With under three weeks remaining until the release of his sophomore album, Mammoth WVH – the brainchild of Wolfgang Van Halen is announcing a headline tour this Fall to support Mammoth II. These dates come on the heels of the band’s successful European tour last month that saw them opening for Metallica, Alter Bridge, and Def Leppard/Motley Crüe. The headline tour will kick off November 4th in Milwaukee, WI and run through December 9th when Mammoth returns home to Los Angeles. The headline run will make stops in Chicago, IL (November 9th), Sayreville, NJ (November 17th), Dallas TX (November 25th) and Seattle, WA (December 3rd) to name a few. The headline dates will feature Nita Strauss as direct support. These dates also come as Mammoth picks up their spot opening for Metallica in the US for their previously announced dates on November 3rd in St. Louis and November 10th in Detroit. All headline shows go on-sale to the general public on Friday, July 21st at 10AM local time. More information on all Mammoth shows can be found at www.mammothwvh.com.
Continuing the tradition of writing all of the songs and performing all of the instrumentation and vocals himself, Grammy-award nominee Wolfgang Van Halen set out to challenge himself to expand his sound beyond what people had already come to know him for. The 10-track collection Mammoth II is slated for release on August 4th via BMG. From the rocking opener “Right?” to Beatles-esque fade on closer “Better Than You” Mammoth II showcases the growth of Wolfgang as a songwriter, musician and especially vocalist. Songs like “Miles Above Me,” “I’m Alright” and “Waiting” are all sonically different from each other but unique to what Mammoth is.
Photo by Travis
The debut single from Mammoth II is the upbeat rocker “Another Celebration at the End of the World” is currently in the Top 10 at Active Rock radio. The music video for that song is an 8:25 introduction to the Mammoth live band that was directed by Gordy De St. Jeor.
The video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/yIQH0HcdQnE. A lyric video for the track and new live show favorite “Like A Pastime” can be seen here: https://youtu.be/I04dvZMsH3M and also the opus “Take A Bow” can be seen here: https://youtu.be/Uo3QeXqkQcU.
Recorded at the legendary 5150 studio, Mammoth II was produced by friend and collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette and is available for pre-order in multiple configurations here: https://MammothWVH.lnk.to/MammothIIPR.
Tour Dates 2023
Mammoth II Headline Tour 2023
Nov 4 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave ^
Nov 5 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue ^
Nov 7 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone ^
Nov 9 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre ^
Nov 11 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation at the Intersection ^
Nov 13 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall ^
Nov 14 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield ^
Nov 15 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live ^
Nov 17 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom ^
Nov 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theatre ^
Nov 19 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live ^
Nov 21 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater ^
Nov 22 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House Of Blues ^ Nov 24 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Ballroom ^
Nov 25 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum ^
Nov 26 – Austin, TX – Emo’s ^
Nov 28 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre ^
Nov 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot ^
Nov 30 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory ^
Dec 2 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory ^
Dec 3 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox ^
Dec 4 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater ^
Dec 7 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues ^
Dec 8 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues ^
Dec 9 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco ^
^ Headline Show
* Supporting Alter Bridge
# Supporting Metallica
Previously Announced Tour Dates 2023
Aug 1 – Buffalo, NY – Outer Harbor Event Complex *
Aug 2 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage *
Aug 4 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium #
Aug 5 – Grantville, PA – Hollywood Casino Outdoors *
Aug 7 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE! *
Aug 8 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion *
Aug 10 – Quebec City, QC – Agora Port de Québec *
Aug 11 – Montreal, CA – Olympic Stadium #
Aug 12 – Mashantucket, CT – The Premier Theater (at Foxwoods Resort Casino) *
Aug 13 – Johnstown, PA – 1st Summit Arena *
Aug 16 – Springfield, IL – Illinois State Fair 2023 *
Aug 18 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium #
Aug 19 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheater *
Aug 20 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port *
Aug 22 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre ^
Aug 25 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium #
Aug 26 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades ^
Aug 27 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory OC ^
Aug 30 – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theater ^
Sep 1 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium #
Sep 3 – Pryor, Ok – Rocklahoma
Sep 5 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre ^
Sep 8 – Albuquerque, NM – New Mexico State Fair
Nov 3 – St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center #
Nov 10 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field #
^ Headline Show
* Supporting Alter Bridge
# Supporting Metallica
Connect with Mammoth WVH at:
Website: www.mammothwvh.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MammothWVH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mammothwvh/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MammothWVH
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MammothWVH
- Nita Strauss Conquers the World ›
- Rig Rundown: Nita Strauss ›
- Rig Rundown: Mammoth WVH ›
- Wolfgang Van Halen: Sing the Solo - Premier Guitar ›
This unusual bass instrument is strung with just two flatwound strings, each with its own fretting surface that’s bent 135 degrees away from one another.
Recently, the oddest of odd ducks strolled through Fanny’s front door. It looks like a Harmony Wedge lap steel that was thrown in the dryer to shrink a little bit. It has two flatwound bass strings, in reverse order from where you’d expect—the higher string is on the left side if you’re looking at the instrument’s face. Each string has its own fretting surface, bent at a 135-degree angle away from each other, and the frets are labeled with note names. A raised, thin strip of wood separates the strings from each other on the fretboard.
