Photo & Review by Geoffrey Clowes – The air inside Hard Rock Live was thick with 90s nostalgia and modern rock intensity last night as Bush brought their “The Land of Milk and Honey” Tour to Hollywood, Florida. It was a high-octane evening that proved Gavin Rossdale and company haven’t lost a step, bolstered by two opening acts that set the bar incredibly high.
The night kicked off with James and the Cold Gun, a Welsh garage-punk outfit that wasted no time making their presence felt. Their raw, guitar-driven energy and theatrical vocals-particularly on tracks like “Twist the Knife” — shook the early arrivals out of their seats. They provided a gritty, high-energy start that paved the way for what was to come.
Next up was Mammoth, fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen. If there were any doubts about Wolfgang carving out his own legacy, they were silenced within the first few chords of “One of a Kind.” The band’s sound was massive, living up to their name with relentless drumming and intricate guitar work. A standout moment was the performance of “Distance,” which began with Wolfgang solo on stage before the full band crashed back in for a cathartic, emotional finish. They closed their set with the fittingly titled “The End,” leaving the crowd buzzing.
When the lights dimmed for Bush, the roar from the Hollywood crowd was deafening. Gavin Rossdale emerged with the same lean, kinetic energy he had three decades ago, launching immediately into the iconic opening riff of “Machinehead, During “Flowers on a Grave,”
Rossdale lived up to his reputation as one of rock’s best frontmen by running around the stage and singing face-to-face with the front rows. While the night was a celebration of hits, tracks from the new album, I Beat Loneliness, held their own. The title track felt vulnerable and sharp, proving the band still has plenty to say in 2026. The energy peaked during “Everything Zen” and “The Chemicals Between Us,” with the venue’s acoustics capturing every bit of Rossdale’s signature growl.
The evening ended in a three-song encore. Rossdale took the stage alone with an electric guitar for a haunting rendition of “Glycerine.” letting the audience take over for the second verse in a massive, venue-wide singalong. The band then rejoined him to close the night with “Comedown,” a heavy, distorted finale that sent the fans home on a total adrenaline high.
The setlist from last night was a masterclass in balancing 30 years of alternative rock history. Bush leaned heavily into their classic 1994 debut, Sixteen Stone, while making plenty of room for tracks from their new album, I Beat Loneliness.
The openers also delivered punchy, high-impact sets that perfectly primed the Hollywood crowd:
James and the Cold Gun: The Cardiff rockers proved why they’re the new favorites of the garage-punk scene, closing their blistering set with the fan-favorite “Twist the Knife.”
Mammoth: Wolfgang Van Halen’s set was a showcase of technical proficiency and arena-rock power. The crowd was particularly moved by “Distance,” a soaring tribute to his father, before they turned the energy back up for the finale, “The End.”
