Queens of the Stone Age returned to Cardiff last night for their first headline show in the capital for over twenty years, and it was worth the wait!
The sell out show at Cardiff Castle, part of their End is Nero tour in support of their new album, In Times New Roman…, will be one of only a few shows in the UK this year, with the veteran rockers also headlining The Other Stage at Glastonbury on Sunday.
QOTSA remain frontman Josh Homme’s longest and most consistent musical outlet. He’s regarded as one of the most influential rock guitarists of his generation, developing a unique style of melodic yet deeply heavy rock with desert rock titans Kyuss. In the wake of their demise, and after a brief spell with the Screaming Trees, Hommes formed QOTSA in the late 90s but has continued working on a host of side projects and collaborating with legends as diverse as Iggy Pop, Mavis Staples and Elton John.
The band have sold millions of records worldwide, but hearing their take on rock and roll live, in the open air, is why the 10,000 strong crowd came to Cardiff Castle on this warm summer evening, and they were in for a treat.
The set kicked off with two old favourites, Go with the Flow, with its fast tempo instantly lifting the crowd before the intensity Sick, Sick, Sick.
The new songs from In Times New Roman… worked well alongside cuts from across the band’s back catalogue.
There was a touch of ‘70s glam stomp about Made to Parade but delivered in their unmistakable style. QOFSA have never been a band to “rock and not to roll”, and the sleazy grooves of Make it Wit Chu & new Bowie-esq song Caravoyeur got the crowd moving with their hips as well as their heads.
The setlist was peppered with light and shade, with fan favourites, hits and new songs creating a show that never dipped or felt like the band were going through the motions.
They looked like they were enjoying themselves too, with Josh telling the crowd he was overjoyed to play at the iconic castle. A subtle “I love you Mark” before the Lanegan co-written In the Fade paid tribute to the late Screaming Trees and past QOTSA singer who died in February 2022.
Homme and company closed the night with A Song for the Dead from platinum selling third album – a quintessential QOFSA track that rocked the very foundation of the ancient castle stones.
The joyful fans headed out of the castle gates into the city night, faces grinning and ears ringing, no doubt looking forward to repeating the experience in their living rooms on Sunday night.
