Photos and Review by David Kasiorek
Saturday night (July 20) at the Roxian Theater marked Mammoth WVH rescheduled show, originally planned for March. Back in March is was going to be Nita Strauss kicking things off on a co headline tour but it was BRKN LOVE that kicked things off on the now headline show for Mammoth.
BRKN LOVE got the crowd ready to go with their style of rock n roll often going off on longer instrumental breaks and at times seemingly shocking the audience with their power and performance including an epic drum solo on a 3-piece kit. But, it was Mammoth WVH who the nearly sold out crowd came to see.
The set opened up with the self titled “Mammoth” with its powerful groove and heavy breakdowns followed by the more progressive “Right?” and the signature Van Halen tapping on “Mr. Ed”. Through out the night Wolfgang Van Halen and his band looked to be having the time of their life playing to a roaring crowd that even Wolf himself was stunned by the love he was receiving. The show continued on with more rockers like “Stone” and “Better Than You” before reaching the part of the night when it was time to pay Tribute to Wolf’s dad (Eddie Van Halen) by doing an emotional performance of “Distance”. The highlight of the night for me was “Take a Bow” which is a song that takes you on a musical journey with its use of clean and heavy guitar tones and an extended solo section. The encore broke out with Mammoth’s first single “Don’t Back Down” before closing with the thundering “Another Celebration at the End of the World”.
One thing for certain is that Eddie Van Halen is very proud of Wolf for what he has accomplished as an artist, singer, musician and song writer. Wolf’s talent and catchy tunes will carry his musical career for a long time in a tough business. It was a Mammoth of a night and anyone who was there would tell you the same.
