
Photos and words by Alex Kluft
Dirty Honey and Mammoth WVH played the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, CA last night. As stated by Dirty Honey publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald “this isn’t a Dirty Honey headline tour, it isn’t a Mammoth WVH tour, it’s the Young Guns Tour where the two bands are co-headliners, rotating the opening and closing spot throughout the tour. Plus, you’ve got two of the hottest rising rock bands happening today joining forces to “prove” that rock’n’roll is VERY MUCH alive, that the “young guns” can do it just as well as the “originals.” That is exactly what this tour is a co-headline of two of the greatest modern day rock bands. I have seen both groups open up for Gun N’ Roses and was blown away. It was great to see them in their own show each playing an hour long set. For this show Mammoth WVH played first with Dirty Honey closing. The tour began on February 20th in Denver, CO.

Mammoth WVH was formed by the son of the great Eddie Van Halen, Wolfgang. WVH was destined to be a great musician with his father being one of the greatest guitarists ever and being named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. WVH could be seen at different Van Halen shows over the years as a kid and in 2007 the Van Halen brothers announced their first ever reunion tour with their original frontman David Lee Roth and WVH just 16 at the time would be taking over bass duties and backing vocals. The reunion lasted three tours 2007-2008 2012 and 2015 as well as the release of A Different Kind of Truth in 2012. Between the second and third Van Halen tours WVH played bass with Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti’s solo band. Tragically Eddie Van Halen passed on October 6th, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. Prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic there had been talks of another Van Halen tour. As a tribute to his father WVH released the song and video for “Distance” which really shows the great relationship he and his father had. On June 11, 2021 Mammoth WVH released their debut album. As many Van Halen fans know Mammoth was the band’s previous name before stardom. Like Dave Grohl on the first Foo Fighters’ album, WVH wrote the entire album and played all the instruments. He used his father’s most iconic guitar, the “Frankenstrat” on “Mammoth” and “Feel.”

On Guns N’ Roses’ 2021 tour Mammoth WVH could be seen opening each night,this was the band’s first tour together. Mammoth WVH consists of WVH on guitar, keys, and lead vocals, guitarist Jon Jourdan, bassist Ronnie Ficarro, drummer Gary Whitlock, and guitarist Frank Sidoris who is currently out on tour with Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. Mammoth WVH also played the Whisky A Go Go, a venue Van Halen frequently played and was featured in the “Dreams” video. Mammoth WVH took the stage a little after 8 P.M. and it was LOUD just like Van Halen was. The 12 song set opened with “Mammoth,” and included “Distance,” Alice In Chain’s “Them Bones,” and “Don’t Back Down.” Their debut album hit number one on the U.S. Indie, Hard Rock, and Rock charts. “Distance’ and “Don’t Back Down,” were both number ones on the Mainstream Rock Chart.

Dirty Honey took the stage after a 30-minute intermission. In 2021 Dirty Honey could be seen opening for the Black Crowes reunion tour. Like Mammoth WVH, Dirty Honey also formed in Los Angeles, CA and released their self-titled debut album last year. Dirty Honey is Marc LaBelle (Lead Vocals), John Notto (Guitar), Justin Smolian (Bass), and Corey Coverstone (Drums). Dirty Honey was set to record their album in Australia but with limited travel due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, they recorded it right in Hollywood, CA at Henson Studios (formerly A&M records). Dirty Honey has received a nomination for Best New Rock/ Alternative Artist at the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards and their debut album was ranked at 30 on Loudwire’s Best Rock/ Metal Albums of 2021. Dirty Honey has aspirations to be the next GNR and opened for them at the Colosseum in Las Vegas, NV for two nights November 2019.

Dirty Honey have released 10 singles since 2018 with “When I’m Gone” hitting number one on the Mainstream Rock Chart and “Rolling 7’s” was a number three hit. They were the first unsigned band to have a number one on the Mainstream Rock Chart. Dirty Honey opened with their hit single “California Dreamin’”. Their set also included 12 songs with “Another Last Time” being performed twice for a music video. They also performed their latest single Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” which they performed at the 2022 NHL Winter Classic. A guitar, bass, and drum solo were all part of the show as well.

The future of rock is here and it’s Mammoth WVH and Dirty Honey. The tour ends April 12th in Atlanta, GA. Dirty Honey also has dates at Welcome to Rockville, Download Festival, and Aftershock. Mammoth will be touring with Halestorm following this tour.

Mammoth WVH Setlist:
- Mammoth
- Mr. Ed
- Epiphany
- Horribly Right
- You’ll Be the One
- Stone
- I Don’t Know At All
- Think It Over
- You’re to Blame
- Distance
- Them Bones- Alice In Chains
- Don’t Back Down
Dirty Honey Setlist:
- California Dreamin’
- Break You
- Heartbreaker
- The Wire
- Take My Hand
- Tied Up
- Down the Road
- Gypsy
- Let’s Go Crazy- Prince
- Another Last Time
- Bass Solo
- Drum Solo
- Guitar Solo with Led Zeppelin’s 10 Years Gone
- When I’m Gone
- Rolling 7’s
- Another Last Time (2nd time for music video)