Photograph by Dustin Rabin During Lollapalooza weekend in Chicago, most of the hottest shows in Chicago haven't been in Grant Park, but rather in the Chi-town clubs.
Like Saturday night, when we made our maiden voyage to Schuba's Tavern, where Black Keys singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach slayed a lucky crowd with tunes from his solo debut, Keep It Hid.
But last night's show at the Metro was truly special: the debut of the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures -- featuring Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones.
We were tipped off last week when Grohl texted us to make sure we'd be in town on Sunday night. Without spoiling the surprise, he told us to come to the Metro on Sunday at midnight. Then we saw the ad that appeared on the Metro site, featuring the logos of the Foo Fighters, Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age. Holy shit, we thought.
But nobody had any idea what to expect at the gig. The trio, joined by QOTSA guitarist Alain Johannes, walked onstage to the tune of Chuck Berry's "No Particular Place To Go." Then they slayed the crowd for 75-minutes -- no encores -- with songs nobody's ever heard. Homme sang, Grohl played drums, and JPJ stuck mostly to the bass -- a couple times he jumped on keyboards, keytar, or picked up a crazy, futuristic slide guitar.
Here's the set list:
Elephant
New Fang
Scumbag Blues
Dead End Friends
Bandolier
Mind Eraser (No Chaser)
Gunman
Daffodils
Caligulove
Warsaw
Nobody Loves Me
Never has a supergroup sounded more like the sum of its parts. Grohl never spoke to the crowd, but his galloping drums recalled both Nirvana and the Foos. Homme's vocals (and songwriting, we would guess) were dark and heavy, with those crazy melodic and rhythmic shifts. And JPJ, who was sripping with sweat by the end of it, thumped along like he was onstage again with Zep.
After the show everyone partied backstage. We had a shot of Crown Royal with Grohl, who was totally exhausted after the gig (and the five hour rehearsal the day before.) We learned that Them Crooked Vultures have been kicking around for six months. The idea began with Grohl and JPJ (who have been buddies for a while now) and then they recruited Homme. There will be an album AND a U.S. tour. Believe it!
The show is insane! And the boys were so stoked. To quantify how excited they were, let us share with you a texting exchange that went down yesterday afternoon..
S.S.: Hey Dave, I just got my first boner about the show tonight!
Grohl: I've had one of those everlasting boners that they warn you about on the Viagra commercials for the past 6 months.
S.S.: You should notify your physician
Grohl: No worries. It'll go down once I blow my load all over the Metro.
Last night, everyone at the Metro blew their proverbial load.
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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.
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bob | November 17, 2009 3:10 PM
the album is awesome, i love this band.
arazamataz in the ballroom
Know ur music | October 10, 2009 7:19 AM
To all those idiots on this blog. Stop argueing about who is better JPJ or Dave. This band is just about three amazing artists getting together to play music. It isn't about who is better then the other. And by the way show some fucking respect to the artist who put there time in effort into the music to please you - THE FANS
Cassy | October 7, 2009 5:25 PM
If you think JPJ is just and old man you have no knowledge of his life and work and your opinions are just that, opinions. Bass players hardly get the respect they earn and JPJ is one of the best please show some respect and if you don't think he's is something special go enlighten yourself. Oh and this band regardless of being friends with RS or not will be off the chain, can't wait for an album.
Music Lover55555 | September 20, 2009 12:38 AM
If any of the commentors on the ability of the innovative playing of Mr. John Paul Jones are still frequenting this page, I need to ask if any of them have any idea how many classic songs he either appeared on as a session player or arranged. The number just in the sixties alone is staggering. Research it!
Also I would also recommend you find a Led Zeppelin songbook and play something like "What is and What Should Never Be".
Learn some damned respect.
Jane | August 22, 2009 2:05 AM
that band would be a total hit!!
i lovve the foo's and i love dave
but well if you mix the 3 of em' you will definetly have a hell of a band!
