Photos By: Holly Roy Photography
Review By: Kat Gullage

Mammoth is a rock band formed in LA by Wolfgang Van Halen. It began as a side project during his tenure in the band Van Halen (2007-2020), but became his main focus when the rock and roll world lost his father, legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Wolf is extremely talented in his own right and proved it once again.

I worked my way up to fourth row from the rail. I was trying to get my photographer, the future award winning Holly Borden, to notice me from the photo pit. I tapped the shoulder of a tall guy in front of me and asked if he could help get my friend’s attention. He said “No, I’m blind!” and held up his blind mobility cane. He would hold it up between songs all night, had a buddy that stayed by his side. Blind guy nearly front row in the pit was not on my bingo card.

James and the Cold Gun, an alt rock band from Wales, was the opener. They chose a cover to start, “Split Second” by Hometown Crew. Y’all know, I’m not a fan of covers. This one did not carry the same punk punch as the original even though frontman James Joseph was featured on it. The next five songs were cuts from Face In The Mirror. The foursome performed “Twist The Knife” and “Fragile”. The sound mix made it tough to hear the vocals clearly, needed to be tweaked. Singer/guitarist James connected with the fans, “Connecticut! How we doin? Great to see so many people here on a Sunday night! Thank you! Lemme hear ya scream!” and he got a solid response. There were some loyal fans in the midst. “Above The Lake” switched it up when guitarist James Biss took over lead vocals. I love it when bands flex diversity like that. They’re backed by drummer Benny Bead and a dose of female bad assery with Gaby Elise on bass. “Thank you so much! We’re just all the way from Wales in the UK. Spent the last five years playing small clubs in the UK. Coming here, playing for you, is a dream come true.” James pointed to our blind friend. “I don’t know what’s going on here but I love it.” He intro’d the band members with “This is our first time in Connecticut. Let’s give a big Connecticut Wallingford welcome!” They followed with “Guessing Games” and “Cut The Brakes” which had a punk thread in it. “How ready are you for Mammoth?” The fans proved they were quite ready. “I wanna see everyone off their feet!” I guess this meant jump because the venue was standing room only - no seats. They closed with “Chewing Glass”, a track from their self-titled album, bringing their set to a gritty, fitting end. James and the Cold Gun, whose moniker is the title of a Kate Bush song, gave us a raw garage band performance infused with punk inspired threads. They were a strong choice to get the crowd warmed up for this line up, and could see them filling that role for many other headlining artists.

I was psyched for alt metal band 10 Years. Somehow, they were missing from the list of bands I’ve seen live. The group, formed in Knoxville TN, hit paydirt with their 2005 LP, The Autumn Effect, which reached certified gold status. Their short ten song set pulled from four of their ten studio LPs and two of their multiple EPs. “Russian Roulette” (Division) was the opener followed by “Now Is The Time (Ravenous)”, one of three off of Feeding The Wolves. They sounded so fucking good! The crowd was pumped and seemed on the edge of forming an actual pit but one never did get going. The band broke out one of their better known hits with “Fix This”, followed by “Novacaine” from (How To Live) As Ghosts. 10 Years is Jesse Hasek on lead vocals, Chad Grennor on bass, drummer Pat Gerasia (formerly of Red Sun Rising, loved those guys!) and founders Matt Wantland on rhythm guitar and Brian Vodinh on lead axe. I found Brian to be an essential part of the experience. Not only his musicianship but his back up vocals contributed greatly to the sound that closely resembled the layered studio stuff. They dipped into The Autumn Effect with “Half Life”. OK y’all, gotta reiterate that I’m not a fan of covers. Cuz up next was the band’s interpretation of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box”. They changed the speed of it and performed it with their dreamy ethereal vibe. When the bass hit, it overpowered everything else. I could tell it took fans a minute to figure out what song it was. Once they did, they sang along. Afterward Jesse joked “That’s a brand new song, Heart Shaped Box. Could become a timeless classic.” We got back on track with two from their stash of EPs: “Gravity” (Inner Darkness) and title track “The Optimist”.

