Following their never-ending tour cycle in support of Lullabies to Paralyze (2005), Queens of the Stone Age became frustratingly predictable in concert. The band would pound through a repetitive mix of songs; bandleader Josh Homme would make frequent references to drinking, pot smoking, and fucking, and then get pissed off at a random heckler in the crowd.
They’d end the set with “No One Knows,” their top-40 hit from 2001’s Songs for the Deaf. QOTSA wasn’t offering much new to their live experience — even the semi-improvised jam breaks in the middle of songs sounded stale.
But something apparently happened between Lullabies and the release of Era Vulgaris earlier this year to light a fire under the band. Queens sounded tighter than they have in years during their performance in Chicago last Thursday.
Maybe it was good vibes from Homme’s new status as a family man (daughter Camille was born early last year), the addition of new blood (keyboardist Dean Ferlita and particularly bassist Michael Shuman, who kept the band grounded with dependable grooves), or an ego boost from the tricked-out light show that seemed borrowed from their time as opening act for Nine Inch Nails in 2005.
Whatever the inspiration, the band brought a renewed energy to some of their live sound. Queens also brought a couple of retired songs out of the vault (“In The Fade” and “You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I feel Like a Millionaire”) with Homme taking over the responsibilities of departed bandmates Mark Lanegan and Nick Oliveri.
Impressively, QOTSA put a fresh spin on songs from Era Vulgaris, an album whose high points are countered by uninspired tracks. And Homme, who’s known for having a short fuse when he feels the crowd isn’t responding well, seemed gracious and easy-going. The set was shorter than usual, but it was rectified by the band’s energy and seemingly sincere appreciation of the Chicago crowd.
– Keidra Chaney
Queens of the Stone Age: www.queensofthestoneage.com
Interscope Records: www.interscope.com