Wolfgang Van Halen and Mammoth seem to have cornered the market on prestigious opening slots. Over the past few years, we've seen them warm up crowds for Alter Bridge, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, Metallica and now Guns N' Roses. It's easy to see why. Their blend of traditional hard rock and modern alternative metal appeals to several generations at once, making them the ideal bridge between old and new.
The songs are strong, Wolfgang's voice continues to impress, and heredity being what it is, his guitar playing isn't exactly a disappointment either. More importantly, Mammoth never feels like a vanity project trading on a famous surname. The material stands on its own, and the band has steadily earned its place on increasingly bigger stages. They'll be back in Paris this fall as headliners, and after another convincing support slot, we're looking forward to seeing what they can do with a full ninety-minute set.
