat. The groups have previously performed together at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

And of course, being close to home, Lzzy Hale was a bit nostalgic.

“We did about 1,500 shows here, all before we were signed, before anybody noticed,” Hale said, talking about the early days of their career playing in bars and at “Friendly’s restaurants for free ice cream.”

“But you guys noticed,” she said, thanking their consistent and loyal fans. “We’re so happy to be back here and see all of your smiling faces. Because Pennsylvania, she sticks with you, doesn’t she? I still haven’t lost my accent.”

Hale, decked out in tall platform heeled boots beneath a hooded cape, put her powerful voice on display during the band’s set.

With a voice that can travel from a low growl to a literal scream, Hale led the performance of songs like “I Get Off” and “Rain Your Blood On Me” with the intensity of a banshee.

And as the beating heart of the band, Arejay Hale’s drumming was impeccable. A brief solo captured just a few moments of his skill, as well as some humor. He followed up the first solo with a second, this time using drumsticks the size of yardsticks.

The crowd was celebrating along with their local rock group, cheering when Lzzy made a reference to local radio station 105.7 FM or when she announced “we’re all freaks tonight!” before singing “Freak Like Me.”

Halestorm has certainly come full circle. In her youth, Lzzy Hale once dumped a date after seeing a show at Hersheypark Stadium.

Since then, she and Halestorm have returned home to perform at the York Fair and performed a tribute with metal legend Ozzy Osbourne not long before his death.

Now, they’re among the acts performing in Hershey, with a crowd singing along to their hits just as passionately as they sing along to Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” during the pre-show music.

The band’s sixth album, “Everest” released earlier this month, and the group treated the audience to a few new songs, including the title track and “Darkness Always Wins.”

With a brand new album and a successful concert back in their old stomping grounds, it seems like Halestorm is enjoying a well-earned victory lap.