I love that no matter how hard a week I can have, all of my worries seem to disappear for a few hours when I go see one of my favorite bands perform live. Last Saturday, April 4th, my son Henry, I, and people from all over the Twin Cities packed the Mystic Casino event center, ready to see one of rock’s most exciting bands- Mammoth!
Mammoth has come a long way in a relatively short time. Since the release of their debut album in 2021, Wolfgang Van Halen has proven over and over again that he’s building something original and meaningful. Since the band’s inception, Wolfie has surrounded himself with a tight, talented group of musicians (Frank Sidoris- guitar, Jonathan Jourdan- guitar, Ronnie Ficarro-bass, Garrett Whitlock-drums) who help bring his studio work to life on stage with precision and energy.
The band’s setlist weighed heavily with songs from their latest album, “The End,” but also sprinkled in a great sprinkling of old favorites as well. They opened with “One of a Kind,” “Another Celebration Right at the End of the World,” and “The Spell.” Of all the bands I’ve seen live (and I’ve seen hundreds), Mammoth is honestly one of the best at showing off real talent. They don’t rely on backing tracks or theatrics like many of their peers. These five guys are the real deal. Wolf even commented that he had been feeling sick earlier in the week and had to cancel a few shows, so if his voice wasn’t up to par, we would see proof that they don’t rely on backing tracks!
The set continued with songs like “Epiphany,” a revised version of “Stone,” “Happy,” and “Resolve.” For me, the highlight of the night was when they played “Distance.” Every time I hear this song, I get choked up. The song was written for and dedicated to Wolfie’s dad, and you can feel the emotion behind it. If you haven’t seen the music video, watch it here. There’s an authenticity to every track on every album, but this song in particular is the most solid, honest, heartfelt song I’ve heard in years. The crowd connected, and when it was over, everyone erupted in applause. The band picked things back up with “Something New,” “Take a Bow,” and closed their set with the catchy new hit, “I Really Wanna.”
When the band stepped off stage, it was clear no one was ready for the night to end. The cheers quickly brought them back out for an encore that took a fun and unexpected turn. It was their tour manager’s birthday, so Wolfie had the crowd sing to him. Then, the band launched into “Don’t Back Down” and “The End.” The high energy, tight musicianship, and a crowd fully locked in made for a perfect night out with my twelve-year-old son, Henry.
Mammoth WVH continues to prove they are far more than a footnote in rock history. Wolfgang Van Halen has built a band that stands on its own merit, delivering performances that are both technically impressive and emotionally engaging. I’ll continue to preach this message- I have no doubt that Mammoth will one day be remembered as one of the greatest rock acts of the 2020’s.
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