Poop Dawg | August 21, 2009 12:02 PM
Brilliant as Dave Grohl may be, I hate his stage personality. Personal opinion though. This band is going to be EPIC. Wonder how long it will last?
Outrider | August 21, 2009 10:05 AM
Les Claypool from Primus never achieved so much succes as Ghrol did, but his a far better bassist than Ghrol is a drummer, so what the f*ck?? It's about three great musicians getting together and doing something that's probably going to be very, very good! Who can compare what JPJ did to what Homme or Ghrol did? And wg-ho even cares? I mean really. Some of these posts here sound like old women fighting over who's right and who's wrong - so much for Rock 'n roll.
jabronee | August 20, 2009 2:28 PM
coming from a guy with zep in his handle means.....absolutly zero to me.
grohl has accomplished more in his time than old man jones has in his. that's indisputable.
denzepp58 | August 20, 2009 6:24 AM
jabronee,fyi,Grohl is good but nowhere near as talented as MR. Jones,you know,the Bass player for LED ZEPPELIN! Not the drummer for the mediocre band Nirvana and the Lame Foo Fighters...though grohl is a very fine drummer he is not in the same league as Jonesy.....
growler | August 19, 2009 5:47 PM
GOOD GOD, WHATS GOING ON HERE!??!?!
its been 10 friggin days since this page was updated!
get on it scaggs!
Anonymous | August 15, 2009 1:32 PM
AIAI, ever heard the lemon song, asshole?
Jungleland2 | August 12, 2009 9:57 AM
that's funny AIAI
There is not a rock bass player in the world who would not put John Paul Jones in his top three
(the other two might be Paul McCartney and Jack Bruce.. or maybe Flea or Tony Levin)
Will Ruppenthal | August 11, 2009 6:17 PM
To start off I have to say I'm not the biggest Led Zep. fan in the world, actually I'm not really a fan at all. However Queens of the Stone Age is my second favorite band barring Smashing Pumpkins, and I'm a fan of Dave Grohl's work as well. Being a drummer and a Queens fan I really envy the drumming on Songs for the Deaf and how Josh and Dave were able to create such a unique sound even though its not my favorite QotSA album. Seeing Foo Fighters live in Philadelphia last year really showed me Grohl's ability as not only a musician but a showman too. Once again I'm not a Zeppelin fan, but I'm not stupid, I respect their abilities and mastery of rock and roll music they're just not my style I guess. Either way, knowing Josh and Dave can work so well together, I don't see how adding one of the best bassists in rock history could lead to anything less then amazing. I anticipate the album, I anticipate the tour, and I don't want to wait any longer. Them Crooked Vultures (by the way does anyone know if that is somehow relevant to the "vultures of culture" phrase written on the inside of Era Vulgaris?) is going to be something special.
jabronee | August 11, 2009 5:26 PM
WHO; i gotta disagree with the most talented member arguement. in my opinion anyway, dave grohl (realizing that saying a modern musician is more talented than a classic rocker is very taboo) is insanely talented! i'd say he's probably the best rock drummer pop culture has ever seen. his song writing abilities need no explanation (see any ff record), vocally his range, growl, and screams are better than most, and he's a showman to boot.
JPJ was always the quiet guy who garnered respect with age. talented yes, but nowhere near mr.grohl.
who | August 11, 2009 4:38 PM
AIAI says:
"JPJ is just a lucky bass player and not even a particularly innovative one at that."
Ha ha. That is the funniest, most innacurate sentence I've read all month. Not innovative? Have you heard his bassplaying on "Ramble On"? How about just about any of the tracks from all the Zep records up through "Presence"? That makes me laugh. Unless your "stoner cousin" is Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Andy Fraser or the late John Entwistle," I don't think JPJ has anything to worry about ... :) Personally, I think JPJ has the most talent of any of the members of this new supergroup, although I do like and respect Grohl. But let's face it, no one in Nirvana or Foo Fighters is as gifted as the people in Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Who, etc. They were true innovators who sounded nothing like anyone else.