Oh, wait a moment. Did we say “fretboard?” We should have said “footboard.” Allow us to introduce you to the 1970s Mike Miller Foot Bass. That’s right—you play this adorable critter with your feet. The strings are tuned a fifth apart from each other. By setting the instrument on the ground and rocking your foot back and forth over the neck, you get a standard country root-fifth bass line—completely hands-free. Are you a guitar player? All you need is one of these puppies and a drum machine and, poof! You’re a whole band!
Along the “footboard” are markers for note names.
Thank goodness for the internet, which gave me access to the original promotional materials for the Foot Bass. Emblazoned with the all-caps header, “BE YOUR OWN BASS MAN,” its pamphlet extols the virtues of the Foot Bass. Describing it as “practically maintenance free,” it guarantees you’ll “amaze friends and audiences,” and “make extra MONEY.”
A brief meander through the United States Patent and Trademark website revealed the patent, whose filer was equally concerned with finances. “A currently popular form of entertainment is provided by an artist who both sings and accompanies himself on a guitar,” it reads, as if this hasn’t been a popular form of entertainment for a very long time. “The performance of such an artist may be enhanced by adding a bass accompaniment.... However, such an additional bass accompaniment ordinarily requires an extra artist for playing the bass and therefore represents an additional expense.” Sorry, bass players. Clearly, you all do nothing but cost us guitar players money.
“That’s right—you play this adorable critter with your feet.”
Be prepared to dig through your closet when you embark on your Foot Bass journey. If you start with your trusty Doc Martens, you’re in for a disappointing experience. Deep treads make for messy notes and poor contact with the strings. And while barefoot playing allows for more nimble, adventurous basslines, the lack of a rigid surface prevents the “simple and convenient” operation promised by the patent. What you need, as one Fanny’s employee described, are “church shoes”—something with a low profile and a flat sole.
This Mike Miller Foot Bass is from the 1970s, and has a patent for its design.
Even with the right footwear, playing the Foot Bass takes some getting used to. There’s a bit of foam under the pickup cover that mutes the strings when you’re not playing them, but you can still make a remarkable amount of clatter with this thing. It’s a subtle motion that works best, and it certainly takes practice to master it. Add in multiple chords or—be still, my heart—walking up from one chord to the next? Give yourself a couple weeks in the woodshed before you schedule your next show.
If you’re looking for something to watch tonight, there’s a documentary you can find on YouTube called Let Me Be Your Band. It covers the history of one-person bands, starting with blues pioneer Jesse “Lone Cat” Fuller and continuing up to the early 2000s with the careers of Hasil Adkins and Bob Log III, among others. It’s a touching portrayal of ingenuity and spunk, and an ode to owning your weirdness. Not a single person in Let Me Be Your Band had a Foot Bass, though. It’s high time the Foot Bass was celebrated for its cleverness and played by an enterprising solo act. It’s a bit like Cinderella’s glass slipper here at Fanny’s. We can’t wait to see who tries it on for a perfect fit.
Keeley Octa Psi Transfigurating Fuzz Pedal with Polyphonic Pitch Shifting
The Bridge Pin Puller is designed to be the fastest, easiest, and safest way to remove bridge pins from an acoustic guitar. Small enough to fit in your pocket, the standalone bridge pin puller is a great way for acoustic players to avoid fumbling with bridge pins during string changes and maintenance. The ergonomic design comfortably fits in hand but won’t place extra pressure on the instrument or bridge during use. Best of all, the clamp design encloses the pin, keeping it secure inside the puller until it’s released.
The Tour-Grade Peg Winder offers next-level performance for luthiers, techs, or anyone who wants to change strings with maximum speed and ease. The multi-tool design brings together a ball bearing, non-damaging socket for smoother winding, molded grips, and a spring-loaded bridge pin puller, delivering an all-in-one option to handle most standard string changes.
From the straight-forward simplicity of the Bridge Pin Puller to the all-around convenienceof the Tour-Grade Peg Winder, D’Addario has your string changes covered.
For more information, please visit daddario.com.
Steve Lukather is one of the most documented guitarists in the hit-making biz. He grew up as an L.A. teen with a crew of fellow musicians who would go on to make their livings at the top of the session scene. By the time Lukather and his pals formed Toto, they were already experienced chart-toppers. The band went on to success with hits including the rockin’ “Hold the Line,” breezy, bouncing “Rosanna,” and the timeless “Africa.”
As a session player, Lukather’s reign in the ’70s and ‘80s extended from Olivia Newton-John to Herbie Hancock to Michael Jackson. And alongside Michael McDonald—whose “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” included Lukather’s distinctive rhythm riffage—Daryl Hall and John Oates, Kenny Loggins, Peter Cetera, and Christopher Cross (among many others) he may have earned the title of yacht rock’s number one guitar player.
On this episode of the 100 Guitarists podcast, we’re talking about our favorite Lukather tracks, from his best rhythm parts to his most rippin’ solos. And even though he spends most of his playing time with the biggest names, we’ve managed to call up a few deep cuts.
