Dirty Honey and Mammoth WVH at The Wiltern – Live Review
Dirty Honey
Dirty Honey, Mammoth WVH, The Wiltern, March 2, 2022
The Young Guns Tour made its way to The Wiltern in the heart of Los Angeles, featuring two of the finest up and coming bands performing nothing short of triumphant hometown shows. We’ve had samples of what both outfits are capable of – Mammoth WVH played a packed to the rafters show at The Whisky a few months ago while Dirty Honey won over legions of fans while on a cross country tour with the legendary Black Crowes.
Banding together to entertain all of us as the pandemic hopefully comes to an end, Dirty Honey and Mammoth WVH presented a rock and roll performance for the ages!
There was a massive amount of fans at the venerable Wiltern waiting to hear the goods these buzz bands had in store, and both Dirty Honey and Mammoth WVH delivered tenfold. Here are some highlights from The Young Guns Tour in the City of Angels.
Mammoth WVH
MAMMOTH WVH
Kicking off the night was Mammoth WVH, gaining a massive amount of momentum from the very beginning due to the fact that front man/guitarist Wolfgang Van Halen just happens to be the son of a much-revered guitar legend. Believe the hype, because Mammoth WVH is rock solid, with Wolfgang and his crew displaying a brilliant display of talent and conviction. Opening with the one-two punch of Mammoth and Mr. Ed, one noticed right away the rapturous melodies and glorious vocal harmonies. Their new single Epiphany was up next, and this one should be all over the worldwide radio airwaves. Horribly Right was another selection showing just how vibrant the Mammoth WVH live experience is.
Mammoth WVH
There were some powerful moments where Wolfgang would talk about his iconic father. He introduced Think It Over as his “dad’s favorite song.” Distance is such a poignant tune about loss of a loved one, and what an emotional moment this selection was in the Mammoth WVH set. Wolfgang then introduced a cover that he slyly pointed out was not “Van Halen,” and the band unleashed a short yet dazzling rendition of Them Bones by Alice In Chains. Closing out the set with the inspiring Don’t Back Down, Mammoth WVH left a lasting impression on even the most cynical of music critic.
In addition to the amazing vocals and axe work of Wolfgang Van Halen, Mammoth WVH also featured the dynamic live participation of Jon Jourdan on guitars, Ronnie Ficarro on bass, (former bassist of Falling In Reverse and I Am Ghost by the way), and Garrett Whitlock (ex-Tremonti) on drums.
Dirty Honey
DIRTY HONEY
Dirty Honey is THE next generation of world class rock and roll. Some may indeed mistakenly proclaim the genre dead as a doornail, but that’s only because they have not encountered the thrilling reveries Dirty Honey has to offer this great big world. If you have been a fan of icons such as The Black Crowes and Guns N’ Roses, you are destined to meet your next favorite band when experiencing the world of sonic intrigue that is Dirty Honey. With a massive amount of stage presence, and the talent and drive to back it all up, Dirty Honey will bring the rock and roll sweetness to a whole new generation of music fans – and this was well on display within their thoroughly captivating set at The Wiltern. Opening with the stunning reprieves of California Dreamin’ followed by the wickedly wonderful Break You, Dirty Honey poured the thunderous hard rocking goodness all over the audience.
Each and every song presented was an absolute highlight, including Heartbreaker, The Wire, Take Me Hand, Gypsy and more! The vocal performance of Marc LaBelle was nothing short of stratospheric, displaying massive heart and a staggering range that captured the audience’s undivided attention. John Notto delivered powerhouse interludes on guitar, filled with imagination and artistry. And the very tight and kickass rhythm section was brought to you courtesy of Justin Smolian on bass and Corey Coverstone on drums.
Dirty Honey
Toward the end of their set, Dirty Honey launched into a rip-roaring rendition of the Prince classic Let’s Get Crazy, placing their own mesmerizing spin on this classic track that would even impress its creator in the great beyond. And by the way, what a treat it was to hear their very soulful Another Last Time song performed twice for a planned music video complete with special guests on keyboards and backing vocals.
An unforgettable, star making night at The Wiltern, where with the winning combination of Dirty Honey and Mammoth WVH, the universal magic of rock and roll reigned supreme!
(Review by Ken Morton – Photos by Jack Lue)
