There was something straightforward and refreshingly honest about Bush’s stop at The Anthem on April 9. No overproduced theatrics and no bloat; it was just a welcome, straight-up rock show. Bush is known as one of the bands from the 1990s with staying power, and the The Land of Milk and Honey tour is in support of their latest album, 2025’s I Beat Loneliness. On this tour of the US, Bush is bringing along Mammoth and young upstarts James and the Cold Gun along for the ride.
The night kicked off promptly at 7:00 PM when James and the Cold Gun, from Wales, took the stage to a crowd that was still filing in. Led by James Joseph, the band wasted no time getting down to business. James and the Cold Gun have two albums—most of the set list was taken from 2025’s Face in the Mirror, but included a track from the band’s self-titled, 2023 LP. As an opener on a larger bill, James and the Cold Gun succeeded in grabbing attention and setting the tone for the night.
After a quick turnover, Mammoth took the stage. The ridiculously talented Wolfgang Van Halen and his band (Ronnie Ficaro, Jon Jourdan, Frank Sidoris, and Garrett Whitlock) dove right into “One of a Kind” from The End (2025). By now, Mammoth has three albums; their supporting slot setlist pulls from all of them. It included the Grammy-nominated “Distance,” which has become a signature song for Mammoth performances. It adds emotional weight to their gigs and is a quiet tribute to Van Halen’s legendary father.
Mammoth’s role in the lineup on this tour is clear: to bridge the gap between the scrappy hunger of the opener and the seasoned confidence of the headliner. Mammoth’s polished yet heavy sound and presence underscore that The Land of Milk and Honey tour isn’t a ’90s nostalgia package—it is a living, breathing, 21st-century rock show.
When Bush finally hit the stage at 9:00 PM, they did so with authority. Gavin Rossdale and the rest of the band (Chris Traynor, Corey Britz, and Nik Hughes) filled the room with the familiar notes of “Machinehead,” from Bush’s debut album Sixteen Stone (1994). From there, the setlist struck a balance between classic hits and newer material. Songs like “Everything Zen” and “Comedown” reminded the crowd why Bush was a rock force of the 1990s, but the men didn’t linger in the past.
Instead, newer tracks like “More Than Machines,” “Scars,” and “The Land of Milk and Honey” felt just as vital. These weren’t obligatory inclusions, and they held their own. The transitions between material was seamless, suggesting a band that still believes in its current output as much as its legacy.
Frontman Gavin Rossdale is the only original member of Bush. I wasn’t sure what to expect from him, but I was pleasantly surprised by his graciousness and apparent lack of rock star attitude. He expressed his gratitude to the DC crowd often and commanded the stage with grounded intensity. Late in the set, he wandered into the crowd during “Flowers on a Grave.”
I’m old enough to have been in college during the band’s ’90s heyday, but Thursday night was my first time seeing Bush. Rossdale was simply a delight, and the rest of the band came across as very cool and experienced musicians.
But what really made the night stand out wasn’t just the music; it was the complete lack of bullshit. This was a straightforward rock show, and I loved it. The guitars were loud, the rhythms were tight, and the focus never drifted. In 2026, live productions often lean heavily on spectacles. But Bush, Mammoth, and James and the Cold Gun proved that well-crafted sets and genuine energy are more than enough.
Finally, this performance never felt like a ’90s throwback act going through the motions. Bush may have built their name in that era, but here they came across a band fully engaged in the present. The inclusion of younger acts like James and the Cold Gun and Mammoth reinforced that idea. The newer bands brought freshness and an eager feel, while Bush brought depth and mastery. By the end of the night in Washington, DC, it was clear: loud, unapologetic rock music is still very much alive in 2026. Thank goodness.
The Land of Milk and Honey tour celebrates rock music’s past, present, and future, and wraps up in Franklin, TN, on May 15. From there, Bush makes appearances at a few US summer festivals before jetting off to Europe.
MAMMOTH
JAMES AND THE COLD GUN
