Mammoth kicks off 2026 with a massive North American headlining tour in support of their newest album The End.
The Northeast has entered that unpredictable stretch of the year where the weather could be 60 degrees, -20, a blizzard, or a monsoon, all in the same week. But a little spitting rain and a brisk wind racing up and down Congress Street in Portland, Maine wasn’t about to stop Mammoth fans from packing into the State Theatre.
Doors opened at 6pm with a start time of 7pm, it didn’t take long for the historic State Theatre to fill with a wide array of fans from kids to adults. The crowd was a wide mix, from younger fans seeing one of their favorite modern rock bands live for the first time to longtime rock listeners eager for a night of loud guitars and soaring vocals.
Opening the night were James and the Cold Gun, followed by longtime alternative rock favorites 10 Years, each bringing their own style and energy that helped round out the musical landscape leading into Mammoth’s headlining set.
James and The Cold Gun kicked off the night, and despite being a long way from home in Cardiff, Wales, they proved to be a perfect fit for Mammoth’s The End tour. Their sound lives somewhere between ’90s grunge and post-punk garage rock, with shades of Queens of the Stone Age and early Foo Fighters, plus a little Mudhoney and The Clash woven into the mix, all filtered through a fresh modern edge. At their core, James and The Cold Gun are a high-energy band, and that’s exactly what they delivered as the opening act for Mammoth.
The band took the stage, walking out to the Kate Bush song “James and the Cold Gun,” before diving into a seven-song set. They kicked things off with “Split Second,” a cover of the band Hometown Crew, before moving into “Twist the Knife” from their 2025 sophomore album Face in the Mirror. The setlist leaned heavily on the sophomore release, showcasing tracks like “Fragile,” “Above the Lake,” “Guessing Games,” and “Cut the Breaks.”
Video By: James and the Cold Gun
The band’s newest material carries that same garage-band, DIY spirit that defined their 2023 self-titled album, but with a bit more refinement. They’ve clearly honed their sound while keeping the raw edge intact. At their core, James and The Cold Gun are masters of good old-fashioned, grungy rock, delivered without the extra bells and whistles of backing tracks, just guitars, drums, and pure energy.
While still relatively new, the band is no stranger to sharing space with rock heavyweights. They were signed by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard after he heard their track “Long Way Home” on a Seattle radio station. In a story published by LouderSound in November 2023, frontman James Joseph recalled receiving an Instagram message from Gossard saying he wanted to sign the band to his label, Loosegroove Records. At first, Joseph assumed it couldn’t possibly be the real Gossard—until a few days later when the two were suddenly face-to-face on a Zoom call. Since then, the band has continued to build momentum, even hitting the road in support of Guns N’ Roses.
Video By: James and the Cold Gun
James and The Cold Gun proved to be the perfect band to kick off a night of solid rock and roll. With every song, they slowly turned the dial up on the energy in the room, never really letting off the throttle. At one point during the set, Joseph told the crowd, “We have one job and one job only, to get you ready for Mammoth.” It’s safe to say they succeeded. By the time they wrapped their set with “Chewing Glass” off their 2023 self-titled album, the crowd had their hands in the air, dancing and cheering as the band powered through their songs. It’s a rarity to see an opening band draw that kind of engagement so early in the night, but it was a true testament to the talent and presence of the entire band.
JAMES AND THE COLD GUN SETLIST
WALK OUT SONG -JAMES AND THE COLD GUN BY KATE BUSH
1. SPLIT SECOND- HOMETOWN CREW COVER
2.TWIST THE KNIFE
3. FRAGILE
4. ABOVE THE LAKE
5. GUESSING GAMES
6. CUT THE BRAKES
7. CHEWING GLASS
Soon the lighting shifted from bright whites to moodier blues and reds as 10 Years took the stage next. Hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee, the band brings more than 20 years of experience delivering an immersive live show. Their set pulls fans in not only through moody guitar riffs and introspective lyrics, but through the overall atmosphere they create and the strong connection they build with the crowd.
The band took the stage to “Russian Roulette” off their 2008 album Division. It was the perfect song to build momentum, driven by heavy, focused drum beats and a stop-and-pause guitar build. As Jesse Hasek stepped onto the stage, he asked the crowd “How we doing Portland?” to which the crowd who was already buzzing from James and The Cold Gun cheered back, he responded with “oh you guys are ready fro a rock show” he matched the rising intensity of the music with his vocals, quickly placing himself front and center with the crowd to create an immediate and powerful connection.
They continued to roll through hit after hit, from “Now Is the Time (Ravenous)” to “Fix Me” off 2010’s Feeding the Wolves. “Fix Me” proved to be one of the most emotionally charged moments of the set. As the opening notes rang out, the crowd instantly recognized the song, prompting Jesse Hasek to look out across the room and say, “Yeah… you guys know this one, right?” before letting the music take over. From that moment on, the crowd was locked in, voices rising throughout the venue as they sang along. By the time the final reprise came around, the audience had completely taken control of the moment, belting the lyrics back toward the stage as the band let the song breathe.
