Mammoth’s “The End Tour” Rocks Montreal’s Théâtre Beanfield [Photos]

Montreal’s Théâtre Beanfield has seen some rocking shows over the years. Built in the early 1900s, it has withstood the test of time and rock n’ roll. Its sturdy structure was put to the test one more time on Tuesday night by a trio of rocking bands. Each one is looking to blow the doors off the joint.

Mammoth was in town, led by Wolfgang Van Halen. Having that last name and the legacy attached to it could have been a massive stone to carry for a young artist. But Wolfgang has not only run with it, but added to his father’s legacy. We’re now at album #3 for Wolfie, and they all rock.

Opening the show was James & The Cold Gun. A last-minute venue change meant I arrived late for their first song. I’m very glad that I didn’t miss the next nine. They were on fire, having a great time up on the stage. They also interacted with the crowd. A lot! They were in full fan-making mode, and it worked. “Twist The Knife” got the fans into an early frenzy. This was a high-energy blast of rock n’ roll that one would expect from a headliner. I certainly hope to see them again back in town next time around. Certainly, it will be a show not to be missed.

Up next was 10 Years. The Tennessee natives took a moment to thank us for the warm weather. Hopefully, they got out of town before the ice storm that was due to hit the next day.

They opened with “Novacaine.” After being pummeled by their sound, some fans may have been reaching for a bottle of their own. Their set list featured a nice mix of hits, as well as an outstanding new song. “Heart-Shaped Box.” Singer Jesse Hasek proclaimed, “We think it’s going to be a big hit!”

In on the joke, the crowd laughed along. But it truly was a terrific cover of the great Nirvana song. They finished up with “Shoot It Out” before leaving the stage to allow the crowd to catch their collective breath.

It’s a good thing that they did, because Mammoth hit the stage with guitars blaring. But again, what else would you expect from a band helmed by a Van Halen? It was full throttle from the get-go as the band opened with “One Of A Kind.” The track is off their latest album, The End. Altogether, Mammoth played six other songs from their latest album.

The party continued with “Another Celebration At The End Of The World.” One hopes the end of the world remains far off. But if you have to go, might as well celebrate. And celebrate is exactly what this Montreal crowd was looking to do. Wolfgang Van Halen thanked the crowd for coming out to the show. Noting that the Montreal Canadiens were also playing that night. He thanked us all for making the choice to come to the rock show.

The choice wasn’t that hard to make. It’s true that a game against the hated Maple Leafs usually can’t be missed. However, the hockey team from down the 401 hasn’t been great this year. Greatness was on that stage, holding his rocking yellow guitar. Rocking and tapping away on his guitar. The show also included some killer videos for each song.

“Everything you’re seeing behind me was created by a real person,” said Wolfgang. “None of that A.I. bullshit here! Everything you’re going to see and hear tonight is real!” Drawing a massive cheer of approval from the appreciative crowd.

Wolfgang then introduced “Stone.” He said that he had been watching some of the latest Nine Inch Nails concerts, and they had inspired him. He began the song solo on the keyboard before the rest of the band joined in. An acoustic version of “The Distance” tugged at everyone’s heartstrings. Home videos of Eddie Van Halen and Wolfie played on the giant screen behind the band. It was a very touching moment.

The evening came to an end with, appropriately enough, “The End.” It was a classic night of rock n’ roll that was sure to satisfy any and all ages. The fans may have left the building, wary of the ice storm that was to come. If the predicted apocalyptic meteorological event did come to pass, they would face it with a grin. They had opened up their hearts and let Mammoth in.