Queens Of The Stone Age Live at The Olympia Theatre – Review by Saranne Murray
U.S rock band Queens of the Stone Age stormed The Olympia Theatre in Dublin on Thursday May 19th 2011, for a rare performance of their first album to coincide with its recent re-release. Originally released back in 1998, the self titled album defined a generation with its chugging guitars, murky lyrics and haunting style. Their music is clever, unique, beautifully twisted and most importantly, rides that heavy dance groove that so few rock bands can find. Tickets to this intimate event where like gold dust and as I took to my seat I thought to myself just how lucky I was to be here as tickets sold out in record time.
The atmosphere was electric, eager happy faces filled the theatre. As they took to the stage, the crowd erupted. The cheers were deafening and as the first few notes of ‘Regular John’ floated from the stage utter chaos broke out. ‘Avon’ followed straight after and with the crowd lyric perfect it was sometimes difficult to hear over the excitement. They powered through the entire first album as promised, mixing up the running order after the first two songs to keep the audience guessing. The crowd stayed enthralled for the entire set with Josh Homme looking genuinely moved every time he scanned the crowd and caught a glimpse of his adoring fans. ‘I Can’t Quit You Baby’ was the last song to be played but no means the least, it was the perfect end to the perfect set and even as the band exited the stage the crowd were already baying for more.
They left the crowd in suspense for ten minutes before they came back on stage to a rapturous applause. ‘Hanging Tree’ signalled the start of their highly anticipated encore. All the hits followed with the band even treating the audience to a second encore, finishing with ‘Go With The Flow’ they left the audience begging for more. Josh Homme was quoted as saying it was the best show of the tour, and for once I’m inclined to believe the cliché.
9/10 Saranne Murray
[...] Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme has celebrated becoming a father for the second time! He and his wife Brody Dalle brought their new son Orrin Ryder Homme into the world on Friday August 19th 2011 weighing a healthy 7lbs. Josh and his wife have been married since 2007 and already have a daughter named Camille, so there is no doubt that they are very happy welcoming their new son into the family. [...]