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Rating: Once again sold out at the Columbiahalle for Queens Of The Stone Age! We arrive late, they confiscate our camera (bastards) and while Millionaire is playing their last piece coinciding with their current single Champagne (which we will receive on CD upon exit) the four of us climb up and find an excellent spot on the bleachers, facing the stage. We are joined by about 1200 people, also here for the almost traditional November concert of QOTSA (it's the fourth time in 3 years).
As the first joint is passed around, they take the stage, five of them, with Dave Grohl on drums (maybe it was his lookalike, we couldn't believe it), but without Mark Lanegan. We kick off with a great surprise: the riff begins for “If Only” from the debut album, Alfio and I look at each other smiling because it's the first time the Queens play this fantastic song for us, the crowd in the pit goes wild too, moshing, jumping and headbanging everywhere. The rhythm of this extraordinary evening is immediately caught, the sound is perfect, like on the record, with that powerful Nirvana-like drumming, Nick Olivieri's groovy bass, Joshua Homme's emotional voice and virtuosic guitar, and the traditional presence of Dave Cathching on e-piano and second guitar.
The first four tracks are excellent picks from the first and second albums, capable of engaging the entire audience, also comprised of many over 30s. Then comes “The Sky Is Fallin’" to introduce “Songs For The Deaf,” the latest QOTSA album, played in a lower tuning but no less fierce. Great interpretation, truly amazing musicians, and finally a concert where nothing can be criticized about the artistic performance. No mistakes, lots of improvisations, especially by J. Homme on guitar, always able to amaze us with goosebump-worthy solos and fitting experimental interpretations.
I start losing track of the songs, the mix of tracks from all three albums is well received by the audience, now even Mark Lanegan (formerly of Screaming Trees) joins us, gifting us with 5 songs accompanied by his formidable smoky-sensual voice, as always. Thanks to his voice I recognize “Hangin’ Tree”, “Autopilot”, “In The Fade” and “I Think I Lost My Headache”, people around me notice his presence and a big event-like suspense sets in. Indeed, tonight on this stage, with Dave Grohl, Lanegan, and J. Homme, we have three of the most important figures of the American rock scene of the last 15 years. Nirvana, Screaming Trees, and Kyuss united in one band: the result is the best rock of recent years, without any doubt!
The breath is taken away first by the drum intro to “A Song For The Dead”, an exhilarating track from QOTSA's latest release, then by the punky “Monsters In The Parasol” with N. Olivieri’s equally monstrous screams on the mic, once again just like on the CD. The highlights follow one after another, and so, after a total of 13 tracks I believe, the final encores arrive. The first is “The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret” from the first album, a minimalist riff on which explosive guitars rise and Lanegan’s impromptu second voice cheers. The second is “Go With The Flow” from “Songs For The Deaf,” a rock song shot at high speed that seems to symbolically leave a calling card to all the most skeptical critics, those who claim Stoner Rock has disappeared and distrust sounds from overseas.
The more time passes, the more they improve, they deservedly conquer the international scene; they are gutsy musicians and don’t let a single one of their concerts slip by. If you still have time, don't miss them.
djd
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