Concert Review: Mammoth with James and the Cold Gun and 10 Years the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre in Indianapolis
- Chad Smith
- Apr 4
- 4 min read
On March 31st, the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre in Indianapolis experienced a dramatic shift in temperature as Wolfgang Van Halen, the virtuosic multi-instrumentalist and guitarist, brought Mammoth to the stage, accompanied by special guests 10 Years and James And The Cold Gun, in support of their latest album, The End. From vinyl records, clothing, and merchandise, devoted Mammoth enthusiasts (Mam Fam) demonstrated their strong support for Wolfgang's second leg of his inaugural national headline tour. As I spoke to some fans, it marked their third, fourth, and fifth time experiencing the spectacle.
Precisely sixty minutes after the venue's doors opened, the auditorium was plunged into darkness, and the crowd's anticipation culminated in roaring applause as James And The Cold Gun demanded the stage. In most all situations, it is crucial to heed the advice: 'don't miss the openers’ and this is precisely one of those instances! Instantly, South Wales' loudest James And The Cold Gun took the stage by storm, delivering a captivating performance of energetic rock that maintained the audience's undivided attention throughout their entire set. The Egyptian Room at Old National Centre provided an ideal setting, masterfully capturing their dynamic stage presence as they seamlessly engaged the audience with their relentless energy and continued hair whipping. The band delivered a flawless set, track by track, as the audience's energy surged, promising an unforgettable spectacle. James And The Cold Gun was a sure fire to ignite the long awaited evening!
You can check out and keep tabs on James And The Cold Gun tour and merch with the link below.
Set list: James And The Cold Gun
Split Second
Twist The Knife
Fragile
Above The Lake
Guessing Games
Cut The Brakes
Chewing Glass
As the stage was set for the highly anticipated performance by 10 Years, the production crew worked diligently to ensure a seamless transition. With roots in Knoxville, Tennessee, 10 Years surged to prominence in the early 2000s. Their 2005 album, The Autumn Effect, cemented their status as a strength to be reckoned with among the alt-rock scene with standout tracks such as “Wasteland” and “Through the Iris.” Onstage, 10 Years masterfully harnessed tension, unleashing a sonic avalanche of distortion and heavy beats that resonated throughout the entire Egyptian Room in detail. Their fast paced, expressive and rich show comes packed with a powerful vocal performance by Jesse Hasek as they ripped through a 10 track set list which included songs like “Fix Me” and “Novocain.” A highlight of the evening came midway through their action packed set with an astounding cover of Nirvanas’ “Heart Shaped Box” which was delivered in a pure rock aesthetic!
You can keep up with 10 Years as they continue to push boundaries while remaining true to their artistic vision with the below link.
Set list:
Russian
Now Is The Time
Fix Me
Novocain
Half Life
Heart Shaped Box
Gravity
The Optimist
Wasteland
Shout It Out
As the spotlight shifts from 10 Years to Mammoth, we have reached the pivotal moment where the Grammy Award-nominated songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen takes center stage, accompanied by a talented group featuring Ronnie Ficaro on bass, Garrett Whitlock on drums, Jon Jourdan on rhythm guitar, and Frank Sidoris on rhythm and lead guitar.
The Egyptian Room at Old National Centre descended into darkness, as the stage was enveloped in a thick fog and a large LED screen, embellished with the iconic black and white Mammoth 'M' logo, took center stage. The immeasurable collective talent started to tear into a pure fire track “One Of A Kind” as they opened up their set. Wolf takes a moment to acknowledge the enthusiastic crowd, inquiring 'How are you all doing?' before launching into the next number, “Another Celebration.”
Throughout the performance, the LED screen showcases elaborate animated videos synchronized with each song, providing an immersive experience that brings Wolfgang’s entire visual collection to life, from album art to live visuals. Wolfgang inquired feedback from the crowd regarding the display, highlighting that a human designer was responsible for its remarkable presence and craftsmanship.
One of my favorite songs from the performance was Stone. A masterwork of musical composition highlights Wolfgang's extraordinary guitar expertise, initiating with a soft orange-hued ambiance that spotlights his multifaceted instrumental talents on the keyboard and a cappella vocal, before surrendering to darkness and ultimately unleashing unrelenting 6 minutes and 45 seconds of pure rock intensity! A special and favorite moment of mine was when the audience fell captivated as Wolfgang initiated an acoustic introduction to the subsequent song, Distance, an emotional tribute to his father Eddie Van Halen's courageous battle with cancer.
Mammoth delivers a spectacular performance from start to finish! When Wolfgang Van Halen brings The End Tour to a city near you, I highly recommend attending!
Set list: Mammoth
One Of A Kind
Another Celebration
The Spell
Epiphany
Stone
Distance
Something New
Take A Bow
I really Wanna
Don’t Back Down
The End
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