Vultures: The Show

I went to see Them Crooked Vultures with conflicting expectations. On the one hand, the band includes Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones, members of truly legendary rock bands, as well as Josh Homme, who fronts a band that isn't so bad either. With those three, how could it be bad?

It’s a Supergroup. That’s how. Characterized by its already famous members, the Supergroup is typically heavily hyped, slightly desperate and tainted by egos and nearsightedness.

Prior to seeing the Vultures, I listened to their album once through and thought it a decent rock album that starts out strong (No One Loves Me & Neither Do I exquisitely combines the styles of Zeppelin, QOTSA and Nirvana) and then slowly loses my attention. I enjoyed it...it just wasn't quite the thrill I'd inevitably anticipated. But I still wanted to see the show.

The thing is, I love Dave Grohl. So much so that I let that whole Foo Fighters thing slide. And this is not to discount the other Vultures band members, but he was the one who convinced me to pay $50 and drive across the Bay Bridge. Famous for power drumming but with an acute sense of timing, he can headbang, beat the crap out of the drums and flirt with the audience...all at the same time. Off the top of my head, I can think of maybe one other example of a drummer who can be that charismatic while drumming (Levon Helm of The Band, in case you were wondering). It's quite a unique and alluring talent. Sadly, I had never seen him live...I'd only learned this from geeking out to old videos of Nirvana and Queens of The Stone Age concerts. So, of course, I wanted the real thing. I was determined to see my favorite drummer behind the drum kit, and the Supergroup cliché wasn't about to stop me.

I must say I was blown away. Grohl shines bright with the gift of John Paul Jones as his rhythmic partner. And JPJ looks like he's having more fun than ever. He always seemed to hide in the shadows at Zeppelin concerts. (Again, old videos...given the blog's name, you shouldn't be surprised.) But he's the veteran in this group, and the confidence that results from this allows him to showcase his musicianship in a way that he never quite could while sharing the stage with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Josh Homme reinforces his strength as a front man. He's cocky and strange and flamboyant, making no effort to hide his love of the spotlight...and this is precisely what makes him so entertaining. He indulged himself in between the rousing rock songs with the trippy Interlude with Ludes, for which he ditched the guitar for a bottle of vodka, popped collars with JPJ and danced around like a drunk Wayne Newton. It was fantastic.

Them Crooked Vultures are indeed a Supergroup...but they are an example of what can happen when the chemistry is just right. Proficiency is a given, and their comfort with the instruments and ease in front of an audience mean they can have some fun with this venture. The result of this collaborative effort is an exemplary and electrifying show.