A Couple of Days with ROCK

It all started Tuesday evening at about 7:30. I was walking to the gym, cutting through the alley behind my building. In the same alley is the back door to the Bovine Sex Club - the best rock bar in the world. Darryl, the owner, was coming out to his van, so I stopped to chat for a bit. Now, I knew a certain band called the Queens of the Stone Age was in town, for a night of promo crap, and for a show the following night. Said rock stars have been known to chill at the Bovine before, so I inquired with Darryl whether they'd be back.

"Yep, I'm throwing a party for them tonight." He said. "I'll put you on the list - COME EARLY." Kinda stoked, I hit the gym to further chisel my award-winning biceps, then hurried home. Ditching my gym gear, I shuffled over to the bar.

All the regulars were slowly piling in. They had some great tunes spinning, including Clutch, Fu Manchu, Slayer, Pantera, and the Stooges. People were mingling, sipping beers and smoking cigarettes. it was a great atmosphere; totally fitting the arrival of rock. Everyone glanced coolly over their shoulders whenever they heard the front door opening - anticipating the band.

They finally showed up, one by one, making their way through the crowd. They stopped to chat here and there with the fans, which was really cool. I chilled with Mark Lanegan most of the time, who is a really funny and friendly dude. Most people feel his surly stage presence says otherwise, but we had a great chat. After a couple hours, I returned home, elated and totally amped for the show the next night. Just one problem - no tickets yet.

I'm usually really on the ball when one of my bands comes to town. I snatch up tickets immediately, and safely store them in a special "concert tickets" compartment of my desk. But this time I was a little complacent. For a few reasons, really. I'd already seen QOTSA seven times prior to this appearance. I was a little miffed that bassist Nick Oliveri was kicked out of the band last year. And at that point, I wasn't really feeling the new album. But hanging with them for an evening changed everything.

So I frantically tried to track some down while at work the next day. To make a long story short, my very resourceful acquaintance Graeme lined some up for me right before I left work. I just had to pick them up at the door. I was set!

My buddies Chris "Chunk" Jakins (master of this here space) and Matt "Lohan" Logan (master of the trees) came to town for it. Thanks to the Kearnes Trust Fund, they showed up with a case of Tuborg cans, and we were set. Our friend Amy "Woodsy" Wood came over too, and we drank and became merry. Ripe for rock n' roll.

The show blew me away. Honestly, I had pretty low expectations prior. But the lineup is really tight, and I guess one of the big draws was seeing a totally new incarnation of the band. They played mostly new material, but some of those songs were the biggest standouts. "Someone's in the Wolf" (opener), "Burn the Witch", and "...Killer Scene..." particularly slayed. The next most-represented album was Rated R, and although I've heard just about every song on that album live more than once, it was nice to hear some of them again, with new spins - namely "Feel Good Hit of the Summer". Josh musta been channeling the mighty Iggy Pop, because during that tune he ripped open a beer can and sliced up his left forearm with it. Crazy bastard, but it was pretty rock n' roll.

Only low point? Only one song played from the first album. It just didn't feel like a QOTSA show without seeing "Regular John". But then again, it totally did because they tore through the absolutely massive "Song for the Dead". I had a bit of a revelation during that one: as long as Josh is playing QOTSA songs live, it's totally worth it seeing him with any band play it any time, as long as they play "SFTD". What a killer tune.

Anyway, I give the show a WWWW out of five. Totally digging the new album now, so pick it up if you get a chance, and absolutely see them live if you get a chance. This was my eighth time seeing them, and it hasn't gotten tired yet. In fact, it might just get better.

Posted by waub at April 1, 2005 09:29 PM