I’m not sure I would definitively call any one band my favorite — but if I absolutely had to, I’d probably say it was Queens of the Stone Age.
Over the years I’ve spent countless hours listening to the band, and I’ve seen them live twice (with the third set to be their May 22 date at Breese Stevens Field). Now obviously I’m a bit biased here, but I’d go as far as to call them the greatest live band on the planet, at least in terms of stamina, setlist creativity, experimentation and stage banter (you know, the stuff that matters).
And musically, seeing the band live can be a daunting experience (for the record, I’m STRONGLY anti-photographer kicking). Their catalog spans seven albums and five EPs across two decades. They play long, and they have a habit of surprising fans. More than most bands, they’ll randomly pepper older, rarely played tracks into their setlist, a habit they’ve been continuing on their current touring cycle, supporting the Mark Ronson-produced Villains.
Before they undoubtedly slay Breese Stevens Field on Tuesday night, here are five deep cuts that Queens of the Stone Age have sprung on crowds during the Villains tour with which you may want to get (re)acquainted. (And big shouts go to setlist.fm for cataloging all of this.)
“How to Handle a Rope”
Last Performed Before Villains: Aug. 2, 2011
After the breakup of his influential stoner metal act Kyuss, Josh Homme channeled his hazy riffing into a sandblasted brand of blues rock that would become a trademark for his new band, Queens of the Stone Age. And “How to Handle a Rope,” a fret-torching track from the band’s 1998 self-titled debut, sees Homme actualizing his new band’s sound in real time. And before playing it in Vancouver in January, it hadn’t been played live since 2011. If QOTSA chooses to kick it old school, this riff is one to keep an ear out for.
“Leg of Lamb”
Last Performed Before Villains: May 8, 2011
Recorded in the legendary Sound City Studios (chronicled in a 2013 documentary by Homme’s BFF Dave Grohl), 2001’s Rated R was the band’s first major label album, and the one that would start pushing them into international stardom. And with its tom-heavy drumbeats and slow burning structure, “Leg of Lamb” is indicative of QOTSA yet to come. Just listen to that Hammond organ and you can draw a line to the experimental streak they started showing later on. And it’s been played 12 times already on this tour, so keep your fingers crossed.
“Everybody Knows That You’re Insane”
Last Performed Before Villains: Dec. 19, 2005
Lullabies to Paralyze is one of QOTSA’s best known, most loved albums, but oddly enough it’s also one of the hardest to experience live. With the exception of “Little Sister” and “Burn the Witch,” it’s unusual to hear the band throw something from their 2005 LP. But the high octane punk of “Everybody Knows That You’re Insane” has already popped up twice this year (in Portland and Vancouver) after having not been in rotation since the band was touring on Lullabies. And as further proof that the band seems to be rediscovering their fourth album, “Tangled Up in Plaid” was also played in those two cities for the first time since 2013.
“Turnin’ on the Screw”
Last Performed Before Villains: Sept. 27, 2014
On 2007’s Era Vulgaris, QOTSA started to move further outside of stoner rock, in this instance flirting with an industrial brand of art rock. “Turnin’ on the Screw” is the song that kicks that album off, ushering in a new era for the band. But it’s uncommon to hear it in the live rotation, having only been 174 times over the last 11 years (to contrast, “Sick, Sick, Sick” is the most played song from Era Vulgaris, having been played 409 times). However, seven of those have come on the Villains tour, making it a little more likely than some of the others. Also, if they play this one on Tuesday, I’m just gonna die.
“Fairweather Friends”
Last Performed Before Villains: Sept. 24, 2015
2013’s …Like Clockwork is actually my favorite album by the band, which I know makes me a bit of an oddity among the die-hards. Many longtime QOTSA fans lambasted it for a being too poppy, but I think it’s a better showcase for Homme’s truly underrated vocal range than any other Queens album. And no song shows that more than “Fairweather Friends.” Essentially a stoner power ballad, the song’s tone is set by Homme’s delicate vocals — even the screaming guitars in it take a backseat to Homme, who also gets an assist from Sir Elton Motherfuckin’ John, who plays piano and provides background vocals. It’s been played twice so far on this tour (both in the band’s home state of California) but they also hadn’t played it in three years, which is a bit weird for a high profile track from their second most recent album.
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