Queens 4 -- Nails 2

When you go see a live band, what do you want to see and hear? You don't want to just hear the album.

The other day I was invited to go the Nine Inch Nails (NIN) with Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA) concert. I know a few QOTSA tunes, and thought I might recognize a couple NIN tracks and I heard their show was pretty cool, so what the hell. I accepted the free ticket.

So last night, six of us dudes went to Rexall Place. The radio and the ticket said QOTSA started at 7pm and we got their at 6:50 and they were already playing. So I grab a couple beers and we find our seats near the top back of the coliseum. We all then moved up to the standing 'room' part so we could place our beers on the ledge. It was perfect.

The crowd was right into Josh Homme's haunting smooth voice and trying to find the off time rhythms in one of the tightest and original bands I've ever seen live. Unlike Pearl Jam, they weren't jammin'. They were cookin'. While most of us were musicians ourselves, we quickly picked up the timings but by that time, the band was already zooming onto another part. We simply couldn't keep up and I appreciated every nuance. Even one of the guitar players jumped on the keyboards for a very original groove undergroundish rock tune.

They say Josh used to do a lot of heavy drugs. Well, they sure churned out some originality, weird note patterns, lyrics, and textures that you were sure they were probably on 'em during the writing process. Tell you what, if they're pumping out killer progressive tunes like that consistently, I'll let 'em do all the drugs they want on my behalf.

We then hear Josh talking to some dude in the crowd on the floor who was apparently lipping him off or something. Josh showed a lot of class in his responses: "Hey dude, we're just tryin' to have some fun here. Am I right folks?" (Crowd roars.) This "conversation" continued for a few more songs but then Josh steps it up and insults him, his mother, and the whole crowd laughed. Then he says, "Okay, this next is for you, man. It's called 'Little Bitch'". And then of course they go right into 'Little Sister', an awesome hit and they nail it.

I mentioned to one of the boys that most of their songs are about four minutes. Put a shoe in my mouth, 'cause right after I say that, they play a wickedly fast 1 minute instrumental. Good variety.

The sound at the coliseum is wanting, but I was surprised at how good the Queens did sound. I guess it's because they play so tightly that the sounds don't blend into each other when it reverberates on the back wall.

Then they encore with their big hit, which my band also plays, "No One Knows". But the Queens decide to speed it up ... a lot! See, wasn't expecting that. Then they play quieter and quieter (is that a word?) to nothing and Josh beautifully sings out the words ... pause, and finally they kick into the last part. But I was disappointed they didn't do the solo of the song, which is really really freaking difficult for a band to play -- trust me, I know. We've worked on it and worked on it, and Queens decide to not even do it! Oh well, it still kicked ass.

Needless to say, at no point of watching QOTSA was I bored. Actually, I was blown away. They had enough stage lights that complimented the music nicely, flashes in time with the drums, etc., but the music is what was really bright. I would definitely see them again.

Then...

The stage was then box curtained in a transparent white. The lights go off. The music blars and Nine Inch Nails takes the stage in silouette behind the curtain. Very cool stage design, lots of power lights, and a high energy show all 'round.

But I think only a couple songs actually stood out. The rest were all basically the same and the cool light show seemed to be making up for a lot in the lack of originality. Sure NIN is different than the mainstream, but compared with their own music, there didn't seem to be a lot of variety.

Then for about 20 minutes, they refused to play because everyone at the front was pushing forward. It was general admission on the floor. I wanted to skedaddle, but we stayed and I even heard some people chanting "Let's go Oilers!" Funny.

Finally they came back but projected news footage on the front curtain screen for about two songs, showed George W and Laura ballroom dancing. I thought, "Are we at the movies?" "This is CNN." I'm all for visuals, but this wasn't artistic. I really don't like musicians getting involved in partisan politics, because they really don't have any sway, nor do they have anything to say. USE YOUR MUSIC TO COMMUNICATE DUMBASS.

Anyway, then some droning unoriginal and depressing piano part comes on. I sat down. I fell asleep. That's right, I fell asleep. I yelled out "BORING!" But I don't think anyone heard.

Finally at 11:30pm, the show was over.

Keeping in mind I probably recognized 5 songs total that night...

Snak gives Queens of the Stone Age a 10/10 for musicianship, 6/10 for stage show. So an even 8/10.

I give Nine Inch Nails 2/10 for musicianship, and 8/10 for stage show. So 5/10.

But since we were at the coliseum:
Queens 4 -- Nails 2.