The fanfare surrounding rock’s “latest trend” transcends garage rock’s stripped-down sound and careless attitude. Kids these days are bringing back the tight ripped jeans, staying away from the shower and cutting their own hair if the scissors are dull enough. Sounds more like the early ‘90s grunge uniform than anything else. But while both garage rock and grunge have enjoyed their commercial success, a genre that also claims the disheveled dress has yet to fully break.
While you might vaguely remember the whack “Negasonic Teenage Warhead” video by Monster Magnet, it is the Queens of the Stone Age that has gained a reputation in recent years for reviving the overshadowed genre of stoner metal. Drawing from the early influences of Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult and Blue Cheer, Queens has deep roots in spliff smoking and churning out sludge-heavy riffs and grooves.
Hailing from desert-swept Southern California, Queens of the Stone Age originally began as Kyuss back in 1990. Although Kyuss’ first record went virtually unnoticed save for its small, devoted fanbase, it was the band’s second release, Blues for the Red Sun, produced by rocker peer Chris Goss of Masters of Reality, that won acclaim from the critics. Despite such rave reviews, it was 1992, the year that punk broke, and Blues’ reception was drowned out. Who wants to listen to stoner metal when Kurt Cobain is jumping into drum kits and Chris Cornell is, well, you know, being himself? Needless to say, Kyuss, despite guitar mastery, innovation and an explosive live show, imploded in 1995.
What re-emerged in 1998 was an amalgam of ‘70s-metal-psychedelia mixed with ‘90s-brooding-guitar-novelty. Joined by three of the four original Kyuss members, one of which had since joined grotesque punk band the Dwarves, Queens began touring. At the turn of the millennium, the band released its second album, Rated R, which, with steel drum beats and vibraphones cemented over classic overdriven guitar melodies, was followed once again by critical accolades.
As nu-metal topped the charts and pop anthems suffocated the airwaves, Queens of the Stone Age finally poked its head through the muck. Queens joined 2001’s Rock in Rio extravaganza, where a dismembered Guns N’ Roses debuted. And, as if to one-up Axl’s giggling gut, Queens’ guitarist Nick Oliveri played in his birthday suit, costing him a trip in the Brazilian paddy wagon. Songs for the Deaf, released this August, employs the same melodic, oft-monotonous riffs with haunting vocals reminiscent of the late Layne Staley.
Be warned: Queens of the Stone Age is not for those with attention deficit problems?the band’s songs can go on for as long as Stonehenge has stood. But if you can control your urges, check it out this Saturday at the 9:30 Club. Aggressive Austin rockers ?And You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead will join Queens for what will prove to be a raucous show, and if it’s not, at least you’ll get a contact high.
9:30 Club is located at 815 V St., N.W.
