The main thing that hits you is just how good Josh Homme’s voice actually is. Now aged 52, a rock’n’roll stalwart who’s famously lived hard and fast, and with a recent life-threatening illness under his belt, the idea to strip everything back to a set’s most exposing parameters - solo, acapella, with nothing to hide behind - could be a fool’s game. And yet, remaining on stage for a final take on Long Slow Goodbye, his rich, note-perfect vocal cements an evening of superlatives.
Yes, Queens of the Stone Age are one of the century’s most celebrated rock bands. But away from the mosh pits and the frenzy, they’re also the genre’s most interesting songwriters, helmed by a sharp-suited mouthpiece who weaves between chatty hilarity, earnest declarations and an undeniable performance that could silence any doubters. Heading into the final straight of the year, tonight is a late contender for 2025’s best gig.
