The "Young Guns" Tour Hits Fantasy Springs Casino Event Center

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All Photos By Junkman

As we all know, things have been strange the last few years. I don’t need to get into specifics, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, I hope that life on Mars has been fun for you. Now that things are opening up and a slight sense of getting back to the way things were and are supposed to be is a light in a very dark world at the moment. One of those things that helps me escape reality and the negativity of today’s world is a good old fashioned rock show. Be it a huge extravaganza, with flashing lights and pyro, or a sweaty packed club, it really doesn’t matter. Performance, song quality, and musical delivery in an entertaining mix that keeps your feet tapping and your lungs raw at concert’s end from screaming “YEAH” all night is what I’m talking about.

Recently, I found for me and a few thousand others in attendance, it was the “Young Guns” Tour featuring two of the brightest young bands in the new generation of rock music, DIRTY HONEY and MAMMOTH WVH. For the last few years, I have to say that these are the two acts that have excited me most. Why, you ask? Well let’s get into specifics. For the first time ever, in my annual top 10 (20 actually) from my year end list of best albums, were these two acts. DIRTY HONEY came in at #1 on both lists, and MAMMOTH WVH at a close second. I hate lists, but they are always asked for and I deliver.

DIRTY HONEY made news a few years ago by being the first UNSIGNED band to hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Radio charts with their first single “When I’m Gone”. They nearly did it again with the follow-up single “Rolling 7s” which went Top 5. MAMMOTH WVH is the brainchild of Wolfgang Van Halen, yes, the late Edward’s son. His lineage is obvious with his God-given talent. He wrote every song and performed every instrument and his first two singles “The Distance” and “Don’t Back Down” and also topped the Mainstream Rock charts. Not bad for a couple of bands and their DEBUT ALBUMS!

Seeing them together in cozy confines of the Fantasy Springs Casino Event center in Indio, California was just what the doctor ordered for my Saturday night Rock-n-Roll fix. The bands are co-headliners, and switch off from night to night the order in which they take the stage. This night had DIRTY HONEY on first, and as always they delivered the goods.

Opening with the song “Gypsy” from their debut, DIRTY HONEY performed another high energy set that brings out everything I enjoy in a rock show. The tempos ran from upbeat numbers such as “Gypsy” and “The Wire” to the full-on boogie of “Heartbreaker” and the funky stops and starts of “Tied Up”. Singer Marc Labelle is phenomenal. His soaring, powerful pipes hit all the right notes, and then some. During the soulful “Down the Road”, it brought to mind all the best of Stax and classic Atlantic records releases from the 1960’s and 70’s. While performing their latest single “Another Last Time” he even took a stroll through the audience, eliciting a small stampede of fans.

Drummer Cory Coverstone and Bassist Justin Smolian got some spotlight time with extended solo’s as did guitarist John Notto who seems to be solidifying his reputation as this generation’s Joe Perry. He and his classic Les Paul are the heart and soul of this band, and he gladly showed off his chops all night as well as his influences, adding a little bit of LED ZEPPELIN’s “Ten Years Gone” to his solo. He really shines on the terrific “California Dreaming”, the first cut off their debut LP. His blistering leads and crunchy rhythms are right on point with anything that rock legends have performed in the past, bringing to light what a great future this band has.

Another highlight was the inclusion of their recent cover of the late PRINCE’s “Let’s Go Crazy”, which the band reworked into a slower, bluesy shuffle. The afore-mentioned hits from their EP “When I’m Gone” and “Rolling 7s” (the perfect song for playing at a Casino!) wrapped up their set, and the crowd erupted, fully embracing DIRTY HONEY like a new respected member of their family. It was yet another job well done for this Los Angeles quartet.

After a brief break and set change, tonight’s headliner MAMMOTH WVH took that stage with a different yet equally satisfying approach. Lots of lights from an extremely aggressive lighting director accompanied the band all set long. Although, just like DIRTY HONEY, they “let the music do the talking” and played most of the material from their debut without a lot of interaction with the crowd, other than a few pleasantries like “Are you having fun out there?” asked Wolfgang Van Halen numerous times of his audience. He is very soft-spoken and seemed most comfortable just playing his guitar.

His band, guitarist Jon Jourdan, bassist Ronnie Ficcaro, and drummer Garrett Whitlock were very tight and obviously extremely well-rehearsed. They presented songs like “Epiphany” and “You’ll Be the One” as close to the original versions as possible, and the crowd reacted more positively as the band showed off their chops. Wolfgang Van Halen is an extremely talented young man. His guitar playing is right up there with, jeez, I can’t remember the guy’s name…

Vocal wise WVH’s style is very in tune on what is going on today. Lots of tone, and emotion. He obviously is not old enough to have the grit of a road tested balladeer, but his appealing tenor is just that- and then some. His songwriting is very personal and not contrived. He even asked the crowd if he could try a new one on them, entitled “I Don’t Know at All” that was well received by all in the audience. He even got a huge cheer when he exclaimed before launching into “Think It Over” that it was his dad’s favorite.

WVH spent a few songs behind a keyboard and explained that “The reason I bring this thing out on the road with me is I don’t like to play tracks. I like to play LIVE.” He then gave props to DIRTY HONEY for doing the same. No “Guide Tracks” here, folks! My favorite performance of MAMMOTH's from the evening was “You’re To Blame”, a very “radio friendly” track. It got the adrenaline pumping and sonically was my favorite of the set as well. The chorus and hook are invigorating, and in my opinion, is the best track on the record.

He followed that up with his first single, the ballad “The Distance” which is dedicated to his late father. I noticed many in the crowd singing along to every word. It’s a beautiful song and emotionally, one of his best. A big surprise followed as WVH again addressed the crowd. “In rehearsal we’ve been playing a song that’s not ours that we really like. Don’t worry, it’s not a VAN HALEN song” he quipped. The band then launched into a very crunchy cover of ALICE IN CHAINS' “Them Bones”, which was spot-on and punctuated by the grungy harmony vocals of Van Halen and Jourdan. A splendid version it was.

MAMMOTH WVH then ended their set with the pumped-up kickstart of “Don’t Back Down” which I believe was their opening song when I last saw the band this past fall. It’s a great song to either begin or end a set as far as I am concerned, and the band and audience seemed to be on the same page in terms of enjoying themselves. As the band appeared center stage at song's end with the amplifiers still on and guitars feeding back, I caught a twinkle in Wolfgang Van Halen’s eye before he left the stage along with his great band, obviously proud of his performance. As well he should be. He certainly is carrying on a fabulous family tradition, and he has quite a future ahead.

To say this show was satisfying would be an understatement. Again, I must say that these are two of the brightest stars in the new wave of young rock bands. And, that despite what a grumpy group of non-listeners may think, are shedding light on what the future of Rock Music is bringing to a new generation. Support it and investigate. You will be pleased with what is coming your way. DIRTY HONEY and MAMMOTH WVH are two bands that no true rock fan should miss when they come to your town and kick your ass.

My thanks to the bands, and those who made it possible for me to attend the show. For more info, go to :
www.Dirtyhoney.com
www.mammothwvh.com

Check out some more photos from the show!
All Photos By Junkman