Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Queens of the Stone Age @ The Wiltern. 4/12/11.

Queens of redemption
Queens of the Stone Age. Round 4. Lets go. My first QOTSA show was back in 2003 and remains one of my top concerts ever. Sadly, my last two Queens shows in 07' & 08' were totally disappointing. This show would be different though. On this night, Josh Homme and his merry men were set to play QOSTA's self titled/debut album in it's entirety, something I absolutely HAD to see.

Battling through traffic, we made it to the Wiltern just as the opening act, The Dough Rollers, took the stage. Their set was an unexpected treat. A bunch of spiffy young lads all decked out Buddy Holly style, playing some swingin' blues/country/old time rock n roll.

blurry rockers still rock
So the Queens came out and and immediately went into that sweet opening riff from "Regular John." All was right with the world once again. I liked Lullabies to Paralyze, their first "post Nick Oliveri" release fine and can listen through most of Era Vulgaris without skipping tracks, but there's something about these classic QOTSA songs that just grabs you from the beginning and basically never lets go. The haunting simplicity of Homme's self described "Robot Rock" is what I miss the most about this band. Back when Josh sang with a begrudging desperation in his voice and didn't overtly croon over every track. The band seemed somewhat aware of this also. They plowed through these songs like they had something to prove. Whatever the hell they did, it worked. My faith in Queens of the Stone Age has been restored. Highlights of the set basically amount to my favorite tracks off the album: "Regular John," "Avon," "If Only," "How to Handle a Rope," and my favorite QOTSA track, "Mexicola."


The band came back and did another set of hits from their last 3 albums. Jams likes "Little Sister," "Make It Wit Chu," and "Go With The Flow," served as a nice bookend to the stellar set that just preceded. The Queens are back. Long live the stone age.

*The remastered edition of their self titled debut album comes out in the US on May 17, 2011.
listen to the full remastered album HERE and swoon.*

23 comments:

  1. I'm so jelly man! I never heard any songs off the new Queens of the Stone Age album, but their classic albums were amazing!

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  2. Great band! I'd love to see them live

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  3. i haven't listened to them in a long time good stuff

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  4. I agree their debut was immense. Some things just don't get better with age.

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  5. I remember these guys. I used to listen to them all the time.

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  6. I've never seen them live, glad you had fun :D

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  7. niceeee, i wanted to go but tickets too expensive in my city

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  8. I swer Im always looking for new music and the music you put up I have been really liking!

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  9. Would kill to go see QOTSA!! :D

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  10. that should be an awesome concert.

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  11. I think you are going to have a lot (more!) of jealousy responses here. Hell, I ain't even a QotSA guy, but you've really reminded me of how awesome concerts can be.
    Damn.

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  12. This guys are reeeally good.

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  13. I haven't listened to them in forever!! I'm glad to hear it was awesome and/or that they still got it!!! : )

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  14. little sister and go with the flow are my favorites, i love queens of the stone age
    :)

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  15. Love the blog style! Keep up the great work!

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  16. mehhh they're alright, not really my thing

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  17. haven't listend to these in such a long time

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  18. They came through my hometown a few years back but I had to work. I was pissed; I'd love to see these guys live.

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