Queens of the Stone Age: Birmingham told even working class towns can have a dance
Queens are a band I’ve waited a long time to see- and it was a wait which I feel has been justified
The world of rock music can at times feel heavily saturated. Plenty of great acts and bands have burst onto a competitive scene and continue to thrive, and despite the constant new blood the more established names remain sought after by fans old and young. One of these names is Queens of the Stone Age, a band that has sat proudly on the crest of their wave for decades.
I must admit, my experience of watching QOTSA in Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena on Sunday wasn’t my first time seeing the band. Back at Reading Festival 2014, I caught the start of their set as I left through the crowds with others who had watched Paramore on the Main Stage. I left to go and catch another band, who for the life of me I can’t remember the name of. You could argue that because of this, it probably wasn’t worth leaving QOTSA? I’m more than inclined to agree. But anyway, that particular musical demon has been banished now.
QOTSA drop kicked ‘In Times New Roman’ into the world back in the summer, and then said “hey, do you guys want to see us live?” just after they lit up Glastonbury Festival. OK then lads, if you insist. Five months later, I was making the short but solo trip on the train to Birmingham International for one of my most eagerly anticipated gigs of recent times.
Sunday night gigs are rarely ideal, but the 20 minute train journey back afterwards made it so this one was absolutely fine. The set for ‘The End is Nero’ tour was one of near perfection from QOTSA, and the energy and charisma of this band is perfectly channelled through front man Josh Homme.
Cunning and slick tunes with a beat which is almost instantly recognisable of this band from Seattle, Birmingham was given a swift and punchy lesson in how a rock band remains head and shoulders above others of its kind.
The band took fans way back to their debut album and opened with ‘Regular John’. Arguably their most well known song, ‘No One Knows’ was rolled out just second in the setlist. Not a common theme for bands, but one which represents the weight of QOTSA and the strencvhg of their catalogue.
After the dust settled from these first few songs, Homme told Birmingham: “I’m having a wonderful time and we’re going to dance around a little bit.” He then went on to tell the audience to party as if it was a Saturday night, not Sunday.
On a simple but effective stage set with large strips of LED lighting to form a triangle, QOTSA guided us through a thunderous storm of thir best loved tracks, and Homme was a more than capable captain. The new record was given a god outing, with five records featuring. ‘Paper Machete’ and ‘Emotion Sickness’ were two of my personal favourites for the evening.
The evening was one of top class music and a well timed, charming wit from Homme. Like London buses, I waited months for this gig and, thanks to festival organisers, I’ll also be able to see QOTSA as a headliner at Download Festival 2024. I’ll look and smell better after this gig than I will in a few months in a field in Leicestershire, but I hope to be equally as mesmerised when I see these guys roll up on the stage, leather jacket cladded and all.
