Photos By Lorène Lenoir
(lorene@rockscope.com)

High Expectations

Twenty-six gigs in a row with the odd day off every five gigs in the bleak North-European midwinter is not a good idea. This is what the Queens of the Stone Age should remember for their tours to come. After the near-cancellation of a gig in the UK due to bronchitis and "chronic stupidity" (to quote Mr Homme himself) and looking obviously frustrated with his voice in London, the miraculous quality of England's cough syrups and anti-inflammatory medication was obvious during the Southampton gig that was perfect : a good venue, good people, a band in a fantastic mood, and a setlist that was a mix of old favorites ("The Bronze") and their best recent tracks ("Misfit Love").

Two weeks later in Paris, they had a good performance with a setlist that drove the audience of french hipsters utterly beside themselves. Fun was had.

The Queens marathon of winter 2008 was to end in the city of Nantes, or more precisely, in its suburbs. It was awfully cold and windy, and I know these desert boys are just not made for that kind of weather. And since they've been touring for four weeks in a row, it was indeed an exhausted band and crew that took the stage after an almost unbearable gig from Biffy Clyro which was just a big hall full of dreadful metallic sounds.

Faces were tense (some old English guy got expelled by a member of the crew for insulting him before the show even started) and throughout the gig, we could feel Josh Homme and his band weren't in the brightest of moods. No communication whatsoever with the audience, jams that ended in a passionless mush, and a very short piece of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" during "Feel Good Hit of the Summer". It wasn't the peak of their live career.

Another thing people might find interesting is the fact that Nantes is only a mere two hours train-trip from Paris. Therefore, a setlist very similar to the Paris one was unnecessarily a bit frustrating for someone like me (a Queens lover all the way!). Also disappointing compared to the hyped up show in the City of Lights, the Nantes crowd seemed to regret the absence of more tracks from the first and second albums – Homme calling "Go with the Flow" an "oldie" was adding insult to injury.

Overall though, it was a good gig compared to the daily fare of awful performances. And even in a foul mood, Homme oozed charisma like maple syrup on a pancake. But since this band has set itself for such high standards, it risks facing frequent burn out. With less gigs, more days off, longer setlists, and perhaps better venues, Queens of the Stone Age could better deal with their mainstream cred and expectations.

All the same, I still feel compelled to see them when they return to Europe in June. They're still one of the best live bands when they're on top of their game... And maybe in a sunnier setting, it might be easier to perform "Feel Good Hit of the Summer"!