Queens Of The Stone Age
New Zealand 2011
Joshua Homme/Troy Van Leeuwen/Joey Castillo/Michael Shuman/Dean Fertita
Formed from the ashes of stoner rock icons Kyuss, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE have been one of the 21st century’s most engaging and ambitious hard rock groups, combining stoner-rock, metal and garage-rock into a mixture that’s both challenging and accessible. Led by frontman Josh Homme, QOTSA have pursued an agenda of moody, sexy, high-energy rock that flaunts its danger and oddness, winning over fans and critics in the process.
In what will be their first headline concerts in NZ ever, QOTSA announce three shows in February 2011. Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will be rocked to the core in a seismic smash up when the Queens deliver a killer live show featuring songs from their debut album.
Finally, the self-titled debut from 1998 ‘Queens Of The Stone Age’ will be re-issued in NZ on February 18th. It’s been remastered with three bonus tracks from the original recording session.
Joshua Homme was last in NZ with supergroup Them Crooked Vultures last January. The tour was the first for the Vultures in Australasia and the media regarded their NZ gigs as two of the best shows of the 2010, singing such praise as “Them Crooked Vultures - coming face-to-face, staring each other down and daring themselves to play as fast as humanly possible during the thrilling closing moments of their Auckland show.…That friendly competitive streak is the reason last year's debut album was one of the best of the year. It's also the reason Them Crooked Vultures' live shows are such a treat” and “These rock legends are just out to have some fun - and play beautifully sprawling, twisted and dissonant dance rock tunes while they're at it”.
After recording and touring with Vultures for the most part of 2009/2010, Homme brought the Queens back together to work on a forthcoming album (follow up to 2007’s Era Vulgaris) and to get the Queens Of The Stone Age show back on the road!
Supporting QOTSA at both shows is Cairo Knife Fight. A duo made up of two of New Zealand’s finest musicians, Nick Gaffaney and Aaron Tokona. Together they form a musical force like no other. Powerful, hectic and passionate performances with songs that twist and turn, taking the listener through many moods and sensations.
October also saw Cairo Knife Fight travel to New York City for the CMJ Music Festival. Their impressive performance gained interest from numerous booking agents and promoters for more performances next year.
2011 is set to be a great year for the Christchurch based duo with a summer tour and work underway on a new album and return tours of the US and Australia in the pipeline.
2011 will be a year of rock’n’roll resurgence and QOTSA and Cairo Knife Fights will kick it off with a monumental bang!
