Queens of the Stone Age have introduced a brand new live performance movie recorded stay within the legendary Catacombs of Paris.
Dubbed Queens of the Stone Age: Alive within the Catacombs, the movie captures the band performing a set of stripped again songs within the famed ossuary beneath Paris’ streets, weaving their sound along with the haunting silence of the tunnels. It was filmed in July 2024, and can turn into out there to hire or buy on the band’s web site starting June fifth.
The live performance was one thing frontman Josh Homme has had in thoughts for almost twenty years, and marked the very first time a band had obtained authorized sanction from the town of Paris to carry out within the Catacombs, among the many 6 million corpses resting there. In a press assertion, Homme joked it was “the largest viewers we’ve ever performed for.”
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Persevering with, Homme mentioned, “In case you’re ever going to be haunted, surrounded by a number of million lifeless folks is the place. I’ve by no means felt so welcome in my life.”
Musically, the efficiency noticed the band strip again their sound to acoustic fundamentals (partially as a result of lack {of electrical} shops), augmented by a three-piece string part. All through, extra parts — like utilizing chains and chopsticks as percussion, or the truth that there are not any overdubs or edits — add to the character of the efficiency, inviting the setting itself to be an lively participant in QOTSA’s imaginative and prescient.
Certainly, Hélène Furminieux of Les Catacombes de Paris mentioned, “The Catacombs of Paris are a fertile floor for the creativeness… Going underground and confronting reflections on demise is usually a deeply intense expertise. [Homme] appears to have felt in his physique and soul the total potential of this place. The recordings resonate completely with the thriller, historical past, and a sure introspection, notably perceptible within the refined use of the silence inside the Catacombs.”
In his personal phrases, Homme mentioned, “We’re so stripped down as a result of that place is so stripped down, which makes the music so stripped down, which makes the phrases so stripped down… It could be ridiculous to attempt to rock there. All these selections have been made by that house. That house dictates every thing, it’s in cost. You do what you’re instructed if you’re in there.”
Pre-orders for the Queens of the Stone Age: Alive within the Catacombs live performance movie are ongoing, and followers who buy previous to June seventh will obtain unique entry to behind the scenes footage. The efficiency will likely be made out there in audio-only codecs as properly, with particulars anticipated to be introduced “within the coming weeks.” Watch the trailer for the movie under.
In the meantime, QOTSA will hit the street subsequent month for his or her US tour dates with The Kills, marking their first main outing for the reason that band was compelled to postpone and cancel a variety of reveals in order that Homme may obtain “important medical care.” Get tickets right here.