“Are we still having a good time?!?” The energy was coming off the crowd in waves, everyone was really into the performance when they fed us their best known song and fan favorite “Wasteland”. We all happily participated in singing along but Jesse relied on us just enough and gave us what we came to see, a near perfect rendition of the hit. They closed with one of their heavier songs, “Shoot It Out”. I didn’t take many notes during their set which means I was fully into the performance. If you’re a fan of 10 Years, you already know their live gigs are authentic and delivered in pure rock and roll style. Would recommend.

Seeing Mammoth as a headliner just hits different. We caught the eighth night of his twenty date run. We got treated to a robust fifteen song set that hit on all three of his studio LPs: Mammoth WVH, Mammoth II and The End. From the first note we got a crystal clear polished sound as he opened with “One Of A Kind” and “Another Celebration At The End Of The World”. Trippy videos accompanied the music throughout the night, taking up the entire space on the back wall behind the band. Two songs in and already the fans were clapping from the front of the room to the back. They went nuts when he did a mid break killer guitar solo. We were reminded several times he is Eddie Van Halen’s son. He didn’t say it once, but the man’s DNA lives on and shoots out at us while he’s on stage. My notes read: “This kid just keeps getting better which is crazy”. Wolf addressed us, in his humble and quiet yet grateful manner, “Thank you so much. We played here before. We opened for Alter Bridge. This is totally fucking crazy man. I’m having a sinus thing so if my voice just leaves that’s why. Gunna do my best. This is “The Spell”. I honestly wouldn’t have noticed if he didn’t say anything. He sounded nasally when he talked but it didn’t come through when he sang. “How’s everyone doing? Here’s one off of Mammoth II, “Like A Pastime”, it goes like this.” Wolf played the keys for “Epiphany” and resumed the axe for “Stone”. “We released a new album. The cover is like a bookmark. We’re gunna play another new one quickly. This is “Happy”. The fans proved they were already familiar with the song as they cheered and whistled. “Mammoth” was followed by “Resolve”, where Wolf remarked “We got a lotta messages asking why we don’t play that anymore and we wanted to build this set with the cool visuals and stuff. This is resolved.” He picked up an acoustic guitar and proceeded to pulverize our hearts with “Distance”, while images of him and his loving famous parents splashed on that giant screen. We all love and miss his dad. Having lost my own father my heart breaks that Wolf has that very public constant reminder as he processes his journey of grief. Wolf’s emotion in music allows us a glimpse into that path. As the fans trembled and tried to recover, Wolf nonchalantly remarked “Here’s “Something New”.” He surprised us with a snippet of “Right In Tow” by Tool (yuck, not a Tool fan, but he nailed it) that morphed into “Take A Bow”. Mammoth blew the roof off the joint as they closed with “I Really Wanna”, their biggest hit “Don’t Back Down” and fittingly, “The End”. The night of watching his mind blowing complicated riffs and sharing all the feels had come to an end. When I tell people Wolfgang Van Halen is super talented I explain to them that he IS Mammoth. Literally, he writes all of the songs, sings, and plays all of the instruments on all of the albums. He tours with a band, so he was backed by guitarists Frank Sidoris and Jonathan Jourdan, bassist Ronnie Ficarro and drummer Garrett Whitlock. Oh and his “sinus issue” was no joke. The poor guy got the flu and had to reschedule the two dates following our show. Probably ruined his birthday as well, which was the day after our date. We saw the last time he performed at age thirty-four. Happy 35th Wolf, hope you’re feeling better, and thanks for a great time! If you’re considering catching a live performance, don’t sleep on that thought cuz some dates are selling out. Cuz some of us already know what’s in store. A night of rock and roll with an exemplary, polished performance by a top musician.

