Them Crooked Vultures

The supergroup look good on paper, but how do they fare live?

15 December 2009

It's difficult to avoid using the word 'supergroup' but this is exactly what Them Crooked Vultures are - either that or Dave Grohl's wet dream come alive, writes Kerry Mason.

There’s the musical marvel in John Paul Jones, a friend/hero of Grohl’s having already played alongside him on stage with Foo Fighters last year. Then we have Josh Homme, no stranger to the side project having succeeded with the charismatic Eagles of Death Metal, is perhaps more better known for fronting Queens of the Stone Age, who Grohl has provided drums for on many occasions.

One could say this is one big ego-worship, but when it works as well as it does, who cares?

TCV may well swing from sounding a bit like Led Zep, to a bit like Queens but that’s to be expected. Musically, there’s nothing fresh or ambitious here but it’s damn exciting and sounds damn good, and you can’t help but pinch yourself once or twice.

Kicking off with the dirty album opener, ‘No One Loves Me’, an instant frenzy with man, woman, teenager and child headbanging to such a degree, it’s worrying that heads might roll. Jones and Grohl’s heavy and sinister rhythm section drive the songs and we’re reminded why Jones is so deserved of his legendary status by being the only man to pull off a key-tar and still look very cool during ‘Interlude With Ludes’.

Homme is as masterful as ever, the anti-hero of rock’s falsetto vocals work wonderfully with the sweaty rock monster sounds pounding from the stage. His gentle approach juxtaposed with his size, both physically and musically, ensures you can never take your eyes off of him.

The risk with so-called supergroups are that there is no urgency for them to make any worthwhile music; with a ready-made fan base musicians often take the easy route and rely on their status/egos to do all the work, thankfully, TCV are the exception. Grohl is tucked well away in a sweaty mess behind his kit, barely noticeable if it weren’t for his dynamite drumming which is loud, powerful and brutal. Jones makes no attempt at stealing the limelight, choosing to subtly stand in the shadows allowing Homme to take care of business.

TCV’s grimy, riff-roaring rock is doused with the blues, making for a thrilling show whilst putting current rock bands to shame - and so they should - they are each prolific musicians in their own right and who, together, sound as tight, loud and dirty as they do in your dreams.

By Kerry Mason.