When Josh rocked the house - QOTSA tear through the Odyssey

QUEENS of the Stone Age are a band that bridge the hard rock and heavy metal genres and occasional pop fan scenesters brought up in watching videos in the noughties in student flats.

That aside, when John Homme and his merry mad men played the Odyssey Arena, Belfast on 18th November QOTSA played as if they were rocking a festival of devoted rockers, backed by an impressive and varied stage set that cunningly married the sense of the songs with visual paradies.

However, as some refer to Queens as an alt-rock or indie band it was appropriate that two alt-rock/indie acts opened the bill.

Sweethead are fronted by Serrina Simms on vocals, who appeared wearing an all-in-one bodysuit, prompting misogynistic shouts from numpties who really shouldn't be allowed out unescorted. The sound for Sweethead - formed by QOTSA guitarist Troy Van Neeuwen and ex-members of the Mark Lanegan Band, Plexi and Handscome - was typical overblown indie rock, lot of noise but a lot less substance.

Compounding the problems for Sweethead were a quarter full hall and a sound mix with the drums over-bearing and the guitars almost drowning out Simms vocals. Although slightly reminiscent of Jeanette Lewis, there is potential here if the band were to drop trying to be 'indie' and just get rocking.

For Nathan Connolly, the problem seemed to be the Snow Patrol guitarist's memory. After an impressive hard opening from Little Matador he told the crowd that it was great to play Belfast and that it was Little Matador's first time. He later had to be reminded that Little Matador had played Belsonic festival in the heart of the city opening up for Nine Inch Nails.

Having said that the band were much tighter this time round, tours and club dates have honed them to razor-edge sharpness. Shatter was particularly impressive amid a cacophony of noise.

Noticeably more relaxed than Belsonic, the triple guitar act were a fitting opener for QOTSA, but one wonders if Connoly and the band (who also include Troy Stewart from Gary Lightbody's side project Tired Pony) can escape from the shadow of Snow Patrol. [You can read our pre-gig interview with Nathan Connolly here.] Also, given the (very) slight resemblance in some tracks to the headliners it is a matter for speculation if the band's name is in anyway connected to QOTSA's label - Matador Records.

Stage cleared from the clutter of supporting acts the scale of the stage set became apparent - a stripped down set of amps and instruments dwarfed by a ceiling height screen and an assortment of neat lighting effects.

Queens of the Stone Age are now old hands at playing stadia. With recent release...Like Clockwork indicating a return to some of the earlier desert rock grooves the set had a balance and a pace clearly designed to both please the crowd and to introduce newer tracks.

With the Odyssey curtain covering an empty back quarter of the hall clearly the number of recent and walk-up sales for this MCD promoted event ensured the rest of the standing area was packed in as they tore into the set with precision and power, a long way divorced from easy classification as desert or stoner rock.

Of the newer tracks Fairweather Friends stood out, along with encore opener The Vampyre of Time and Memory. One feels that these will become set regulars in future appearances along with the title track ...Like Clockwork.

However, for many in the hall excitement was reserved for the single hits of the Queens' past. Having No One Knows as the second track of the evening showed a stylish touch in keeping the crowd engaged.

The illuminations and visuals on the backdrop were a mirror to each track, worryingly disconcerting in the best possible way for the band's mythos of part bandidos, part cynical observers.

Of course Go With The Flow was impressive and closer Song for the Dead was drawn out appropriately for the by now adoring crowd.

However, there was a distinct lack of connection between songs with the audience. Saying the word "Belfast"" after the second track, asking "If we can play a new track" were about the sum of things until he apologized with the somewhat lame excuse of "I don't know always what to say, but we know what to play" this seems to be par for the course for Homme.

The 'Ginger Elvis' is the only remaining member from the original QOTSA line-up; and while the diverse and challenging arrangements on some tracks may reflect the past of the Queens, Homme's metal roots (Kyuss etc) are there for all to hear in the sheer weight of the sound and the riffing of the guitars.

While this was a memorable night for many fans, once you strip away the backdrop this was a good, entertaining set, rather than a great performance.

It is also probable that many present would willingly see them again, though sales suggest they may have to travel to see them on the festival circuit.

Overall the Queens of the Stone Age are now far removed from the desert generator parties. It may not be possible to ever recreate those, and with Homme's near-death on the operating theatre in 2010 this is probably a more reflective time for the band to consolidate their position and earn a few extra dollars (which no-one can blame them for, it is their 'job' after all!).

Therefore any hopes for spontaneity would be forlorn, but a little more verbal interaction could have elevated Homme's already high standing.

Snow Patrol man speaks to Belfastmetalheads and RockRadioni...No really, he did!

