Queens sounded fantastic last night. Kick ass. Much much better than I remember in 2017. Seemed rejuvenated.
Oh and met the Director!!
I'm gonna probably have the unpopular opinion here, and I don't want to detract from anyone's enjoyment of the show last night. Much better than 2017? Better yes...but I'm not sure I'd say much. My issue is that I've been seeing Queens for 24 years now. I saw them when they came out with the first LP, and I've seen many variations of the lineup. Invariably, every lineup offers something worthwhile. I enjoy the current lineup very much, though I still favor Joey Castillo's more up-tempo Animal-from-the-Muppets flashes of energy. Jon Theodore is a great drummer though, no question. My main issue is with Josh. He's not a happy person. I don't feel like he's having a good time. I sensed it in 2017, but last night he was fried on mushrooms and what started off as a strong set for me quickly devolved into QOTSA cover band territory. A friend I was with said "it isn't bad...but it isn't good". I actually disagree with him...it was fine. Fair to good, with some moments of drugged-out psychedelic bliss that bled dangerously into schlock. Not a trainwreck. But what was up with the solo during "Make It Wit Chu"? Ouch. On the other hand, that was the tightest version of "Little Sister" I've ever heard. QOTSA used to be one of my very favorite bands to go see in concert, because it always felt like you'd get some fierce brilliance, a few moments of inexplicable and unexpected improvisation, and you'd feel like Josh was either having a blast or ready to blow his pretty ginger noggin. Last night felt like Ginger Elvis entering his Vegas jumpsuit-era. Great band, but a bloated and drugged-out delivery. It was a pale shadow of what a Queens show used to be. After last night, I might be done with seeing them. I love the songs "Make It Wit Chu", "No One Knows", "My God is the Sun", and "A Song for the Dead", but I'm also getting tired of some of the standards. There was no "Regular John", no "In the Fade", no "Hangin' Tree", "no "You Can't Quit Me Baby". The new material is strong, but I felt like I was watching an imitation instead of an authentic actualization of a great band. I agree it was better than last time. But damn, how the mighty have fallen.