Video By: Amy McGowen
10 Years continued their set with “Novacaine” off their 2018 album (How to Live) As Ghosts and “Half Life” from their 2005 album The Autumn Effect. If fans weren’t already amped from what they had seen so far, they certainly were about to be.
For those of us who grew up in the grunge era, hearing Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” for the first time was unforgettable, the eerie atmosphere, Kurt Cobain’s gritty vocals, and those unmistakable crunchy guitars. It was a song that felt completely different from anything else at the time. So when 10 Years launched into their take on the track during the live set, it was a moment that immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention.
Their rendition leaned into a darker, moodier interpretation, slowly building tension throughout the performance. Not overly dramatic, just enough to keep the crowd anticipating when the next swell of guitars or vocal push would land. It was a powerful reimagining of the classic Nirvana song, translated perfectly for the stage and met with an enthusiastic response from the crowd.
Video By: Amy McGowen
The setlist wasn’t all throwbacks to earlier albums. The band also rolled through “Gravity” and “The Optimist” (featuring Conquer Divide) from their newest EP, Inner Darkness, which dropped in 2024. The EP showcases what 10 Years has truly mastered over the past two decades, balancing heavy, driving rock riffs with the introspective and atmospheric sound that has become their signature.
What stands out even more is how much stronger those elements feel in a live setting. The weight of the guitars hits harder in the room, while Jesse Hasek’s vocals carry an emotional pull that draws the crowd directly into the moment. It’s that combination, powerful instrumentation paired with deeply personal lyrics, that continues to resonate with fans and makes their live performance feel even more impactful than the recordings themselves. With nine studio albums under their belt, the band has continued to fine-tune who they are, not changing their sound, but refining it.
Video From: 10 Years
They closed out their set with two fan favorites, kicking things off with “Wasteland” from The Autumn Effect before ramping things up for one final surge of energy with “Shoot It Out” off Feeding the Wolves. By the time the last notes rang out, the crowd was more than ready for Mammoth to take the stage.
10 YEARS SETLIST
1.RUSSIAN ROULETTE
2.NOW IS THE TIME (RAVENOUS)
3. FIX ME
4. NOVACAINE
5. HALF LIFE
6. HEART SHAPED BOX (NIRVANA COVER)
7. GRAVITY
8. THE OPTIMIST
9. WASTELAND
10. SHOOT IT OUT
The time had finally come for Mammoth, and the crowd was more than ready to rock. As the lights dimmed and the house music shifted to the unmistakable sound of AC/DC’s “Night Prowler,” cheers began building throughout the room. When the lights finally dropped to black, those familiar with Mammoth’s brand-new album The End, released in 2025, immediately recognized the opening guitar riff of “One of a Kind,” the album’s first track, cutting through the room, an introduction that felt perfectly fitting for a band that has carved out a sound truly one of a kind.
As the song began to build, the full lineup locked in: Jon Jourdan and Frank Sidoris driving the guitars, Ronnie Ficarro laying down the low end on bass, and Garrett Whitlock building the momentum behind the drum kit, while Wolfgang Van Halen stood front and center on vocals , with beautiful EVH guitar painted like the cover of the newest album. Within seconds the room was fully ignited, the band launching into the set with the kind of tight energy Mammoth has become known for on stage.
The energy stayed high as they launched into “Another Celebration at the End of the World” off 2023’s sophomore album Mammoth II. The song is packed with fast drumbeats, catchy guitar riffs, and sharp, driving lyrics, all leading into an epic solo that Wolfgang Van Halen makes look completely effortless as his hands move up and down the neck of the guitar. It’s the kind of moment that pulls you in, whether you’re a longtime Mammoth fan or simply someone who appreciates watching a musician fully locked into their craft.
Van Halen paused for a moment to take in the crowd, turning to the side and cupping his hand to his ear, signaling for the audience to get louder. Each time he leaned toward them, the response grew stronger, the cheers building with every motion as the crowd fed off the energy coming from the stage, before the band launched into “The Spell.”off The End.
“The Spell” has been steadily climbing the charts since the album’s release last year. In January 2026, the track reached #1 on the Active Rock radio charts, followed by another milestone in February when it hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. The music video for the song features Van Halen performing every instrument, a fitting nod to the fact that he wrote, sang, and recorded every element of the entire album himself. Staying true to his “one-man band” approach, Van Halen continues to handle all of the instrumentation and recording on Mammoth’s albums in the studio. The record was produced by Michael “Elvis” Baskette and engineered by Jef Moll.
Video By: Mammoth
The night continued with “Like a Pastime” and “Optimist” off Mammoth II, with Van Halen pausing during “Optimist” to talk with the crowd. One of the things fans truly appreciate about a Mammoth show is how open he is when it comes to interacting with the audience. It’s not just the usual “Is everyone having a good night?” moments, there’s a genuine, natural connection in the way he speaks with the crowd.
