Video: Them Crooked Vultures – “New Fang”
Damn, it’s good to see Dave Grohl back behind the drum kit where he belongs. And John Paul Jones looks like he’s having a great time being in a real rock and roll band again. Been a long time, indeed. Josh Homme scares the crap out of me though. I’m pretty sure he’d beat my ass for no reason.
“Mind Eraser” didn’t come across quite as well as “New Fang” but you can see for yourself below. We’re also including the goofy skit from the same episode where Grohl plays drums in a wedding band.
Video: Them Crooked Vultures – “Mind Eraser”
Video: Band Reunion at the Wedding
Completely torn on Them Crooked Vultures. I am their target audience to a tee: I am a HUGE fan of all three bands they represent (Nirvana, not so much with the Foo). I LOVE the idea of John Paul Jones rocking out again, Johnny Marr style, to a new generation who want to hear rock, not a tribute band. I mean, a reunited (3/4s reunited) Zep would be something I would gladly pay a lot to see, but I just feel so happy for the guy that he’s doing something completely different and legitimate, and that it’s already successful enough that they’re on SNL. He could play with anyone in the world, and instead of mellowing out with Clapton or something he’s out there with two heavy dudes. Dave Grohl is one of my favorite drummers, and Josh Homme is IMHO one of the more interesting figures on the rock scene today. I don’t think he’s always successful in everything he does, but he does so damn much that his average is pretty impressive.
SO… I knew the reality of Them Crooked Vultures could not match my own hype, and I feel that’s definitely the case. The songs, for me, just aren’t there. They’re mostly interesting, there’s two that I flat out don’t like at all, and there’s two that I really do. Other than that, meh. It’s a total kick to pick out the spots where you can really feel which guy is influencing what part, and it’s just sweet to hear these three guys jamming so well together. But to me it sounds like a jammier QOTSA album with more Classic Rock licks bleeding in than usual, and for the most part I find it fairly forgettable. Fun to listen to from a Music Geek standpoint, to be sure, but nothing that stands out. It does seem like a no-brainer that they’d be sweet in concert though. At the very least I hope JPJ has a blast with however long this lasts. From the little I’ve read it seems like he is.
“Damn, it’s good to see Dave Grohl back behind the drum kit where he belongs.”
Not a fan of the Foos, are we, Jake? heh heh (Don’t worry, I gave up on them after the third album.) For some reason, the Hulu clips from TCV’s SNL performance have a much better mix than the ones originally posted on YouTube, hmm…Don’t have a problem w/that version of “Mind Eraser”, btw; it’s my fave track on that album, by far.
As for the skit, the Cadena-Norton wedding–get it?–is a nice tribute to (spoof of?) ’80s American hardcore. Cool.
JF, I’m with you regarding your take on TCV. If it were more of a group than a side project they could probably iron out the kinks, but who knows if or when they get around to making another record? Then again, the Foos have probably run its course; Homme is basically doing here what he does in QOTSA; (and Alain Johannes could use the gig) so what’s to stop them from making this their main project? Especially, as you pointed out, they started out on top, not having to deal with establishing the band but pushing thru via individual name recognition.
I’m dissapointed by this band. They have, arguably, the greatest rythm section in rock n roll (today). Grohl is the best drummer of his genneration and John Paul Jones is the best bass play of his.
I think that Josh Homme is a let down. His voice is flat. When I hear that rhythm section I want to hear real rock vocals of the same quality. Something memorable. A scream that twists my guts. Or a high note that cuts into my eardrums But with Homme it’s just not there. Dave Grohl is a better singer, by far, than Homme.
As for The Foo…They’re one of the best bands of the past two decades. If you don’t like that statement I will fight you.