Queens of the Stone Age, Royal Blood Bring Mystical Show to Detroit

2017-10-18

Story and photos by Anne Erickson

Review + photos: Queens of the Stone Age headlined a vibrant rock bill at The Fox Theatre in Detroit

Desert rockers Queens of the Stone Age produce a relenteless, brawny kind of guitar rock with imagination and adventure. Ripping through their 20-plus song set on Tuesday (Oct. 17) at a sold-out Fox Theatre in Detroit, frontman Josh Homme and company brought that sound to life with the kind of onstage energy that is truly unique to Queens of the Stone Age.

On the road behind the California band’s latest studio album, “Villains,” Queens of the Stone Age pummeled through their rich catalog of songs on a vibrant stage, flashing with strobes and ghostly red and blue lighting.

With a rock-solid sound and presentation, the five-piece moved between careful and precise passages to fluid jamming, and the audience erupted with excitement at every twist and turn.

Queens of the Stone Age kept its towering energy throughout the show, with band members — Homme, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, guitarist and keyboardist Dean Fertita, bass player Michael Shuman and drummer Jon Theodore — moving smoothly and easily through the chunky set with songs such as “Monsters in the Parasol,” “The Way You Used to Do,” “Fortress” and eternal rock radio singles “Go With the Flow” and “No One Knows.”

Royal Blood, a young British duo that commands the stage as well as the vets, opened the concert, delivering an impressive blues-metal set with just bass and drums. Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher are something of musical soulmates, with a tight presentation on lively songs such as “Where Are You Now?,” “Lights Out” and “Little Monster.”

View concert photos from the evening here.

Queens of the Stone Age in Detroit on October 17, 2017. Anne Erickson

Queens of the Stone Age in Detroit on October 17, 2017. Anne Erickson

Queens of the Stone Age in Detroit on October 17, 2017. Anne Erickson

Queens of the Stone Age in Detroit on October 17, 2017. Anne Erickson

Royal Blood in Detroit on October 17, 2017. Anne Erickson

Royal Blood in Detroit on October 17, 2017. Anne Erickson..

Royal Blood in Detroit on October 17, 2017. Anne Erickson

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.