Mastodon Revealed Their Latest Touring Guitarist Onstage Tonight In Chesterfield, MO

Mastodon made their return to the stage tonight, May 08th, playing their second show since parting ways with vocalist/guitarist Brent Hinds this past March. In a last minute move, the band initially hit the stage with YouTuber/musician Ben Eller filling in on March 09th to honor their live commitment at the first-ever ‘Tool Live In The Sand‘.

Now having had several weeks to get back on their feet in light of moving on without Hinds, the progressive sludge metal group performed a headlining set at The Factory in Chesterfield, MO tonight. Eller was not enlisted for this show, with Canadian musician Nick Johnston instead filling in on guitars. Presumably he will be holding that position throughout the band’s immediate touring plans, though as of press time, the band have yet to comment on his status.

Johnston has a variety of experience in the heavier music world, having toured with Plini, Between The Buried And Me and more. He’s also played on tracks penned by the likes of Polyphia, Periphery, Intervals and more.

Mastodon‘s immediate live plans include the following shows:

05/09 Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival

With Coheed And Cambria and Periphery:

05/10 Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
05/11 Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Coliseum
05/13 Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
05/15 Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park
05/16 Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery
05/17 Augusta, GA – William B Bell Auditorium (no Mastodon)
05/19 Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
05/21 Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
05/22 Lexington, KY -Rupp Arena
05/24 Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
05/25 Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
05/26 Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
05/28 Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena
05/30 Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
05/31 Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
06/01 Youngstown, OH – Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre
06/03 Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
06/04 Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Arena
06/06 Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
06/07 Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
06/08 Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall

Mastodon:

07/03 Cardiff, UK – Blackweir Park
07/05 Birmingham, UK – Villa Park (‘Back To The Beginning‘)
07/06 London, UK – Finsbury Park (feat. Slayer, Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Hatebreed, etc.)
07/11 Quebec City, QC – Festival d’été de Québec
07/23 Athens, GRE – Release Athens
07/27 Plovdiv, BUL – Hills Of Rock
07/30 Transylvania, ROM – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
07/31 Szekesfehervar, HUN – Fezen Festival
08/02 Wacken, GER – Wacken Open Air
08/03 Luxembourg, LUX – Den Atelier
08/05 Katowice, POL – MCK
08/06-09 Jaromer, CZE – Brutal Assault
08/08 Kortrijk, BEL – Alcatraz Open Air
08/10 Derbyshire, UK – Bloodstock Open Air
08/12 Cologne, GER – Carlswerk Victoria
08/13 Frankfurt, GET – Batschkapp
08/15 Eindhoven, NET – Dynamo Metalfest
08/14-16 Sulingen, GER – Reload Festival
08/17 Vallamand, SWI – Rock The Lakes
08/22 Palmer, AK – Grandstand Alaska State Fair