Click Click: Them Crooked Vultures @ 9:30 Club
The 9:30 Club was absolutely packed Wednesday night for the D.C. debut of Them Crooked Vultures, a recently-formed hard-rock “supergroup” featuring Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame, Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, and multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones, who formerly played bass in a little band called Led Zeppelin. Joined by touring guitarist Alain Johannes, the high-profile trio treated the crowd to an impressive 90-minute set, more than justifying the hype that made this one of the most highly-anticipated shows of the year.
During songs like "Elephant," "Scumbag Blues," and "Caligulove," the Vultures displayed a tight, muscular, and dynamic sound, the power and immediacy of which belied the technical complexity of many of their compositions. Homme led the way on vocals and guitar, delivering riffs and melodies that were alternately inflected by blues, metal, psychedelia, and prog rock. His efforts were bolstered by what is surely one of the most formidable and accomplished rhythm sections in recent history. Grohl (who has roots in Alexandria, VA) seemed to revel in being back behind the drum kit in his hometown, masterfully demonstrating the aggression and dexterity that has made him one of rock's most acclaimed percussionists. Jones, meanwhile, added a stately presence, anchoring the music with characteristically precise bass lines that provided a perfect counterpoint to Grohl’s sheer explosiveness. Showing his versatility, and even a bit of showmanship, Jones also picked up a keytar during the quirky "Interludes with Ludes," and contributed a dramatic keyboard coda to the epic "Spinning in Daffodils."
Despite the band's brilliance, the audience was surprisingly reserved during much of the performance. This was, perhaps, partially due to the fact that this show lacked a key element of many fans' concert-going experience: the opportunity to hear and sing along to songs they already know. Them Crooked Vultures have issued no official recordings as of yet, though their debut album is due out on Interscope later this year. Until then, the band's music can only be properly encountered in live performances, and Wednesday's exceptional concert showed that no opportunity to do so should be missed.