Photos By: Holly Roy Photography
Review By: Kat Gullage

Swedish death metal outfit Orbit Culture tore through New Haven CT (a city that left a lasting impression on our publisher) with Ov Sulfur and Atlas as support. Ya know why I wanted to catch this gig? Cuz when I interviewed Nonpoint last year, I asked the question “What are you listening to right now?” and drummer Robb Rivera answered Orbit Culture without hesitation. Good enough recommendation for me!
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Finnish metalcore band Atlas (Atlas Northcore on the web and socials) was the opener. Their seven song set pulled from two of their studio albums UKKO (2021) and Sunder (2026). The five piece group came out swinging, launching straight into four tracks from their latest release: “Tower”, “Coven Of Two”, “Anodyne” and “I Whisper Your Name Like A Curse”. Atlas is: frontman and lead vocalist Patrik Nuorteva, Leevi Luoto on bass and vocals, guitarists Tuomas Kurikka and Kevin Apostol and drummer Aku Karjalainen. They kept it rolling with the same enthusiasm as they belted out “Uni” and title track “UKKO”, where they got a “Hey, Hey, Hey” chant going with the crowd. I didn’t expect a big turnout but the place was brimming with metalheads and they kept streaming in. Patrik greeted New Haven and gave props to all of the bands on the bill. They closed with “Salt And Sulfur” where Patrik egged the crowd on to respond to his final scream. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Leevi, he was a standout. His impressive vocal range added a dynamic contrast to the guttural growls that dominated the night. He also jumped around a lot while he played guitar. You can’t go wrong with Finnish metalcore, so put Atlas (Northcore) on your radar.


Next up was a dose of deathcore courtesy of a band from Las Vegas, Ov Sulfur. They unleashed a crushing  nine song set that pulled from their two studio albums The Burden Ov Faith (2023) and Endless (2026). This five piece outfit kicked it off with two from their latest LP: “Endless//Godless” and “Seed”. The formidable frontman and lead singer, Ricky Hoover, took command and addressed the filled room. “How the fuck we feeling tonight? We are Ov Sulfur from Las Vegas, Nevada!” “Stained In Rot” followed. Hoover’s relentless vocal barrage made many of the lyrics indecipherable, but that’s part of the sonic assault. The intensity was balanced by guitarist Chase Wilson’s “clean” vocals on occasion. Drummer Ryan “Leviathvn” Rivard, guitarist Christian Becker and bassist Josh Bearden rounded out the group. Ricky asked the audience “How we doin Connecticut?” Chase added “It’s our first time in Connecticut, thank you for the warmest welcome!” before they launched into “Befouler”. Chase urged the crowd: “Keep that energy up!”. Ricky, who sported an OZZY Diary Of A Madman shirt with the sleeves cut off Jersey shore style, barked “I wanna hear your mother fuckers!” Chase: “Some old shit”. Ricky followed with “Let’s keep it moving! This is “Death Ov Circumstance”. The fans ate that shit up. The Ov Sulfur set wrapped with: “Wither”, “Forlorn”, “Vast Eternal” and the crushing closer, “Evermore”. Is a brutal assault of your senses via deathcore your thing? Ov Sulfur is ready to deliver.


I got a chance to speak with Hoover at the merch table. I would describe his look as powerful and intimidating but his personality was the opposite, friendly, welcoming and kind. I mentioned his shirt and we bonded over music like Black Sabbath, “We wouldn’t be here without them”, and OZZY’s solo stuff. I told him I was there to review the show and he threw up prayer hands and said “I hope it’s good!”. I posed the question to him, “What are you listening to right now?”. He quickly pulled up his spotify and the answer folks was, Alexisonfire (pronounced Alexis On Fire). Hoover, like myself, is polyjamorous.


