(Performance in Metro, Chicago. August 9,2009)Thanks God, not every rocker is Pete Towhshend, who wish to “die before I get old.” By the way, even Townshend does not die before he got old, doesn’t he? Well, leave him be. For now, what we’re going to see is Them Crooked Vultures, an (elderly) men band. Come on, with the members’ age ranges from of 37 to 64, elderly men band wouldn’t be too impolite of a description for them, right? It is the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Dream Team” every rock music lover could ever dream of these days, with Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Probot), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age—QOTSA), and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) (plus a semi-permanent additional Alain Johannes, an avid rocking guitarist nonetheless).
So, what’s so great with this Them Crooked Vultures? You see, I never want to sound like “the old days were better” but seeing the music scenes and events nowadays—when so many try to look sexy, smart, and overly conscious—I guessed the only step worth taking is backward. But then, these guys came. Actually this nascent project began in mid 2009, but I listened to their first self-titled debut album in mid 2010. (It’s not about who got it first, right?)
In the scale of 1 to 5, I’ll give their first album, Them Crooked Vultures, 4 stars; four and a half for their live performances. It has the raw-sheer-queer guitar sound and melodic vocals of Josh Homme, similar to QOTSA (It’s his tone-color, Dude). Yeah, I know. I love that Homme’s bluntly sharp distortion sound. Dave Grohl—never saw him having these many toms and cymbals on his drum set—is still as damn pounding as he’s ever been on a drum. And talking about Grohl, that says a lot. John Paul Jones, in this latest band of his or in the legendary Zeppelin, always has the role of the cool groove keeper. As a former member of a band that defined modern Rock ‘n’ Roll, sure he knows how to rock. Always keeps the base line precise, plays as cool and groovy as needed to; and despite the fact of once being the god of the other band members, he seems to enjoy playing alongside the other members. And last but surely not least is Alain Johannes. He may not look like it—he looks like an Italian mobster in his suite—but when he plays with a slider on his guitar…So raw…awesome!
Guess it will be too much to say Them Crooked Vultures is the culmination of rock ‘n’ roll; with each members represents different era of rock: 70’s rock golden age (Led Zeppelin), 90’s grunge and alternative (Nirvana), and late 90s’–early 2000 stoner rock. But they do bring refreshment when other options—better ones or at least as good—are so scarce. So, the easiest apparent conclusion is: They rock!
(*) Here’s a download link for their debut album and some of their life performance by my pick. I’m not the one who intentionally uploads these materials on the internet. I merely found them and share them for whoever might need them for whatever purpose. (*)
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3 Respones to "It Takes Some Old(er) Guys to Rock These Days"
Elderly men band? C'mon, that's a little harsh and extreme isn't it? Okay, okay, so 64 is kind of old. But it's not like John Paul Jones just started playing or ever quit playing. Besides, 64 is the new 44...and 37 is the new 17. Why should age matter anyway? "Older" just means "experienced".
Multi-talented Grohl has always been a good drummer; pounding skins like he was dropping bombs. Homme is an outstanding songwriter, guitar player and vocalist. John Paul Jones can play the bass better than John Entwistle (The Who bassist who is actually dead) and Flea combined, because he doesn't overplay. A good bassist knows his place in a band and doesn't try to play like Yngwie Fucking Malmsteen on the four string trying to outdo the guitarists in the band. A great bass player holds down a firm and steady groove and shatters skulls with infrasonic power.
With talent like this, these guys should rock and will rock until they are 80. AND!!...what Sang said.
December 19, 2010 at 11:01 PM
I said that out of respect. I mean, look what happen with the latest (so-called) rock generation-in the mainstream music industry off course-where those emo (young) kids shaking their bangs, trying to look tough with sissy tunes. While if we learn the biography of our rock heroes (from MC5 to Rage Against, from Ian Curtis to Kurt Cobain), we will see how ass-kicking their music was at that age.
No, I'm not against new things from newer generations (thanks God we still have the likes of White Stripes, The Hives, or the Dresden Dolls), but sometimes a "newer" generation need to look back at the "previous" generations, such as the members of Them Crooked Vultures.
Hmmm, "previous generation." Should I address them that way instead?
P.S. Yngwie is not even a guitarist.
January 1, 2011 at 12:46 AM
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