Earlier this year, tried and true rock and rollers Queens of the Stone Age celebrated more than two decades since their debut album with the release of In Times New Roman…, their first new studio effort since 2017’s Villains. The album, which Glide’s own Shawn Donahue described as being “centered around dark, dance-laden rock numbers,” comes on the heels of a tumultuous period for frontman Josh Homme that has included health scares and personal issues not to mention plenty of general negativity percolating around the planet. Yet, in typical Queens fashion, the band has interpreted these dark times into kick-ass, guitar-driven rock and roll. The album has also given them a reason to hit the road once again, this time with their ‘End Is Nero’ tour that finds them playing some of their biggest venues to date. On a rainy Monday, October 2nd, the band neared the end of the first leg of the tour with a stop at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon.
Following an initial opening set by Jehnny Beth, Sweden’s Viagra Boys took the stage for an exhilarating set of darkly humorous post-punk that either scared the hell out of those not in the know or converted them to super fans. The band’s quick set wasn’t short on intensity as perpetually shirtless front man Sebastian Murphy gyrated about the stage while belting out his simultaneously brooding, fierce and suave vocals on songs like “Ain’t Nice,” “Slow Learner,” and “Punk Rock Loser.” The band’s driving storm of bass, unhinged saxophone, Devo-like synths and blistering guitar was a fast-paced attack on the audience in the best kind of way. In just around thirty minutes, Viagra Boys proved why they are one of the most ferocious and exciting rock bands out there right now. Two of their best-known songs, the silly and defiant anthem “Sports” and the punk-laced ode to drugs “Research Chemicals,” definitely won over any skeptics.
Taking the stage under a pyramid of ever-changing lights, Josh Homme and Co. wasted little time as they blasted off some of their biggest hits with “Regular Jon” and the jerky rocker “No One Knows.” The David Bowie-esque ripper “Smooth Sailing” saw Homme laying down some greasy guitar flourishes as the band propelled into the night. On songs like “Emotion Sickness,” “I Saw Her By the Ocean,” and a take on “The Way You Used To Do” that carried a swinging energy with ZZ Top-style shredding, the ability of Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore to conjure up rock and roll greatness was on full display. By the time the band wrapped a version of their funkified soul-disco tune “Make It Wit Chu” that began with Homme nailing a massive guitar solo, quoting Peter Frampton, teasing the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You” and leading a crowd sing-a-long, they had accomplished the feat of blowing the roof off the hockey arena space.
“All this happy Frampton shit is done, it’s just depressing shit from here on,” said Homme before declaring that “Portland is depressing in a weird way” and launching into the chunky groove of “Straight Jacket Fitting” that found him eventually wading into the crowd to sing with the people and getting the audience to fill in the singing. Though the vocals felt muffled throughout the performance, this was Homme’s chance to let it all hang out and brought the band into the final stretch that would include “Little Sister,” “In the Fade,” and “Go With the Flow.” By the time the Queens bid their fans goodnight, they had delivered a potent reminder of why they continue to be one of the most enduring and hard-rocking bands to this day.
All photos by Greg Homolka
