The band has been absolutely dominate throughout this entire album cycle
Two years into touring in support of their latest album In Times New Roman, Queens of the Stone Age are continuing a fantastically dominant run. Since the record’s release in 2023, the band has been running rampant all over the globe cementing their legacy as one of the most visceral live acts on earth. From sold out tour stops, to a headlining slot at Download, frontman Josh Homme and the rest of the gang have reached new heights on this album cycle.
Queens of the Stone Age rip the meat right off the bone and serve it up with absolutely no filler. They’re one of the tightest acts you’ll ever see live. Watching closely, their timing is absolutely impeccable, though they maintain a solid amount of swagger without being to squeaky clean.
Last night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, the band’s set featured cuts from their latest LP, along with a hefty serving of past hits.
The Kills kicked things off, tearing through brief but effective 11-song set that got the crowd adequately amped up. The pulled tracks from five of their six studio albums, focusing primarily on their latest offering – 2023’s acclaimed God Games. The played five songs from the record, including “Love and Tenderness,” “103,” “and “Wasterpiece” went over particularly well. They closed things out with their 2011 track “The Future Starts Slow”
Just as the sun was setting, the band took the stage and got right down to business. They started out with “A Song for the Deaf,” and immediately followed it up with their seminal smash “No One Knows.” A select number of artists get to a point in their career where they can open with arguably their biggest hit. Queens of the Stone Age are breathing that rare air right now.
They followed it up with “3’s and 7’s, “Negative Space,” and then “Smooth Sailing.” The latter track has a groove so filthy you feel like you need a shower afterwards, and drummer Jon Theodore just crushes it live. A defining slab of alt-rock, it is undoubtedly one of the most finely crafted songs in the group’s entire catalog.
Frontman Josh Homme was in a particularly playful mood, having fun engaging with the audience.
“Atlantic City, it’s been way too long since we’ve been here. Too fuckin’ long actually,”
He quipped, “You know, the drunkest people in the building always sit down in the back. You are the drunkest, by law.” He added, “The craziest people are always up front,” which got a big roar from the fans in the pit.”
Later on, he stated, “It feels so good to get away from our regular lives and give you a night you’ll never remember.”
Now, we’re about two weeks into summer down the shore, and Josh knew it.
Josh also referenced Atlantic City when introducing a 2013 fan favorite.
“This is a city by the ocean, and this song is called ‘I Sat By the Ocean.'”
Other highlights included “Paper Machete,” “If I Had a Tail,” “The Way You Used to Do,” Make It Wit Chu,” and more. The band is continuing to push their latest hit album, playing five total tracks from the record – the most of the night.
The show came to a furious close with “A Song for the Dead.” The thrashy intro sent the crowd into a frenzy, with two separate circle pits breaking out. Homme and guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen were trading licks while bassist Michael Shuman was headbanging away. It was such a pure rock ‘n’ roll moment, and a perfect way to end a stellar gig.
Queens of the Stone Age are seemingly an unstoppable force right now. The band’s current lineup has been a steady configuration for a decade now. They’re live performances are incredibly tight, but still have some of the messiness and unpredictability that makes rock ‘n’ roll great. The group’s last three albums have received much critical acclaim and praise from fans, in addition to performing well commercially. Recently, they announced a landmark live outing Alive in the Catacombs, which certainly expands the bounds of the band’s creativity.
Raw and dangerous, bands like Queens of the Stone Age are keeping guitar-driven music alive and well.