At one point, he joked that up until this tour he had never used a wireless mic, always performing with a wired one. Laughing, he pointed out that with the new setup he could technically make Jon Jourdan’s night really bad by turning off his pack at any moment, before turning toward him on stage and asking if he was having a good night. The moment drew laughs from the crowd before the band kicked back in, launching into the final stretch of “Optimist.”
“Stone” off their debut album Mammoth was introduced in a stripped-down arrangement, inspired by Van Halen seeing Nine Inch Nails live on tour. Before the song began, he took a moment to speak about the visuals that would accompany the performance artwork created by Wayne Joyner that filled the screen behind the band, something that has become a newer element of Mammoth’s recent tours. Van Halen emphasized how important it is to continue supporting artists who create the visuals and design behind live shows, noting that we don’t need AI, real artists making real art is where it’s at.
The band eased into the haunting opening of “Stone,” with the song beginning in a more minimal, atmospheric way before steadily building in intensity. By the end, the full band had kicked in, bringing the song back to its heavy, driving form and filling the room with the powerful sound Mammoth is known for.
The night continued with “Happy” off The End, followed by “Mammoth” and “Resolve” from the band’s debut self-titled album. The mood shifted during the next song as the screen behind the band lit up with footage of Wolfgang, from a newborn baby to a young musician sharing the stage with his father, the late Eddie Van Halen. As the opening notes of “Distance” began to play, the crowd watched a lifetime of memories unfold across the screen. It was a moment that felt loving, emotional, and completely raw all at once.
Video By: Mammoth
Van Halen has spent his career proving that he is not simply a carbon copy of his father or trying to outdo him, but his own musician carving out his own path. While there are small nods to his late father along the way, like the band name Mammoth, which was the name of Eddie Van Halen’s first band, the direction Wolfgang has taken has always been distinctly his own. Recently securing the rights to the Mammoth name and dropping the WVH from the band’s title marked another step in that evolution.
Of course, there are still moments that pay tribute to his father’s legacy, from the iconic Frankenstein guitar to the occasional musical nod during a solo. But what stands out most is that Wolfgang has built his career through his own songwriting, musicianship, and dedication to the craft. By every measure, he has earned his place through his own talent, and it’s hard not to think that Eddie Van Halen would be proud of the path his son has forged.
The night quickly picked the energy back up as the band bounced between all three albums, rolling through “Something New” and “I Really Wanna” off The End, followed by “Take a Bow” from Mammoth II. Before launching into “Epiphany” off Mammoth, the band slipped in a brief intro of “Lateralus” from Tool, a really cool moment that caught the crowd by surprise.
The night wrapped up with an encore that included “Don’t Back Down” before closing with the title track off the new album, “The End.” The song is everything that makes Mammoth, Mammoth. Musically, it’s instantly catchy, with lyrics that become an earworm the moment you hear them. The guitar riffs and soaring solos are exactly the kind of signature moments fans have come to expect from the band.
If that wasn’t enough to define who Mammoth is as a band, the music video certainly does. Without giving too much away, it’s worth watching for the humor alone, another side of Mammoth that fans have come to love. Featuring guest appearances from fellow musicians and actors and written by Robert Rodriguez alongside Van Halen, the video is a perfect companion to the track and a must-watch for fans.
Mammoth is one of those bands that truly embodies the idea that when you love what you do, the people around you feel it. That passion, paired with an enormous amount of talent, continues to push the band to raise the bar as a live act. It’s not just the soaring guitar riffs or the music that pulls fans in it’s the genuine connection the band shares with each other and with the crowd. From joking around between songs to quick hugs and back-to-back solos, the camaraderie on stage is just as powerful as the music itself. With the level of talent each member brings, Mammoth could easily coast night after night, but that simply isn’t their style. Instead, they remain fully committed to creating an experience that immerses their fans and reminds everyone in the room why live rock and roll still matters.
There are still plenty of dates left on this leg of The End tour for fans to catch Mammoth headlining. If you miss this run, don’t worry—the band shows no signs of slowing down. They’ll hit the road again in April with Bush and James and The Cold Gun through mid-May before heading overseas for summer dates. Later in the year, they’ll return to the U.S. in July for the Summer of ’99 Tour with Creed across the Midwest, followed by another run overseas. Safe to say Mammoth will be staying busy, with plenty of opportunities for fans to catch them live.
MAMMOTH SETLIST
Intro Song: Night Prowler (AC/DC Cover)
1. One of A Kind
2. Another Celebration at The End of The World
3. The Spell
4. Like a Pastime
5. Optimist
6. Stone
7. Happy
8. Mammoth
9. Resolve
10. Distance
11. Something New
12. Epiphany
13. Take a Bow
14. I Really Wanna
ENCORE
15. Don’t Back Down
16. The End
MAMMOTH
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10 YEARS
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JAMES AND THE COLD GUN
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THE STATE THEATRE
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