Queens of the Stone Age 3/21/11

As advertised, they played their entire debut self-titled album front to back to start the show.  This CD was apparently narrowly released in 1998 and is being reissued later this week.  Would have just missed it.  Thanks to "...a little help from my friends" I was able to receive a copy via email in order to study up.  Then I went ahead and bought their entire catalog, cause, what the Hell?  Glad I did.  Leader Josh Homme, built more like that of an athlete and could win a Craig Kilborne look-alike contest hands down (in my opinion anyway), nearly died not long ago after suffering complications during leg surgery, having endured a long and arduous tour with his other band, Them Crooked Vultures (you may remember me writing about them a little over a year ago).  Well, you couldn't tell he had ever felt anything but healthy after that performance.  Man, that guy can friggin shred.  I imagine a lot of people would find their music a little abrasive and dark for their taste, and they wouldn't be wrong, but I can hear the melody to their madness.  Crispy guitar licks and sharp drumming made the debut album sound even better live in the intimate setting of Center Stage.  A band called the Dough Rollers opened up with their straight-up rock-a-billy sound, down to the suits and ties and the lead singers greasy Jerry Lee Lewis curls down the center of his forehead.  They could have opened up for Elvis or "The Man in Black" back in the fifties, with the exception of the modern shrillness of the front man's voice.  That would have probably gone over like a lead balloon (Zeppelin reference, who got it!!??).  Back to QOTSA.  They saved songs from after the first album for the multiple encores.  No "3's & 7's" or "No One Knows," the only Atlanta radio hit was "Little Sister" and the rest were deep tracks from some of the other five discs.  Again, glad I got 'em.