JoJo War Drummer: The Electric Heartbeat of Mammoth Lacrosse

JoJo Mares is a bonafide lacrosse celebrity. Since his early days with Major League Lacrosse, Mares has brought the energy, exciting Colorado fans and players alike through their toughest games and longest shifts. Since taking up residency as Ball Arena’s esteemed War Drummer, JoJo has been electric and has become an X-factor for the Colorado Mammoth.

This ever-popular collaboration between the Mammoth and the famed JoJo War Drummer is an effort now 15 years in the making, dating back to his tenure as the MLL Denver Outlaws’ resident war drummer.

“I had fans from the Outlaws come up to me, ‘oh, JoJo, you have to come do Mammoth games, you got to,’” said Mares. “But for whatever reason, from my side, their side, there was just no fruition.” It wasn’t until Erin Boreing of the Colorado Avalanche and the Mammoth made the connection that the war drums finally rang true in the Loud House.

As the Colorado War Drummer, Mares has made it his mission to curate an immersive and fun experience for fans, players, and coaches, as well as referees and observant TV audiences. Though his drumming makes a clear distinction between pumping up his team and distracting their rivals, Mares holds himself to a steadfast ideology of inclusivity and reverence for everyone in the building.

“There is an exuberance of energy being dished out there,” he said. “Opposing teams too, you have to give them respect and honor as well, but during game time, you got to let them have it!”

Over the course of his now two-decade career as a resident West Coast war drummer, Mares has drummed during thousands of professional, amateur, and youth lacrosse games, bringing the energy whenever and wherever it’s needed.

“Sometimes I ask myself, ‘how do I keep going like that?’” he said. “Praise to the most high for giving me energy and focus – The Creator’s Game is no coincidence, I give all glory to the Creator.”

Mares also credits his energy and precision to his pre-game routines, practicing the night before games and sometimes arriving hours before the players to load in and settle into his rhythms before the contest.

“It’s to get the feel and the vibration,” Mares explained. “I’m picturing the game going this way, or I’m picturing it going this way, and all of a sudden, I feel that energy and I bring that and myself, JoJo the MoJo, to help the team.” Of course, from a less vibrational and more practical angle, Mares also credits his longevity to eating right and staying well-hydrated.

His return to the drums marked a successful personal comeback for Mares, as well as an energy renewal for dedicated fans and the heartbeat of Colorado lacrosse.

“When I did the drumming for the PLL this past season, I was a little nervous. It’s the same, but it’s not the same,” said Mares. “I had taken a break, and then all of a sudden, there was no MLL.” However, his first season back as the Outlaws’ war drummer proved a seamless transition, garnering a warm welcome from fans and staff alike. His return to Denver University’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, fans told him, was one of the main attractors for their return to the bleachers of professional lacrosse. “They started coming up to me, saying ‘oh my gosh, JoJo’s back, JoJo’s back.’” In turn, their excitement brought back a sense of normalcy to the Denver cheering section, only adding to Mares’ energy and intensity come game time.

Fire us up, JoJo! 🔥#TuskUp pic.twitter.com/Nlx6CQtrGV

— Colorado Mammoth (@MammothLax) February 2, 2025

Drumming for the PLL, however, provided its own set of challenges, especially as Mares and the league continue to redefine a working relationship. During the 2024 summer season, Mares found himself participating from the stands, a notable change compared to his on-field position at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium during the Outlaws’ time in the MLL. From a fan’s perspective, although sitting within a swing of the War Drummer in action may provide a whole new level of gameday immersion, it makes for an impractical setup due to space constraints and potential obstructions. He and Boreing sought to rectify this issue when determining the details of his game day routine with the Mammoth.

Mares’ first official appearance was Colorado’s Native American Heritage Night on December 29th, but he was already casing the arena in weeks prior.

“[Boreing] took me up to the box, and I said, ‘ooh, this is nice,’” he said. Mares’ designated drum zone is now stationed next to the Colorado DJ booth in the upper levels of Ball Arena, within striking distance of house jockeys Triple T and Craig Turney.  “I cue him in, he cues me in… we talk before the game, ‘I’ll take offense and defense play and then you cue the music’ and then we switch off.”

