Alter Bridge, Mammoth WVH & Red – The Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ – Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Review & Photos by Lori Schneider (IG: @LoriSchneiderPhotography)
Alter Bridge brought their Pawns & Kings Tour to the Wellmont Theater Wednesday night to a sold-out crowd hyped with anticipation for what was to come. Providing support for this tour were Mammoth WVH and the band Red.
Red, a rock, hard rock, heavy metal, alternative rock band from Pennsylvania was formed in 2002 after relocating to Tennessee. Founding members twin brothers Anthony (guitars, backing vocals) and Randy Armstrong (bass, backing vocals, piano) and Michael Barnes (lead vocals) were later joined by drummer Brian Medeiros in early 2021. Declaration, their seventh studio album was released in April 2020. In December 2022, the band released their first live album Until We Have Faces: Live and Unplugged and announced the release of a new album coming spring of 2023 named Rated R. Musical influences include Linkin Park, Sevendust, and Chevelle. Performing a 30-minute set, the intensity of the performance was off the charts and a great way to open the show! Songs included Death of Me, Faceless, Let It Burn, Already Over, Feed the Machine and Breathe Into Me. Definitely check them out! They have many new fans after tonight!
Red can be found online at www.thebandred.com and on Instagram @thebandred.
Next up in the lineup was Mammoth WVH, a rock band hailing from California founded and fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen. Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist Wolfgang (Wolf) Van Halen released his personal solo project and self-titled debut album June 2021 playing every instrument and recording every song himself. The first single Distance, a tribute to his dad Eddie Van Halen, was released in November 2020. Also special is the band’s name Mammoth WVH which is the original band name of Van Halen. A second studio album is currently in the works.
In preparation for upcoming tours and future albums, added to the lineup in his band were Frank Sidoris (rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals), Jon Jourdan (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Ronnie Ficarro (bass, backing vocals) and Garrett Whitlock (drums). Performing a 40-minute set, songs included Mammoth, Mr. Ed, Epiphany, Stone, Think It Over, Distance, You’re to Blame and Don’t Back Down.
Wolf’s music technicality must be acknowledged as he learned from the best. He is, however, carving out his own sound making it known to all that he will be in this business for the long haul. He seems to be able to do just about anything because of his focus and just because he really is that good at what he does!
Mammoth WVH can be found online at www.mammothwvh.com and on Instagram @mammothwvh.
And what we (the crowd and I) had all been waiting for, Alter Bridge took to the stage setting it ablaze for the sold-out crowd. A rock band from Florida formed in 2004, their genre has been classified as rock, heavy metal, hard rock, alternative rock/metal. Touring to countless sold-out shows around the world, their talent is undeniable as evidenced on this night! Promoting their latest album Pawns & Kings, released in October 2022, the band – Myles Kennedy (lead & backing vocals, rhythm & lead guitar), Mark Tremonti (lead & rhythm guitar, backing & lead vocals), Brian Marshall (bass) and Scott Phillips (drums, percussion) performed 17 songs for a 1-hour, 45-minute set (encore included).
Opening with Silver Tongue, the setlist continued with Addicted To Pain, Ghost of Days Gone By, Holiday, Broken Wings, This Is War, Achilles, Burn It Down (vocals Mark Tremonti), Watch Over You (acoustic), In Loving Memory (acoustic), Blackbird, Pawns & Kings, Wouldn’t You Rather, Isolation, Metalingus, Rise Today and Open Your Eyes. Heavy riffs: check. Melodic: check. Great tones and arrangements: check. Songwriting and musicianship: check. Signature sound: check. Epic rock band: double check. Their technicality was masterful! Starting with their debut album One Day Remains in August 2004, to their latest seventh album release, Alter Bridge has had the utmost commercial success even while splitting their time with members’ other bands and side projects.
Alter Bridge can be found online at www.alterbridge.com and on Instagram @officialalterbridge.