The headliner, Swedish melodic death metal band Orbit Culture, took the stage in front of a packed house. I don’t know why I envisioned a smaller turnout, the band has five studio albums and four EPs under their belt. Their blistering twelve song set pulled from three albums and two EPs, as they delivered a relentless barrage from start to finish. They opened with title track “Death Above Life” and the sound was dialed in. It was the frontman, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Niklas Karlsson that stepped up to greet the robust gathering of fans. “How the fuck are we doing New Haven? We are Orbit Culture from Sweden!”. The near capacity filled room responded with a roar as the band rolled into two more from Death Above Life. First came “The Storm”, followed by “The Tales Of War” which Niklas intro’d with the command “New Haven, it’s time to get in the fucking air! Start jumping!” which triggered the crowd surfing to commence. Lead guitarist Richard Hansson delivered a nice guitar solo during the song, while bassist Fredrik Lennartsson (whose lean and long silhouette is Slender Man-ish) added clean vocal harmonies that balanced the heaviness. Drummer Christopher Wallerstedt brought the thunder and rounded out the group. “Thank you New Haven! Wow. It’s our first time here in New Haven and what a warm welcome we got. Holy Shit.” My sentiments exactly Niklas. I hope you’re reading all of his quotes with a Swedish accent. “New Haven we’re gunna roll back to 2020 our album Nija. If you know the words New Haven please sing it with me now alright?” They delivered one of my faves, “North Star Of Nija” and the audience did in fact sing along with him. Orbit Culture dipped into their EP Redfog for “Saw” followed by “From The Inside” off of Descent. “Are you having fun New Haven? Raise those arms to the fucking ceiling!” Niklas shouted and the whole room complied. “Thank you so fucking much New Haven. Wow.” “Back in the fall we released Death Above Life. We wrote a song meant for crazy people like yourself. We’d like to play it if you’re up to it.” The crowd cheered. “What?” He teased. A louder cheer erupted. “What?” Niklas was finally satisfied with the response and they unleashed a blistering spot on rendition of “Bloodhound”. Two more tracks from Nija were next up, “The Shadowing” and my favorite song from the set “Open Eye”. To me it’s a mash up of old school Metallica, Motorhead and death metal. “Thank you so much New Haven! I have one question New Haven, and don’t disappoint me. Are you ready to serve?” The loyals proved they were as they went off during “While We Serve”, a track off The Forgotten EP. After another cut off their latest release, “Hydra”, the band exited the stage. But the crowd wasn’t done yet. The fans expressed their wanting of more and Niklas returned to the stage. “I heard people in here. A lot of fucking metalheads. New Haven, are you ready to turn it up?!” Orbit Culture closed with another cut from Descent, “Vultures Of North”. “Thank you so fucking much. We fucking love New Haven. Thank you so much. Hope to come back soon and hope to see all of you.” I have no doubt that will happen. If this genre is your style, Orbit Culture comes highly recommended by fans and fellow musicians alike, and they deliver a crushing live show. It’s time to enter their orbit.

Photos By: Evan J. Thomas

By: Ashlee Lannon

I returned to my favorite stomping grounds, the Pyramid Scheme, on a rainy Wednesday evening for a surprisingly packed mid week show! There were only 2 bands on the bill, which is abnormal, but they really didn't need anything else for this show!

First off was Keep Flying. Watching their set felt like getting hit by a confetti cannon full of brass and caffeine. The band came out swinging from the first note... horns blasting, guitars chugging, and the whole room instantly bouncing like the floor had springs in it. The energy was absolutely unmatched, with band members jumping, grinning ear to ear, and sprinting across the stage like they’d been dared to burn through their entire daily step count before the second chorus.

What made it even better was the vibe. This was good, goofy fun. The band joked between songs, egged the crowd on, and treated the whole night like a giant inside joke everyone in the room was in on. Ska shows are typically known for lively energy, but this was a whole new level, and it honestly looked like they were trying to win a bet to see who would collapse first.

By the end of the set, the band looked like they’d just run a marathon while playing ska at double speed. You get the feeling they probably woke up this morning with serious back pain, bruised knees, and maybe a vague memory of stage diving into a horn section.