Partnered with the entertainment team, and with a little help from Woolie, Colorado’s friendly neighborhood mascot, Mares has been able to fashion the perfect balance of traditional and modern music, blending Indigenous roots with the modern intensity of the league. His presence is felt in every corner of the arena, kindling friendships and symbiotic relationships with other gameday departments. The Mammoth PA announcer, Big Rob, and Mares spend much of the game giving each other props, firing each other up, and in turn, the maroon cheering section.

“The fans come up to me after games, and they say ‘Jojo, the element that you bring to the Colorado Mammoth, we needed that bad,’” said Mares, noting that the added sense of community has helped to foster respect for the origins of the game among new and returning fans alike.

While game days are meant to be all business for the War Drummer, the strobe lights and goal horns have yet to stop Mares from having a little fun of his own. Growing up in Los Angeles, Mares was a frequent flyer among the early L.A. underground metal scenes in the 1980s, where he’d develop his affinity for heavy music and thrash drumming – a style and tempo he’s snuck into his goal celebrations and energizers.

“I throw a little bit of thrash metal in there, sometimes I use my own beats from my own band, or sometimes I’ll throw a little bit of Slayer’s ‘Raining Blood’ in there.”

Fans have also recognized Mares by his jersey number, historically donning the number 49 decked out in Outlaw orange and now Mammoth maroon. The number 49 holds a deep significance in Native culture, Mares explained, which he wears as a way to reconnect and educate fans on the Indigenous roots of the sport.

“Fifty warriors went out to battle something like 300-plus warriors, and they battled for a couple of days.” The warriors returned victorious, having triumphed over the 300 warriors in battle, but still claiming a bittersweet victory as they had lost one of their own. For days, they sang and drummed endlessly, their rhythms echoing through the night.

“They were happy and joyful that they had won, but at the same time, sad and heartbroken that they had lost even one.” In the modern day, Mares explained, the youth of different nations also go out after a powwow to drum, sing and dance. This celebration, now known as a ‘49’, is meant to honor the warrior that did not make it home.

For Mares, wearing the number 49 is more than just a nod to tradition; it’s a way to keep the Indigenous roots of lacrosse alive, ensuring that its history is heard, not just seen.

“It’s there, but a lot of times it’s just background music, but even that gets faded off,” he explained. “It comes back, little snippets here and there, but things like [this article] are extra help, it helps turn up that background music a notch and then people start hearing it more often.”

By amplifying these stories and traditions, Mares hopes to ensure that the cultural significance of lacrosse isn’t lost as the game continues to evolve. “It’s not like any other game, I know it turned into a sport, it is what it is, and we have to think about accepting that. It is a sport, but it’s so much more than that. The Colorado Mammoth, they’ve been treating me so well, with so much honor and respect.”

@NLL @ESPNPlus @MammothLax at home Vs @vegasdesertdogs #TuskUp #WarDrumRoll @Marvel Lacrosse
Friday Night Lights pic.twitter.com/eshyba99Rs

— JoJo War Drummer (@JoJoWAR_DRUMMER) February 22, 2025

Mares’ drumming isn’t just about fueling the crowd; it’s a reflection of his deeper values, blending his love for music, sports, and community into every beat. His philosophy centers on lifting others up, fostering gratitude, and staying true to one’s roots, both in sports and in life.

“Don’t be the crab in a bucket,” said Mares. “Be happy and grateful and joyful, especially when someone is doing well.”

Mares’ philosophy holds true to all aspects of his life, emphasizing compassion and the celebration of other’s successes as one’s own, regardless of the relationship.

“Be like, ‘Okay man, keep going, because I’ve got your back,’ because it can be scary, it can be hard and it can be tough out there.” He emphasized the importance of staying connected to one’s roots, reminding everyone, “We’re fans too — of music, of lacrosse. Just don’t forget where you came from.”

With deep appreciation for his role in bridging different audiences, he concluded, “I’m so very grateful that I can help transition and cross over fans to unite our enjoyment and experience of the game we so much love.”

The Colorado Mammoth host the Calgary Roughnecks at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, March 1 at 9pm ET. Watch on TSN+, ESPN+, & NLL+.