Queens of the Stone Age @ The Shelter, Detroit, MI
This was one of the most energetic bittersweet awesome loud soft concerts I've ever been too. Yeah, it was that crazy. Honestly, I don't think I'll be able to adequately describe the concert, but I'm gonna give it the old college try.
We got there around a quarter to nine, and the ticket said that the doors opened at nine. Well, the doors opened at 9:15. I've never seen a show in the Shelter, only ones in St. Andrew's, which is the upper floor of the Shelter. Honestly, I just don't understand how any band would want to perform at the Shelter, because, I swear to god, I felt like I was in someone's basement. My first impression wasn't too great. It was dark with cement walls, cement floors, no windows. But there were some lights around, and a cool looking bar. Still the place was tiny. At most, I bet it could only hold about 200 people.
Instead of an opening act, they had a DJ spin music for an hour. From 9:30pm to 10:30pm we had to stand around listening to this awful DJ. I have no idea where the hell this guy came from, but he certainly didn't belong at a Q.O.T.S.A. concert, spinning "Lap Dance" by N.E.R.D. I mean, seriously folks. Not only did he suck music choice wise, he sucked as a DJ. I mean, most DJ's can transition, can like, interpret beats and rhythms...yeah, this guy couldn't. After a whole hour of this torture, the guy finally finishes up, by making excuses for how much he sucked. "I'm selling CD's in the back there, and uh, like, the CD is much better than tonight, really, really it is." I'm not kidding, he said this exact words. Yipes. He said his name was C-9 or something like that. Well, dude, you sucked ass, and everyone there thought so.
Finally, at 10:45, the Queens came on stage. From this point on the concert was amazing. Now, I'm gonna try and explain to you their stage presence. It's a little unlike any I've seen. Each member has this strange magnetism on the stage. The bass player is just freaky-looking, kind of like a cross between Scott Ian from Anthrax and a goblin. And he sings a couple songs and is just basically crazy. You literally cannot take your eyes off of the guy. Then there was Dave Grohl on the drums. I mean, seriously, I was like, ten feet away from Dave Grohl. That's not gonna happen again anytime soon. If I wasn't in love with drums before, I certainly am now, because wow. Dave Grohl was awesome. He plays the drums with his whole body, I just don't see how he has the energy to do the entire show. He was amazing. The lead singer has such a haunting voice, which sounds much like Scott Weiland's from Stone Temple Pilots. And when he sings, his face looks...well, it just looks like his is in so much emotional torment. Like, okay. When I watched him, I just felt like this guy was pouring out his soul on the stage. And, one of the coolest parts, they had Mark Lanegan (formerly from Screaming Trees), who is an amazing musician, and whose voice I would probably have sex with if that would be possible, come out and sing a few songs. And he's right up there with the emotional anguish on stage also. Putting all the guys together, just gave the entire room this feeling of just, sigh. This is hard to explain. I guess, it was a little taste of feeling infinite. I suggest you go and see them if you get a chance, and then you can find out for yourself.
The music itself was just fucking awesome. These guys know rock. It's just really good rock music. I haven't heard stuff like this in ages. Not like, since early 90's, and this stuff is really better than some of that. Lately, everyone claims that bands that are rock are ones like Linkin Park or Incubus. Well, I hate to say it folks, but you are NOT a rock band if you have a DJ in your band. I'm sorry. You're not. I don't know exactly what you are, but you are certainly not rock. These guys are. The lead singer also played lead guitar and he was fantastic. The bassist, of course, crazy. And Dave Grohl. I mean, really, it was an unbeatable combination. Go see them.