Them Crooked Vultures

The Fillmore Charlotte

Feb. 10, 2010

The Deal: Latest supergroup lives up to its name during hour-and-45-minute set at sold out show at The Fillmore Charlotte.

The Good: Where do I even start with this one? Shortly after 9 p.m., Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) walked out on stage, waved to the crowd and took his seat behind the drums. At the same time, guitarist Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and bassist John Paul Jones (Led Zepplin) took their own sides of the stage. Joined by guitarist Alain Johannes, the band kicked off with the opening track from its debut, self-titled CD, "Nobody Loves Me & Neither Do I." The band appeared relaxed, taking a bit of time to warm up, but roughly half-way through the track, when the bass and guitar riffs kick in and the drums hammer away, the group appeared to be in the groove of it... and they wouldn't slow down again.

JPJ always looks at ease on the stage, having seen him previously during the 2007 Superjam at Bonnaroo. Homme makes guitar playing look easy as his calm vocals sit nicely on top of intricate riffs — he also found plenty of time to take swigs off a bottle of Ketel One. Meanwhile, Grohl is an absolute animal behind the drums. It's easy to forget his Nirvana beginnings after so many successful years as the frontman/guitarist for Foo Fighters, but he beats the hell out of the skins with authority. Whether they slowed it down for "Bandoliers" or got the tempo going for "Reptiles," the packed audience appeared focused on every note, beat and word.

The crowd was loving every moment as the trio appeared to all enjoy every moment on stage together. Smiles were often exchanged between songs and even during instrumentals. JPJ, switching instruments often, offered up some background vocal help, but most often it was Homme's vocals with Grohl singing along from the back of the stage. The band was in full swing by the time they played the first single from the album, "New Fang," roughly halfway into its set.

The Vultures played every song on the new album, along with one new song, "Highway 1." While the album clocks in at nearly one hour and 10 minutes, the show lasted for an hour and 45 minutes as the band found time to extend some instrumentals, give Johannes a moment to offer a solo and let JPJ extend a keyboard interlude for nearly five minutes. The band also closed with the eight-minute "Warsaw" which left the crowd satisfied. Before that final song (there was no encore), Homme first joked that the band would be playing "Smells Like Teen Spirit," before suggesting "Black Dog." "Do you really think we're better than Led Zepplin?" he asked the crowd. "There's no way in hell!"

The Bad: Not a damn thing.

The Verdict: A rock show in every sense. Supergroup is a far-overused term, but when it comes to this trio, it can't be said enough. These guys aren't just well-known — they're incredibly talented as musicians and songwriters, as well as performers. Hopefully this isn't a one-off album and we'll see them in Charlotte again.

Setlist

No One Loves Me & Neither Do I

Dead End Friends

Scumbag Blues

Elephants

Highway 1

New Fang

Gunman

Bandoliers

Mind Eraser, No Chaser

Caligulove

Interlude with Ludes

Spinning In Daffodils

Reptiles

Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up