And yet they’d probably do it again tonight without hesitation. Because that’s the thing about Keep Flying: their shows aren’t just concerts; they’re chaotic little explosions of joy. Easily the most outrageously energetic ska shows I’ve ever seen!

And, despite how exhausted they undoubtedly were, they stopped to chat and get photos and give autographs to every fan who asked!

This is a band you don't want to sleep on when they come through your city! Next up was the headliner, Wheatus.

Keeping up with the silly fun energy, their set felt less like a concert and more like a gathering of old friends. From early in the set, the band was taking crowd suggestions and trolling back when the crowd trolled them! Actively bantering on stage and asking for suggestions. It honestly felt like kindergarteners had been given control of a rock concert, and I say that as a compliment! Despite the sillyness, there was a genuine warmth to the performance, closing the night out in an incredibly heartwarming moment for a young fan. For the last song, they invited a young girl from the crowd up onto the stage and sang an acoustic "Hometown" directly to her.

​ I am honestly surprised at just how much fun this show was! I fully expected to enjoy it, but I did NOT expect the level of silly, crazy fun this show was. This was the perfect way to spend a dreary hump day!

By: Evan J. Thomas

Friday night at WC Social Club delivered a stacked lineup of rising and established rock acts, featuring local openers and friends of mine Vent To Atmosphere, LYLVC, Eva Under Fire, and Butcher Babies. While each band brought their own energy to the stage, it was LYLVC that truly stole the spotlight for me.
The night kicked off with Vent To Atmosphere, a local Chicago area band who warmed up the crowd with a solid set of modern rock that set the tone for the evening. Their performance built momentum early, giving fans a taste of what was to come.
When LYLVC hit the stage, the energy in the room noticeably shifted. The band brought a polished, high-impact performance that blended modern rock, electronic textures, and heavy riffs into a sound that felt both fresh and powerful. Front woman Alyse Zavala commanded the stage with confidence and charisma, effortlessly moving between melodic vocals and emotionally charged moments that kept the crowd locked in from the first song to the last. Oscar Romero, the bands "rapper" brought emotional grit and passion to the stage that had me panting by the end of the set. The band’s tight musicianship and dynamic sound made their set feel massive despite the intimate club setting, and it was clear the audience was fully invested in the performance.
Next up, Eva Under Fire kept the momentum going with their signature hard rock style and strong stage presence. Their set delivered powerful vocals and driving guitar work that had the crowd singing along and continuing the high energy established earlier in the night.  Vocalist Amanda Lyberg took control from the first song to her final note.  She was very genuine when I met her after the show and asked for a photo outside. 
Closing out the show were Butcher Babies, who brought their trademark intensity and aggressive metal performance to the stage. Their explosive set turned the venue into a chaotic mix of headbanging and crowd energy, giving the night a fittingly heavy finale.  Front woman Heidi Shephard has since taken being solo for a few years now and looks very confortable in the role. 
While the entire lineup delivered, LYLVC stood out as the breakout performance of the night. Their blend of modern rock soundscapes, confident stage presence, and strong crowd connection made their set one of the most memorable moments of the evening at WC Social Club. For fans in attendance, it was clear that LYLVC is a band continuing to build serious momentum on the live circuit. 

Photos by: Holly Roy Photography
Review By: Kat Gullage

The last time I saw Lynch Mob was on “The Final Ride” tour and word was they were going to continue working on music but no longer be touring. Was stoked to hear they’d be hitting the road again and I’d get another chance to see the absolute beast on the axe that is George Lynch again.


This mini tour had three consecutive dates: Manhattan NY, Albany NY and Providence RI - just days after the region had been slammed with record snowfall. The fiery line up for the last stop at Fête Music Hall included The Ben Cote Band, Dazr, All Sinners, Trixter, and Lynch Mob. The promoters, Reconditioned Media, incorporated comic relief into the mini music festival with comedians Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson.


