Amazing: Them Crooked Vultures Live

by Bob Boilen

It's been a while since I've been to a show that I'd call "balls to the wall," but Them Crooked Vultures aren't holding back. From their first song, "Elephant," to the song playing right now, called "Highway 1," nuance has left the building. Granted, I'm only four songs into the show, but good lord, this rocks.

Shot of the stage from my iPhone

Dave Grohl's (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) drumming has the intensity of John Bonham, but it's Grohl's fierce playing for sure. And John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), at 63, is just amazing on bass and at the moment rocking on electric mandolin.

The riffs are reminiscent of Zeppelin, but the sound is their own. Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) is fine in the lead role, both as guitarist and as the singer. Alain Johannes played some fine rhythm guitar and more.

In some ways, it's hard to be at a show where I know none of the songs; on the other hand, it's seriously fun hearing stuff for the first time and hearing it live. Every song on the set list is a new song, no covers.

We're recording the show. The band will mix it and, if they like what they did, we'll have it online soon. Stay tuned.

9:14 PM ET | 10-14-2009 | permalink

comments |