Concert Review: Hot Wind And Heavy Riffs: Queens of the Stone Age Blaze Through Chicago

Jun 23, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By James Currie

Chicago was a furnace: unrelenting heat that hit triple digits (now in it’s second day) plus gusty winds whipping around Northerly Island. The rigging creaked, tarps whipped behind the drum riser, and the crew even briefly paused to secure the stage when the winds made overhead lights sway alarmingly. But with speaker arrays lowered and banners removed the band and crowd powered through and it felt like survival of rock.

Opening this night was The Kills. A raw, smoky and electrifying duo featuring Alison Mosshart (from The Dead Weather) and UK singer songwriter Jamie Hince. Together, they cut through the heat with gritty swagger, launching into tracks like “Kissy Kissy”, “U.R.A. Fever”, and “New York”. Their performance was tight and urgent. They set the tone perfectly, drenching the crowd in noire blues and punk thunder.

QOTSA, evolving maestros of desert rock, took the stage with Conan the Barbarian theme, “Dagoth Ceremony” intro tape before ripping into an impressive, 17-song set that included classics like “A Song for the Deaf”, “No One Knows”, “Go With the Flow”.

They also played recent cuts like “Paper Machete,” “Emotion Sickness,” “Carnavoyeur,” “Kalopsia”. And for the true fans, deep cuts: “3’s & 7’s”, “Little Sister”, and a poignant “Misfit Love” shout-out to a fan. They even dedicated “I Sat by the Ocean” to The Kills, a classy nod. The energy peaked with “A Song for the Dead”, leaving the stage trembling with raw power. They paced the set beautifully, balancing hard riffs, new textures, and old favorites, with plenty of theatrical stops in between.

Front man, Josh Homme, thriving, evolving, leading the charge, seemed in a really good place. Post his health scare and cancelled dates in 2024, following emergency surgery, he looked upbeat, animated, and confident. He joked about the wind delays and sound quality and took time to check on both crew and fellow bandmates, visibly grateful to be back on stage. He’s clearly in a strong place mentally and physically.

One of the most stunning things was the sheer depth of the lineup. Besides Homme, the touring band featured Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita, Michael Shuman, and Jon Theodore—all of whom contributed to keyboards, backing vocals, guitar flourishes, and rhythm shifts. It felt more like a collective than a fixed group, an ever‑evolving sonic machine. With that many contributors, they easily surpass the supergroup nature of something like Martin Atkins’ Pigface.

Queens delivered a blazing performance of tight, dynamic and emotionally resonant music. Josh Homme’s spirit is infectious, and the band’s collaborative evolution keeps every show unpredictable. They’re no nostalgia act, they evolve with every tour, every lineup tweak. Each member seemingly a maestros of their own domain.

And for those who braved the heat and the wind, it was more than a concert, it was a moment where rock refused to yield to the elements. In extreme conditions, QOTSA proved once again why they’re among the best live bands on the planet and why their latest incarnation feels more powerful, expansive, and alive than ever.

For more on Queens of the Stone Age, click here

For photos from the QofSA, click here

For more on The Kills, click here

For photos from The Kills, click here