Big Head Todd and the Monsters began their musical journey in the state of Colorado, and now, forty years later, the band and their fans are celebrating this magical musical milestone with an expansive 40th Anniversary Tour, including two shows at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado, this past weekend. The band first played at Red Rocks as part of The Blues on the Rocks Festival in 1991 and have played the iconic venue countless times since. I feel very comfortable speaking on behalf of the state of Colorado in saying they are our hometown heroes. We cherish their creativity, ambition, and their musical and charitable contributions to our community.
Forty years of mind-melting moments from this band have not gone unnoticed. Lead singer and guitar slinger Todd Park Mohr confirmed the band is currently selling more tickets to their shows than ever before. Since 1989 until present day, Big Head Todd and the Monsters have not only toured extensively, they have also recorded and released fourteen studio albums and six live albums. Many of these albums charted, including the number-one spot on Billboard Heatseekers for Sister Sweetly, released in 1993. The band's latest album, titled “Her Way Out,” was released on Big Records in 2024. The band’s momentum is as strong, if not stronger, than ever, and we can’t wait to see what they bring to the musical table in the coming years.
Founding band members are Todd Park Mohr on guitar and vocals; Brian Nevin on drums; Rob Squires on bass and backing vocals; and Jeremy Lawton, who permanently joined the band in 2003 on keyboards, guitar, lap/pedal steel, and vocals. There is a massive story to tell about the early beginnings of the band dating back to the mid-eighties. They have basically been on tour ever since. Like most bands starting out, the road is a weary, unpredictable place to be. Mohr, Nevin, and Squires spent countless hours chasing the moon through the windshield of the Colonel—their 1977 mustard-yellow Plymouth van—traveling from state to state, establishing their dreams of being a successful touring band. They scoured college campuses across the country looking for house parties, and they made house calls to clubs and bars, stating, “We are a band and would like to play for your customers tonight,” passing a hat for donations for food and gasoline for the Colonel. They worked tirelessly to make a name for themselves, and all of that hard work paid off.
The band continues to tour the world, picking up new fans along the way, adding to their die-hard, rock-solid fan base, which are hands down the coolest fans in the world. The last two nights at Red Rocks were a fine example of the power and passion of the band. You could see and feel their emotions of joy as they entered the amphitheater. The stage at Red Rocks is situated at the bottom of the venue, and the audience towers above the band, giving every person a bird’s-eye view of the band and the Denver skyline from the upper seats. They wasted no time getting the party started; the set list was stacked with music from the many different eras of the band's career, giving the audience a broad listening view of the band's musical journey.
Mohr’s voice was strong and crystal clear—his vocal power was rich, riveting, and rocking. His guitar skills and guitar tone bounced off the giant monoliths, creating a swirling kaleidoscope of sound and vibrant textures that shook your soul to the bone. He has this calm power and beautiful blend of guitar meets voice and vice versa. Squires and Nevin were the ultimate rhythm section. I think if thick, chunky bass grooves were represented in the dictionary, Squires' stoic bass face would be present alongside the definition. Nevin exploded behind the drums, punishing his drum kit with percussive prowess and pinpoint accuracy. Multi-instrumentalist Lawton added so much roundness and depth to the overall sound, with a monster feel for the melodies on organ and classy pedal and lap steel solos. The band was extremely tight and having a visible blast playing to the hometown crowd.
Grateful Web had a chance to catch up with Todd Park Mohr of Big Head Todd & the Monsters, and here’s what he had to say:
GW: First and foremost, we would like to congratulate you and the band on forty years of rocking the world and especially for rocking Colorado! Thank you, and cheers to you all. We wish you many more years to come. Let’s jump right into perhaps the hardest—or easiest—question. What is the most memorable moment of the last forty years as far as the band is concerned, or you personally involving the band?
Mohr: Of the many memorable moments of our career, I would have to say the most important for me might be our recording session with John Lee Hooker. We recorded a medley of “Boom Boom” and “Boogie Chillin’.” John Lee arrived in a black Cadillac, stepping out of the car, smoke wafting out of the doors, with three women. I think it was about nine in the morning. He had been partying all night and first asked, “Where is the pot? Where is the Miller Lite?” After several takes he was finished, and he looked at me and said, “You bad!” I felt after that I was a made man!
GW: Does the band lean heavier on any certain eras of the music as far as what you play live?
Mohr: We try to represent our whole catalogue when we perform. We know we have fans of all ages who especially like our early albums, but we also enjoy presenting new material and other surprises to keep things interesting.
GW: This has been a long tour spread out over several months. How do you prepare for such an undertaking, both physically and as far as keeping your voice fresh, being the lead vocalist in the band with a pretty long set list each night?
Mohr: I’ve learned over the years that touring is a physical business. As a matter of survival, I started weight and cardio work every day, as well as ditching alcohol and the rest of it. When we aren’t touring, we practice as a band once or twice a week.
