Live Review: Queens of the Stone Age- "The End Is Nero Tour" with The Kills

6/25/2025

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Huntington Bank Pavilion - Chicago, Illinois
Saturday - June 21, 2025

Wow.
Such a show at Huntington Bank Pavilion / Northerly Island Chicago on a very hot and sweaty Saturday night.
Made memorable for lots of reasons-
One that comes to mind first and foremost- the limited and no fuss stage presentation- that being lighting and backdrops.
Everything at a minimum, with a stellar band such as this- the emphasis is on music baby.
Nothing but ultra cool music presented by ultra cool musicians.
This current lineup- heavy hitters all.
Troy Van Leeuwen.
Jon Theodore.
Dean Fertita.
Michael Shuman.
Josh Homme.
Such a band.
A solid solid band.
The setlist- gnarly and wonderous.

Opening with "A Song for the Deaf" and then into "No One Knows"- (Usually flipped from the previous show- if for anything to keep each and every show tight and unique).
Those songs in particular, the title from their third release back in 2002 and in particular "No One Knows"-
Mind blowing when you think of it, their relevance, their staying and slaying power to the present day, songs that command, make you stand up and pay attention.
Back then, everyone was in agreement at how genre demolishing the band was (and still is), along with that album in particular.

Josh and his band mates- branching out in all directions, and taking mighty risks.
"No One Knows"- Killer riffs swirl around all over the map.
Hard to keep up, let alone dealing with the gusty and hot winds which didn't seem to let up all night.
Made the festivities on the grounds more like a desert experience throughout the evening, even on the shores of Lake Michigan.

No matter- 19 songs in total, with nary a letup in sight.
Easy and catchy grooves prevailed, everyone seemingly laser focused on command related to song, highlights abound, all the way down to "Little Sister", which by the looks of the things fandom wise, Huntington's main floor was crazy/ nutty in exuberant dance, hot and gnarly sweaty equal to Josh Homme and band.
This band matters?
What do you think!

They haven't aged a bit musically wise, age wise kinda as well, even though it looked like Josh got a tight marine buzzcut by the looks of things, if for anything he looked more menacing than per usual.
This band- they ain't a last gasp rerun.
They came to play, they came to have fun, finding again and again that hook laden sweet spot of melodic hard rock into occasionally some heavy metal.
And yes the entire band- up for the challenge, enjoying this catalog of wonders, frothing at the bit to unleash the hounds when necessary.
The bonafides on my part are deliberate.

You leave a show like this, it sticks to you like glue for days.
Took me like forever to compose myself in regards to editing the photos in an orderly fashion. picking through most of the red lighting that looked like they would pop off the page, let alone getting to write about this show, and what it means to a guy like me who's followed the band since way back when, since the likes of Kyuss back in I think 1991 or thereabouts.
Amazing when you think of it, the Queens of the Stone Age trajectory, to the present day, and relishing in all things band related.

Mortality can ring its ugly head and make you change things on a personal level, making you appreciate the little things a little more than you're used to for example.
It clearly shows in the overall vision and attitude with all things Queens, grown ups, all of them, followed by grown up playing.
The Queens crowd certainly understands this in spades.
That Chicago stop tour poster and the line before the gates opened, into the line for merch in the Pavilion- unbelievably long.
This show- easily one of the best shows of the year, hands down electrifying, ratcheting up the tempo on proceedings over and over and over.
Queens of the Stone Age- Still a band for our times, times ten.

And as for Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince of The Kills-
What an opener for a show like this, even though they played with the sun still out- no matter, the gnarly and sexy and scuzzy feel of the songs still held sway, and given a longer set than per usual, which was cool in itself- some twelve songs with bite and bare boned power, even for a two piece.
"Dark and kick ass garage rock", as some would say.
Well yeah, of course.
Sneering and sexy grooves abound, made even more so with the sweaty heat and gusts of winds throughout their set as well.
Love this band, even though they played in daylight.
That says something about their demeanor and playing style as well.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Queens of the Stone Age, Huntington Bank Pavillion, Lake Michigan, The Kills, Chicago Live Music, Summer 2025, JBTV Music Television, Jerry Bryant, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Josh Homme

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Live Review: Queens of the Stone Age- "The End Is Nero Tour" with The Kills

Queens of the Stone Age, Huntington Bank Pavillion, Lake Michigan, The Kills, Chicago Live Music, Summer 2025, JBTV Music Television, Jerry Bryant, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Josh Homme

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