The first thing I notice as I step into the wonderfully majestic venue that is Fox Theatre Oakland is the most incredibly diverse audience I have ever set eyes on. Within moments of stepping into this venue it is clear that Queens of The Stone Age appeal to twenty year old guys in plaid and glasses, slutty girls with glow sticks and fake boobs, cougars with jeans and shirts that are just a little bit too tight, even forty something moms and dads with there twelve year old kids. It makes for an inviting atmosphere. Everyone is here for one thing, and that’s to see Queens of The Stone Age rock.
The opening band comes out at eight on the dot. They’re a rockabilly group by the name of The Dough Rollers with sternly hair sprayed hair, funky suits, cool ties and definitely the right attitude to pull of the whole thing. The bass player is the hot one that doesn’t talk. It’s pretty much obvious that he is who all the girls are screaming for, he plays it cool though. The lead singer has the look too, and there is no doubt he’s talented, but there’s something about him I don’t like. His vocals are good, but they feel strained and forced, like he is trying too hard to win us over with this seemingly authentic rockabilly sound. I wish he’d just relax and be more real. All the songs seem to be about how his baby left him, or how his baby isn’t in his bed, or how his baby is with another man, it is definitely fun to listen to, but it gets tiring and repetitive after awhile and I start finding myself getting restless for the main event.
Only a half hour after The Dough Rollers finish their set, Queens of The Stone Age are gracing us with their presence. Josh Homme doesn’t say anything before starting to play, it is just an instantaneous transition from the audience waiting, to Queens of The Stone Age delivering what everyone came here for. For the first part of the set Homme’s doesn’t say too much, he just plays, and takes some time between songs to take unreasonably large swigs from a bottle of Ketel One. It isn’t until a sufficient way through the show that he starts having things to say. It’s a Queens of The Stone Age show so people are rowdy, and having a good time, and the big dudes armed with flashlights at the front keep shining them into the crowd to make sure nothing gets too outrageously out of hand. Josh Homme is in the middle of saying something when one of the security men shines the light into the crowd, “hey, hey, security guy. Shut the fucking flashlight off, this is a Queens of The Stone Age show, people can do whatever the fuck they want”. The flashlights remain off for the rest of the show. It’s not too long after this that Homme’s starts smoking on stage in between drinks from his half gone bottle of vodka and, you know, actually singing songs and stuff. His state though hardly effects the show. They play their self titled first album in entirety and then bust out some other favourites. The crowd goes crazy for "Burn The Witch", a personal favourite of mine, that rocks hard, has a killer bass line, and a sort of cool, dark fairy tale feel to the lyrics.
They leave the stage after a solid hour of playing, but the crowd goes crazy for their return and it isn’t long until they’re back. Josh Homme walks out along with the rest of the band, including the terrifying looking guitar player in his purple suit and the keyboardist who looks like a creepy Bill Hader. “This means so much to me,” Homme’s says sincerely, “ You guys are probably thinking, Josh, you’re drunk. And I am. But all I know is you guys look beautiful.” They start the encore after that and it’s all screams from the crowd and perfect rock and roll. Crowd surfing ensues and I actually see one guy make the round at least a half dozen times, he’s an older man with a puffy vest and sneakers, not what I imagine when I think crowd surfer, but hey, like Josh said, this is a Queens of The Stone Age show and you can do whatever the fuck you want.
After two encores, some drunken words from Josh Homme, and at least an hour and forty five minutes of glorious music, the night is over. The floor is littered with plastic glasses and remnants of spilled alcohol and our minds are spinning from the awesomeness of it all.
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