Live Review: Them Crooked Vultures

Them Crooked Vultures
Fox Theater
Oakland, CA
11.19.09



"So fuckin' good they almost killed me"

"They killed it bro"

You hear these Spicolli-inflected pieces of musical zen when people talk about a recent concert they caught. Clearly still in their post show glow, these phrases cut to the heart of why many music fans attend live concerts: Go to a show, get your mind blown.

The crowd that packed the Fox Theater in Oakland to see Them Crooked Vultures Thursday night were most likely blabbing the same thing to friends and coworkers the next morning.

When drummer Dave Grohl, vocals/guitar Josh Homme, guitar/keyboards Alain Johannes and bassist John Paul Jones hit the stage and started tearing into songs off their new eponymous album, it was clear the band came to blow the roof off the joint.

Songs like "Elephant", "Mind Eraser No Chaser" and "Dead End Friends" exploded waves of heavy riffage on the crowd. Grohl and JPJ were the perfect rhythm section storm, with Grohl doing his best to destroy his drum kit before the shows end.

Take equal parts Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age and serve with amps on 11. This, was rock'n roll bliss.

We could try and describe what this lil' aural slice of heaven sounded like, but you are better off watching this.


Let me tell you how good this band is: During the song "Interlude with Ludes", I couldn't help but notice how psychedelic the lights had become, and how heady the music was making me feel. I started to feel like I was tripping.

My first thought: I've been dosed.

Looking at my brother-in-law standing next to me, who had ordered the same beer at the bar as I had seemed fine. Then I almost passed out and hit the floor.

I had dehyrdrated/overheated. Concert tip #7: Always take your heavy coat off at a show kiddies.

After grabbing some water, I enjoyed the remainder of the show, including the jam on "Spinning In Daffodils", before heading home with a big shit eating grin on my face.

The Vultures had almost killed me.