GW: You include a few very cool, typically older cover songs in your set lists, and those songs seem to really resonate with your audience, as they are so familiar and bring back many memories—especially from folks who were avid music fans in the 1970s. Those songs and bands must have influenced your journey enough to be sharing them during your shows. Is there one band or artist that had a profound influence on you to make you want to pick up a guitar?
Mohr: B.B. King and Albert King were my initial guitar heroes. Stevie Ray and Jimi Hendrix, of course, were also influential.
GW: Many of your fans know that you are deeply rooted in blues music, and much of your music has a blues foundation, lyrically, arrangement- and tempo-wise. If you had a chance to record or perform with any musician past or present, who would that be?
Mohr: I have had the great fortune to perform and/or record with most of my living heroes: Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and also Robert Plant, Neil Young, and others—we have been so fortunate to get such a great education! Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen would be legends out of reach, but maybe someday somehow.
GW: The first time you walked onto the stage at Red Rocks must have blown your mind. After so many sold-out shows in your home state and the band's annual appearance at Red Rocks, is the feeling still the same—or even stronger?
Mohr: Every time we have an opportunity to be on the Red Rocks stage, it is special and raises our heartbeats just a little bit. It is the Super Bowl of live venues, even though it is a relatively modest size as far as large venues go. Red Rocks is the bucket-list experience for music fans and bands alike.
GW: Thank you for being so generous with your time.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters were not alone in entertaining the crowd; they brought along a bunch of very talented friends to join in on the fun. Opening the first night of entertainment was Cracker, a band that dominated the airwaves in the early 1990s and is touring as hard as ever today. Cracker infused rock, punk, grunge, blues, and folk, forming a seriously cool vibe with songs that hooked you in and never let go. They rocked the night, playing music from their incredible musical adventures that span over 30 years. Some of the classic radio hits they played were “Low,” “Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now),” “Get Off This,” and “Euro Trash Girl.” The band sounded as fresh as ever, and man, they had many fans in the audience singing along to every song!
Next up was the incomparable Cheap Trick! When you mention the words Cheap Trick, you are instantly reminded of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ success from the 1970s till now. They helped cultivate the 1960s guitar pop, 1970s hard rock, and emerging punk sounds. They have sold over twenty million records worldwide and have established a fan base that is as devoted to the band as can be. The band held back nothing last night as the hit songs poured from the stage with remarkable power and nostalgic vibes. They played massive hit songs including “I Want You to Want Me,” “Day Tripper,” “Surrender,” and “Dream Police,” to name just a few. Congratulations to the triple-platinum rockers for absolutely slaying music fans from all walks of life for the last fifty years.
Night number two was equally as insane as night number one. Big Head Todd and the Monsters absolutely mesmerized the audience with past and present fan-favorite hit songs. Their hard-hitting blues/rock style combined with Mohr’s lyrical introspection reached deep down into your soul. Many of the same faces I saw the night before were back for more rock ’n’ roll madness from BHTM and friends. Starting off night number two was the one and only Bill Murray and his Blood Brothers. Yes, you heard right—Bill Murray (Saturday Night Live) has teamed up with some heavy hitters including Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia, and Jimmy Vivino on electric guitars and a whole bunch of other incredibly talented musicians. The band played a mix of original tunes from Zito and Castiglia and a cool mix of cover tunes, featuring a large band and Murray on vocals and percussion. The set was over-the-top fun and seriously tight musically. What a treat to see and hear all of these talented musicians playing together in such an iconic setting.
Warren Haynes Band took the stage next, and with his trusty Gibson Les Paul in hand, Haynes turned up the heat immediately with an all-out guitar-driven assault on your senses. The amount of time Haynes has spent with a guitar strapped to his back is unimaginable. From the Allman Brothers Band to Gov’t Mule, Phil Lesh and Friends, and The Dead, the guy is one of the most desirable guitar players in the business. He has mastered the unique musical art form of improvisational jams like no one else. Last night, he and his incredibly tight band played a scorching set of rock, southern rock, and blues. Haynes was in fine form, stretching his guitar skills and strings to the highest level of musical ecstasy. The jams were highly blues-inspired and ripped through the audience like a burning wheel that came unhinged from the train car. The set had some laid-back moments that really enhanced every player's creativity and abilities.
Wow, what a fabulous weekend at Red Rocks with Big Head Todd and the Monsters and all of their special guests. Todd Park Mohr, Brian Nevin, Rob Squires, and Jeremy Lawton sure know how to throw a party. Mohr’s energy and stage presence were off the hook—powerful and fun—the band sounded amazing, and the crowd went non-stop nuts for every band’s set. There are a lot of moving parts behind the scenes and a lot of people who contribute their combined efforts to make a show like this happen. Thanks to Phil, Dave, Rachel, and all of the bands and production crews. Special thanks to Chris Fernald, who did an amazing job lighting the stage for BHTM, making it a photographer’s oasis! And last but not least, thanks to all of the music fans. I was not present for the final few numbers of night number two but found out that Warren Haynes joined BHTM for what I am sure was one of the best versions of “Freebird” ever!
