Photo by Chris Owyoung 

Although Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro have been around for a few years now and have seen moderate success overseas, this tour is obviously the biggest one they have done in the States thus far. This was evident by their show with new school “don’t call us stoner rock” modern rock favorites Queens Of The Stone Age. For the occasion, expectedly, the band mostly relied on their breakthrough album Puzzle. This is definitely a huge tour for the band because the Queens crowd is the type that understands a band like Biffy Clyro. Too complex for the metalheads, too crushing for the math rock nerds, the band found a comfortable home at the Garden that night with a crowd that was surprisingly open to the opening band and their quasi-prog rock stylings.  They were definitely a pleasant surprise for most in attendance who just were passing time smoking up before Josh Homme hopped on stage.

Ah, Queens of the Stone Age. Well, what can I say? Josh Homme, with his frequently shifting lineups behind him, released two of the greatest rock records of recent times with Rated R and Songs For The Deaf.  Since then though, the two follow ups, Lullabies To Paralyze and the newest release Era Vulgaris have been complete disappointments to me. I mean, the easy answer to the solution is the lack of bassist Nick Oliveri, but I give Homme more credit than just to place the blame on that single reason. This being said, I was not totally stoked to the see the band live. I love those first two records and I was afraid not much, except the obvious radio hits, would be played at this point. Well, the band did play a few songs from those albums to keep me satisfied for some time but I definitely found myself struggling to stay in tune with the show. QOTSA is a band of many faces and phases. Some bands you just get and some you’ll never understand why they can’t achieve the same bold strokes they previously reached before, in your mind at least. While watching Queens of the Stone Age this night, I realized I will get what I want again. But hey, atleast I have those first two records.

Tags: Biffy Clyro, Queens of the Stone Age, show review //