Andrés | August 11, 2009 2:13 PM
They should get Jack White to join them!!!
Jack Del Rio | August 11, 2009 1:37 PM
Jake Delhomme is lucky even to be on stage, after losing Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Andy Summers | August 11, 2009 1:11 PM
AIAI, you are an idiot.
Anonymous | August 11, 2009 12:37 PM
JPJ wrote and co-wrote a lot of songs for Led Zep. Ever heard All My Love. Yeah the music was written by JPJ. You're an idiot.
saltlick | August 11, 2009 12:16 PM
JPJ is a master and deserves respect.
AlAl | August 11, 2009 3:43 AM
grohl invited rolling stone and he is buddies with the writer of the article. Like he is gonna say if they suck or not. they probably do rock but for the record it wouldn't matter who was on the bass unless it was a chilli peppers or primus gig or something. JPJ is just a lucky bass player and not even a particularly innovative one at that. they could of had my 18 yr old stoner cousin on the bass hes pretty good
SqueedlyWheedlyMcGoo | August 10, 2009 7:25 PM
Maneesh - Perhaps you should have said "In Utero" if indeed you thought that "In Utero" had "the best drum beats." But since you didn't even know which album Grohl played on, I must assume that you don't know much about Nirvana and you're just a poor thinker.
Alfred | August 10, 2009 4:37 PM
LED ZEP ARE GODS !
Suz | August 10, 2009 3:29 PM
I can't wait to hear this music! I love Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters!
funkymf | August 10, 2009 3:01 PM
It was nice that lolla not only screwed us with a half ass replacement for the beastie boys. They put these guys who would have been a better more exciting headliner then janes or the killers as a 50 dollar last minute after show which many had technical difficulties ordering tkts online. Also it was rumored at the festival that most tkts went to corporate sponsers. Enjoy your cash lolla.
austin | August 10, 2009 2:25 PM
I was at the concert last night. Probably one of the hottest venues I've ever seen a gig at, literally. It was about 110 degrees inside! It actually made this experience even more memberable, everyone dripping with sweat listening to some of the best rock to come out in years, they sounded like they've been playing together for decades. If Queens and the Foo's never make another record I wouldn't care so long as it means these guys will be around together for a long time.
Maneesh Sharma | August 10, 2009 2:08 PM
My apologies, perhaps I should have said In Utero...
Regardless, a great drummer..
Chris Mabe | August 10, 2009 2:07 PM
Grohl didn't play on Bleach, Maneesh.Wish I could have been there though. Can't wait to hear more about the Vultures.
Kip | August 10, 2009 2:06 PM
Maneesh-
Hate to burst your bubble, but Grohl didnt play on Bleach. Nirvana at the time was backed by Chad Channing on drums. But Grohl did record drums for most of Songs for the Deaf. Thats your conselation prize; thanks for playing.
Tog | August 10, 2009 2:05 PM
erm, pardon my typo.
Tog | August 10, 2009 2:04 PM
sounds great, I can't wait for the album. JPJ is the entire reason I ever picked up a bass.
btw, Maneesh, the drums on Bleach are not preformed by Grohl as he didn't not join Nirvana until the following year. They are played by Chad Channing.
Maneesh Sharma | August 10, 2009 1:59 PM
I was at the metro last night and it was a blistering show of talent. Nothing compares to Josh's singing and JPJ doing bass lines + Grohl on the drums. You understand in one second why Bleach had the best drum beats, Song's for the Deaf had mysterious riffs, and Houses of the Holy had insane bass lines. This group is surely the sum of its parts and Them Crooked Vultures is a sonic expletive that says, we rock. Whether high or low, or Josh's corona sips between songs, they were not ostentatious, and amazingly humble with their over the top rock sonicgarden of insanity.
Zach Toman | August 10, 2009 12:58 PM
Last night, I would've killed someone to be in the audience.
Hell, I would've killed someone just for some streaming audio.
But, after reading this, I'm still drenching myself with anticipatory drool.