WE have made a wee bit of a point in the past about our views on Snow Patrol - and in rather disparaging terms too. Thus when Nathan Connolly of the band launched his side project Little Matador we weren't that hopeful.

But snagging the support slot with Nine Inch Nails gave us an opportunity to see whether this would be another snooze patrol or was there genuine hard rock lurking in the guitarist.

It was a pleasant surprise then when the three guitar alt-rock hit the stage with a noise that was definitely in the heavier side; groove rhythms, riffs and concentrated rock that verged on the metallic at times.

All of which begged the question: for Connolly, which came first the rock or the middle of the road safety...Before tomorrow night's support slot with the mighty Queen's of the Stone Age at Belfast's Odyssey Arena we asked the chicken or egg question about which came first the rock or the melody.

"To play loud for sure," he said, "but melody has always been equally important to me. I don't see why you can't do or have both or want to express yourself in different ways, make different kinds of music.

"I listen to different kinds of music and they all inspire, but I wanted and needed to make this album for a while."

With last year seeing Snow Patrol taking a hiatus Connolly began to take Little Matador from a side project into a touring and recording reality, but is this a permanent thing?

"It's very much a permanent project," he told us. "We've just started, we've made a great album so we are serious about getting out there. I have commitments but I'll still be working and writing for Little Matador

"I feel even at this stage I want to make another record."

But is Connolly is 'happy' playing to a heavier soundscape with his band.

"I was never worried about feeling comfortable with that," he said. "I started off playing this way."

So, the thousands who turn out to see Snow Patrol at the likes of Tennents Vital should know that there is a hard rocker on stage...and now with an impressive cast of musos who are on the same page with Little Matador.

"It's brilliant! The band chemistry came together very quickly" Connolly explained. "We built on that and started writing.

"We've known each other for a long time but that doesn't guarantee that things will click, so it's great!"

All of which bodes well for those coming along tomorrow night and seeing the Little Matador machine rolling on.

With a number of impressive support slots already under their belt, being on the bill with Queends of the Stone Age at the Odyssey (amongst other dates) has honed the sound, one which may surprise audiences that have no idea of Connolly's dark (not so secret) alter ego in Snow Patrol - well think it's a dark 'secret' that we'll not whisper any more about, but what reaction have rock fans had when they have shared stages with the likes of Nine Inch Nails.

"It's been great to get those slots," he said. "As to reaction I have no idea, really. Some people may be surprised, some will know and have been, others will have no idea.

"I want to be judged on what they hear and see with Little Matador regardless of what other band or projects I'm in or involved with."

And that's the attitude that should see hard rock fans take the band seriously - any musician worth their salt should be judged on what they do.

Little Matador open for Queens of the Stone Age tomorrow night at the Odyssey Arena, some tickets are still available. Get there early and judge Little Matador on what they do, not what they have done before.

A challenge for the Little Matador

WHEN we all stumble from tonight's (Friday 15th November) show in Belfast's Ulster Hall with ears ringing with metallic tinnitus, and get over Saturday's rock - whether you are at The Pavillion with Trucker, at the Diamind Rock Bar with Tigertailz - there's always Queens of the Stone Age to look forward to on Monday....

You will all already be familiar with Josh Homme and the output of QOTSA, the majority of which you should be familiar with and if you haven't got your ticket tucked in your wallet or purse are planning a purchase on our before Monday night.

But, when you queue up at the Odyssey Arena on Monday are you prepared for Snow Patrol? Okay, panic not loyal readers, for you will not be exposed to Gary Lightbody's soporific drone.

Instead there will be the alt-noise attack of Little Matador, the side project of Snore Patrol's Natahan Connolly.

With the likes of Dave Mage of La Faro and Gavin Fox of Idlewild joining Connolly for this triple guitar act it most definitely is not the middle class safe Snore Patrol sound.

When Little Matador opened for Nine Inch Nails at Belsonic they garnered a few inquisitive nods of appreciation. Yes, they are not typical hard rock/metal, but they do lay on a guitar-orientated heavy sound.

Connolly, speaking in the summer to one of the rags that passes for a newspaper described the Little Matador sound: “It’s louder, dirtier, a little bit sleazier.  A healthy respect for noise.  It’s always weird describing music because everyone hears something different.”

We, like more than a few others will be making sure we're settled in early to make an assessment on Little Matador before passing further judgment. And then there's QOTSA with a setlist that includes the likes of Burn The Witch, Better Living Through Chemistry, The Vampyre of Time and Live and of course A Song for the Dead.

Review to come after the QOTSA show, but don't forget to look out for the reviews of tonight's Distortion Project/Belfast Music Week six-band attempt to tear down the Ulster Hall