The Ben Cote Band was a real draw for me. Caught em two years ago and was hooked from the first note. Ben is a seriously talented guitarist and performer and he teaches at Berklee, so ya know brainy too. Once again, he had the place rockin from the opening chords of AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie”. I am not a fan of covers in general but Ben and the band did a solid job, and in that rock club setting the crowd eats it up. They followed it up with an original, “Voodoo Queen” off of Celluloid Babylon. Ben addressed the crowd. “This is the last night of a three night run. NYC and Albany but it’s good to be home in New England. We’re gunna play one of our originals and if ya don’t like it we’ll say it’s written by someone else.” It was the title track “Get Your Licks In” followed by a cut off of Love At First Bite with “Too Much Of A Good Thing”. A cover of Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” was on deck. Ben shouted “This is the theme song of America right here!” and they fuckin nailed it. Ben handled vocals and showed off guitar theatrics playing behind his back and then with his mouth. Band members were introduced midway through the track with future Berklee graduate Jake Wakstein on drums and Ben’s high school friend and “one of the few people to be in my orbit and not go crazy, the love child between Lemmy Kilmister and Joan Jett, they had a baby” Dave Mansfield on bass and vocals. The set wrapped with “Nine Seven Six” from What The Doctor Ordered. Look y’all, I review a lot of bands and take my word for it, Ben Cote is fukin fire. Check em out, you won’t be disappointed. Go see him live and revel in his guitar wizardry while having a rockin good time.


I had pre-listened to South Carolina’s DÅZR and liked what I heard so was looking forward to catching them live. They didn’t disappoint and kept the theme of flashy guitar work rolling. The band is Matthew Shranko on bass, Shay O’Bryant on drums and brothers Austin Hendrix on vocals and Grant Hendrix on guitar. Just Hendrix and guitar in the same sentence is fire, amirite? I would describe their sound as 80s glam band mixed with influences of the 70s. I apologize for not having their official setlist, I tried to track it down. Their self-titled debut EP contains the tracks: “Unsatisfied”, “Night Lady”, “Can’t Take It Anymore”, “Tough” and “Hold The Line”. I can tell you they closed with a cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”. Personally I’m not totally convinced that’s the best song choice for them, but the crowd absolutely ate it up, cuz Black. Freaking. Sabbath. Might I suggest Blue Murder or Badlands for their next tribute? The rest of the set was solid. They’re great musicians and DÅZR was a perfect add to the night’s lineup. If you need a new dose of old school, DÅZR is your jam.


Boston’s own All Sinners had quite the contingent of fans in the crowd sporting their gear. The foursome brought their fresh take on unmistakable 80s influences, making them another appropriate pick for the night’s performers. Their set pulled heavily from We Own The Night, kicking it off with the title track. I appreciated their non-flashy, straight up pure rock and roll style and the fact that they run with two lead guitarists for that extra punch. They kept it rollin with “Dead To Rights” and “Lead Me Into Darkness” which featured a pretty killer guitar solo, followed by “Into The Flames” and “World That’s Burning”. They capped it off with a track from their self titled EP and it was actually my favorite, “The Hunted”. All originals, no covers. All Sinners is Mike Golarz on lead vocals and guitar, Bruce Morrison on bass, Nick Testone on the other lead guitar, and Roger Chouinard on drums. The band is clearly a local favorite and definitely worth checking out.


Trixter was the last stop before the main event. I am a bona fide music junkie and I’ll admit, I didn’t know who these guys were. I did my research and saw they broke out around 1990/1991 and in my defense, Alice In Chains. I watched their official video for “One In A Million” and they had that classic 80s hair band sound but were sporting flannel shirts. They literally were the living breathing crossover from glam bands to grunge. Despite their fair share of employee turnover and two hiatuses, the band has five studio albums and continues to bring their hits to the Trixter loyals. The current band is a trio made up of Steve Brown on lead guitar and vocals, P.J. Farley on bass and drummer Ben Hans. Their set fed their fans exactly what they came for, the hits, with most of the songs pulled from their self titled debut LP: “Give It To Me Good”, “Heart Of Steel”, “Line Of Fire”, “Surrender” and their biggest hit, “One In A Million”. I heard some fans around me singing that one word for word. We also got a track off of New Audio Machine with “Tattoos And Misery”. These guys obviously still love what they do and had a lot of fun out there. They made sure to show their crowd appreciation several times and Steve exited with “Rock and roll is alive and well! Thank you so much!” Are you into Trixter? They’re still out there ready to bring you back in time.

