Review: Halfway to Hazard Bring Guitar Jams to WE Fest 2016

Halfway to Hazard reunited last year, and the duo — made up of David Tolliver and Chad Warrix — said they have played more live shows in the past year than their entire career combined before their performance at WE Fest 2016 on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 6).

The band's hour-long set combined several impressive guitar-driven instrumental interludes as both Tolliver and Warrix traded lead on vocals during each track. Performing an afternoon set before Gary Allan, Steven Tyler and Tim McGraw took the stage, the duo were most excited to be openers for the Aerosmith frontman.

"We're opening up for Steven Tyler which is pretty bada--," Tolliver said three songs into the band's set. Meanwhile, bandmate Warrix added that he called his mom to tell her the big news.

While Halfway to Hazard's rock side was evident on songs like "Country Til the Day We Die" and "Countrified," it was their ballads, like debut single "Daisy," which Tolliver and Warrix wrote, as well as "Devil and the Cross," that left a lasting mark.

"I grew up the son of a Pentecostal preacher which is why I'm such a deviant," Tolliver remarked before playing the latter song acoustically.

Next, Tolliver and Warrix covered Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" alone on guitar before their band rejoined them. Evidently enjoying their time on stage, Warrix said they didn't ever want to leave. Unfortunately, that time came, but not before the band played their 2015 single “Heaven on Down the Highway," “My Baby’s Guns N’ Roses" (which Tolliver wrote with Brantley Gilbert and appeared on Gilbert’s 2014 release Just as I Am), and their country rock anthem "Country Til the Day We Die."

WE Fest runs through Aug. 6 in Detroit Lakes, Minn., with superstar Tim McGraw closing out the festival.