Them Crooked Vultures in action: John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl, John Homme (photo: Dustin Rabin)
Them Crooked Vultures, the new John Paul Jones-Dave Grohl-Josh Homme supergroup that spans both generation lines and the classic-alternative rock divide, stormed into Seattle Saturday night (November 21) in a powerhouse show at the Paramount Theatre that had the audience on its feet throughout, from the moshers down front to the very last row of the upper balcony.
The band (with additional rhythm guitarist Alain Johannes) played every song on their newly released self-titled debut album, along with the non-album track “Highway One.” With a musical pedigree that encompasses Led Zeppelin to Queens of the Stone Age to Nirvana, it’s no surprise to find that the band embraces the hard rock end of the spectrum with a vengeance. And particularly so since the lineup has Grohl back in the drummer’s seat; with all due respect to his other musical accomplishments, this is where he truly belongs. Grohl pounded his kit with an intensity that provided a rock-bottom foundation for the other musicians to build on, and appeared to be delighted at sharing the stage with one of his childhood heroes (Jones) as well as working with Homme again (Grohl also serving as drummer for Homme’s QotSA on occasion).
And coming from such an inventive crew, the music easily avoided being one-dimensional. It’s a heavy sound, to be sure (nothing gets the crowd more excited than a touch of wah-wah), but there are elements of blues, psychedelic swirls of sound, and even Eastern influences. Homme, who handled all vocals, often conjured up Jim Morrison’s ethereal wailing, as parts of the closing song, “Warsaw,” also echoed the Doors. This is a group that’s come together for the sheer pleasure of making music, with the intention of making it just as much fun to play as for the audience to groove to.
Homme had the most fun with audience, batting back the balloons that the crowd tossed among themselves. But Jones got the biggest ovation, both when he first walked out, and when he set aside his bass to deliver a nice keyboard solo (at one point he even played a MIDI “keytar”). There was much body surfing and, judging by the aroma, discreet pot smoking in what’s ostensibly a “non-smoking” venue. The only disappointment was that there was no encore. But it was clear from their excited responses that the audience nonetheless left satisfied.
The band heads for UK and Europe in December, Australia and New Zealand in January.
Set list:
“No One Loves Me & Neither Do I”
“Dead End Friends”
“Scumbag Blues”
“Elephants”
“Highway One”
“New Fang”
“Gunman”
“Bandoliers”
“Mind Eraser, No Chaser”
“Caligulove”
“Interlude with Ludes”
“Spinning in Daffodils”
“Reptiles”
“Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up”
The band's website
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