George Lynch is a bona fide beast on the axe. He’s ranked #10 on Gibson’s Top Ten Metal Guitarists of All Time. Best known for his tenure with the 80s band Dokken, which produced a series of platinum selling albums, George has been credited on sixty five recordings including nine studio LPs with his band Lynch Mob. For these dates, the fans got a rare treat: a dose of both bands, with two sets customized for the mini tour. For this show, George was joined by Rikki Thrash on bass - who apparently still fits in the outfit he wore during his Steel Panther days - Ben Cote on guitar (my boy!) and Jackson Davenport from the band Void on vocals. The seven song pulled from three classic Dokken albums: three from Tooth & Nail and two each from Back For The Attack and Under Lock & Key. They kicked things off with “It’s Not Love”, where Jackson got the crowd going with a little back and forth chant, followed by “In My Dreams”. George really flexed his chops on “Mr. Scary” and then things slowed down with the ballad “Alone Again”. I couldn’t look at Jackson’s white leather fringed jacket without smiling because my sister had the exact same one. She got it from a male stripper and I always busted her ass about it. Jackson stopped to give enthusiastic shout outs to all of the bands on the bill. Next up was “Dream Warriors”, written by Lynch and Jeff Pilson for the movie “A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors”. The Dokken tribute wrapped with “Just Got Lucky” and “Into The Fire”. It was a blast watching these guys perform live, the sound quality was solid and the crowd was fully into it. I was intrigued by Jackson and checked out some of his Void stuff, he’s got an impressive range and dare I say a touch of King Diamond in there? I saw a couple of comments on videos like “they didn’t quite get it right” or “it was a little off”. I chatted with Ben Cote during the show. You know how much practice they got in before they played live? Two fucking hours. Those of us that were there live were groovin.


The night’s festivities wrapped with a nine song set from Lynch Mob. A promo video that Jaron and George did promised “licks and shit” and they absolutely delivered. The Dokken material didn’t stop because you hear it at Lynch Mob shows, so the opener was the title track “Tooth & Nail”, followed by the first of five off of Wicked Sensation with “River Of Love” and “For A Million Years”. This set really was the highlight of the show. George was backed by our friend Jaron Gulino on bass, who seems like he’s 10’ tall and never stops moving, vocalist Andrew Freeman from the supergroup Last In Line, and as a surprise treat our drummer for the night was Will Hunt from Evanescence. They dipped into Rebel with “Testify”. I’ve seen George switch out axes at previous shows, but on this night he stuck with his trusty tiger striped one. They served up “Hell Child” and then another Dokken tune, “The Hunter”. It really is amazing to see Lynch play live, I was entranced by the dexterity of his fretwork at one point. And this mother fucker is seventy one years old. Remarkable. There was no slowing down as they powered through “Street Fightin’ Man” and “Unchain The Night”. It was over in a flash as they closed with a flawless rendition of the title track “Wicked Sensation”.


Ya never know when it’s actually gonna be the Final Ride, and I see George and Jaron and friends are still out there playing dates, so I encourage you to witness the legendary George Lynch live.


Don’t remember Dokken or Lynch Mob? Check out the band KXM featuring George, dUg Pinnick of Kings X and Ray Luzier of Korn (wish they would tour!). There’s also the side project Ultraphonix where Lynch teams up with Chris Moore, Pancho Tomaselli and my favorite singer of all time, Corey Glover. Just to name of few of the collabs Lynch is involved with. Guy never stops playing.
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The legendary axe man is serving up something for everyone.