Live Review: Mammoth WVH at The Belasco

Fresh off of the release of their second studio album, Mammoth II, Mammoth WVH closed out their 2023 headlining tour on a strong note with a sold-out home show at The Belasco in Los Angeles. 

The energy in the room was palpable as fans crowded on the floor and upper balcony waiting for the show to begin. The crowd erupted as Mammoth WVH’s banner dropped and they took the stage. They kicked the night off with a rendition of their song “Mammoth” from their 2021 self-titled album. The band continued to transition directly into the next few songs before pausing to address the crowd, where Van Halen forged his usual speech. He sincerely expressed his gratitude to concert-goers for making both the final show and home show of the tour so special before jumping right back into the setlist. Before performing, “I’m Alright” Van Halen addressed the crowd again to explain Mammoth WVH’s music videos and the ways in which they all build off of each other. The music videos highlight Van Halen’s charisma, the dynamic bond that’s shared between the members of Mammoth WVH, and the music videos bring an entirely new storyline and visual aspect to the songs. 

About three-quarters of the way through the setlist, the rest of the band went off stage. Leaving Van Halen solo with a guitar, as three spotlights focused on him at center stage. He began to strum the chords to “Wonderwall” by Oasis. As he sang the first few words, the crowd continued to join in before Van Halen paused revealing the joke, much to the crowd’s amusement. After this light-hearted moment, Van Halen introduced the acoustic set for the song “Distance,” a tribute to his father, Eddie Van Halen. The acoustic set started earlier on in the tour when some band members weren’t able to perform. Van Halen decided to take this song back to its roots and perform it acoustically which was how he had originally written the song. The whole room was captivated by the raw emotion and Van Halen’s rich vocals. One couldn’t help but feel the gravity of the moment, the crowd showed their support, raising flashlights and shouting words of encouragement. The band came back on stage and continued with “Waiting” which is the follow-up to “Distance” from Mammoth WVH’s newest album. 

As the night came to a close and the encore rolled around, Van Halen once again took a moment to thank the crowd and emphasize the work of everyone during this tour. He introduced the band, sound technicians and managers, along with everyone down to his Uncle Pat. The encore closed out with “Another Celebration at the End of the World” and “Don’t Back Down” before Mammoth WVH said their goodbyes to their 2023 headlining tour. While Wolfgang Val Halen’s surname may ring some bells, his passion and natural inclination is indisputable.  Mammoth WVH has proven that Van Halen’s music can stand on its own while also weaving in his father’s music legacy.  

Setlist: 

1. Mammoth 
2. Right? 
3. Miles Above Me
4. Like a Pastime
5. Optimist
6. Stone
7. I’m Alright 
8. Epiphany
9. Think It Over
10. Distance (Acoustic)
11. Waiting 
12. You’re to Blame
13. Feel
14. Take a Bow

Encore: 

1. Another Celebration at the End of the World
2. Don’t Back Down