Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Spin Them Crooked Vultures at War Memorial Auditorium, 10/5/09
Posted by The Spin on Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 9:49 AM
See the slideshow for more photos, brah.
It takes a lot to get us out to a show by 8 p.m., especially to see a supergroup, of all things. So there must have been a good reason, right? Well, this supergroup has Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones in it. If you need us to name the bands those guys were/are in, then immediately stop reading this, go to your local record shop and ask the first person you see to tell you about life (or just click here). Figuring it was enough to ask the audience to sit through an hour-and-a-half of songs "no one knows," the band found it best to forgo an opening act. Thank God.
By the time we made our way inside, the auditorium was packed to the gills. Not since the debut of Oysterhead have this many garden-variety rock fans come together with such high hopes. Them Crooked Vultures have not even so much as released a single--the only thing people have to go on are some YouTube clips that'll make you seasick--so the only way to truly hear the band is to see them live. And as they took the stage at what Homme proclaimed as their 10th show, the place went nuts.
So what did they sound like? Not a whole lot different from what you'd expect: fuckin' balls-out rockin', brah. More like a cross between Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana and Led Zeppelin than Eagles of Death Metal, Foo Fighters and Donovan, if that's what you're wondering. Since Homme is steering the ship as lead singer and guitarist, it basically sounds like he's found his dream rhythm section to comprise the new incarnation of QOTSA. (QOTSA rhythm-guitarist Alain Johannes was also on hand to fill out the sound.) Homme is one of hard rock's last innovators, and he's got enough smart-alecky swagger and good ideas to get away with not being named Robert, Jimmy or Kurt in his present company. The songs we heard typified what Homme is good at: writing music that's smart, yet will sound great blaring out the windows of a mud-covered pickup truck.
And of course TCV were more than a little Zeppelin-y, which, even without JPJ, is par for the course considering that Led Zeppelin made the stoner-rock template of pentatonic riffs, fat drums, odd meters and sex-laden rock 'n' roll attitude with which this band molested and mutilated our ear drums over the course of their 90-minute set. Just when something would start to sound predictable, the band would throw in a rhythmic curve ball or left-field melodic flourish to keep us on our toes. While the majority of the show consisted of riff-heavy, groove-suffused hard rock, there were plenty of proggy, climb-mountain-see-aging-wizard moments of jamminess that made us think that Homme's urge to whip out a bow--and Grohl's to deep-six his sticks in favor of bare hands--must have been killing them.
Dave Grohl was all smiles. Forget the fact that he can still headline Wembley Stadium and sell millions in his own band. Despite having turned us off by comfortably slipping into torch-rock territory on the last few Foo Fighters records, Grohl is still "our hero" when it comes to poundin' the skins. Throughout the night he grinned away while doing his best Animal impression--never losing a beat or letting the intensity drop. The argument over whether or not he is this generation's John Bonham is now officially over.
What was most striking was the band's chemistry. At no point in the show did they ever lose the full undivided attention of the audience--quite a feat in a town full of musicians and with a set of songs that were brand new. There is no doubt that they exceeded expectations. All in all, it was easily the best 10th show by a band we've ever seen.
Comments (11)
Showing 1-11 of 11
Thanks for the photos, brah! Camera police were every where and I didn't want to chance it so I appreciate the memories. Never could get those shots anyways! It was a night to remember and the stars aligned it seemed like because these guys rocked it hard. Big chunky riffs and a nice little ditty with Homme only singing. Great crowd despite not knowing any of the songs. VERY ATTENTIVE.
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Friggin awesome show. Ditto thanks for the pics... my pics were forced to be deleted. Josh Homme is really good and he must be thrilled to be working with Jones and Grohl (the best rythym section in the world!)... at least on par with Lee/Peart Chancellor/Carey. Awesome show. I wanna follow these huys around the country. Buy the CD (hope one comes out soon!!!!)
"Basically, since Homme is steering the ship as lead singer and guitarist, it basically sounds like..."
Might wanna try proofreading, brah.
ROCKED. The only downside(s): Sound @ Memorial is a bit muddy, particularly in the balcony - we couldn't make out anything Homme said, despite being
?? Dunno why the autobot ate the second half of my first paragraph, which should read: "we couldn't make out anything Homme said, despite being fewer than 50 feet from the stage."
What a great show! Grohl and Jones together was almost spooky!! Thanks for the slide show! Still want more of those guys!
I wanted to like it, I really did-- However I think the sound was CRAP-- Yes I could see JPJ playing those god-awful basses with A PICK!, But alas I could barely hear anything besides fat low end hum- As for the top end-- Were there words to those songs? Couldn't tell--
Oh well--
You just totally BURNED JPJ with that pick comment. Hahahaha.
But yeah...thanks for the pix. I saw an inordinate amount of people being escorted from this show. Was that due to the camera policy?
The show was pretty damned amazing though. Most of the songs started out sounding like QOTSA-lite to me, but by the end of every one I was in a jammed-out frenzy, like most of the crowd I saw around me. It was waaaay worth the money.
The sound at War Memorial though....it's a great venue, and it's good that we have a venue this size to bring in these size bands, but man. Between the muddy sound and TPACs horrible website for purchasing tickets, it gets a little annoying.
Minor quibbles though.
If you're not feeling NBN, come out to Norm's River Road House Saturday for the Late, Great, 2nd Team, All-State, Rock and Roll Jamboree for some of Nashville best rock bands!
All day music, food, beer, a bonfire and midnight pickin party, and it's only $5 for the WHOLE DAY!!
The Late, Great, 2nd Team All-State Rock 'n' Roll Jamboree
Sat. Oct. 10th, 2009
Norm's River Roadhouse
7695 River Road Pike
Nashville, TN 37209
615-356-6314
Need to Know Info:
Gates open @ 11 am
Music begins around 1 pm
Admission is $5 for the entire day
Camping is $5 per car
Bonfire/pickin' party @ midnight!
Norm's providing all the beer and food (bbq, hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, assorted fruits)
Lawn chairs welcome and encouraged.
Absolutely No Glass.
Please leave coolers at home.
Take exit #196 (old hickory blvd.) off I-40 W, go N, old hickory turns into river road just past hwy.70
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LES HONKY MORE TONKIES
NED VAN GO
HURRICANE MILLS
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PORTERHALL, TN
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