The current Lynch Mob tour is billed as The Final Ride. George Lynch has said that after 35 years of the inception of Lynch Mob, the time is right to let this chapter of his musical life fade into the sunset. Which is a shame in a way. While the many members and iterations of Lynch Mob may have made George feel like he was riding a bucking bronco at times, this version is sonically locked in. So much so, that the foursome released an album, Babylon in 2023, and will release another in 2025.
On lead vocals is Gabriel Colón. He can obviously sing and has to cover songs by vocalists ranging from Don Dokken to Oni Logan. But his contribution goes farther than that. He brings a youthful energy to the show and gets George to smile every once in a while. There’s even some banter between the two, usually regarding Gabriel’s age. Colón doesn’t just take on the role of lead vocalist, in a lot of ways he’s growing as a front man. But of course, the true front man of this band is the guy whose name is in it.
Jaron Guilino on bass hails from the band Tantric and also currently plays in Heavens Edge. With a low-slung bass, flying hair, and backing vocals, he more than holds down stage right. Guilino also has a hand in choosing the show’s setlist.
While not an original member of Lynch Mob, former Bullet Boys drummer Jimmy D’Anda has toured extensively with the group. Jimmy is easily one the most one of the most charismatic and animated drummers around and has his own following and fan base. His contribution to this version of Lynch Mob cannot be overstated. Set up as a four-piece, Lynch Mob’s instrumentalists must bring the power for the show to work. And at the Whisky a Go-Go show on September 26, they brought it.
In a word, Lynch Mob was incendiary. There was an extra-heavy feeling to the sound and setlist that once again shows George Lynch and crew are incapable of phoning it in. For almost two hours, the band absolutely pummeled the audience while also getting the packed house to rise to their level of energy. This is by no means an easy feat at The Whisky. There were six, count them, six, opening acts before the headliners hit the stage at 10pm.
Starting off with the Dokken tune, “Lightning Strikes Again”, Lynch immediately showed why he’s considered one of the greats. The memories must have been flooding back for George. He’s played the Whisky many times in his career, dating back to his days with The Boyz, and Xciter. Speaking of Xciter, one of the shows highlights was “Paris Is Burning”, a Dokken song off the band’s debut album, but actually dates back to Lynch’s Xciter/Whisky days.
Throughout the show, Lynch showed his guitar prowess, but of course his true showcase is the instrumental, “Mr. Scary”. Although he’s known for playing ESPs and guitars of his own design and making, Lynch also uses a Gibson and, on this night, he was playing a Les Paul Jr. which he mentioned he was enjoying so much that he wanted to try it for Mr. Scary. (Which he had never done before.) He must have really gotten into the Les Paul, because he kept playing it for the remainer of set until being reminded by Jimmy D’Anda that he was known for his ESPs and it was time to use it again.
The show finished just after midnight and Lynch mentioned that his birthday was the next day. He would be turning 70. He doesn’t look like it, act like it, or play like it. So, while this tour is The Final Ride for Lynch Mob, I don’t think it’s the final anything for George Lynch. At least I hope not. The man is too good, too prolific, to shut it down forever.
Set list
Photojournalist - Los Angeles
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