Photo: Thanira Rates
The return of Eagles Of Death Metal has been long awaited, full balls-out rock riffs with a psychedelic and "don’t take yourself too seriously" attitude doesn’t exist in 2015, but is one hell of a welcomed return at London’s Koko.
As the cover of new album Zipper Down shows, depicting the faces of Josh Homme and Jesse Hughes over the breasts of an undressing woman, the band haven't lost their humour, and tonight proved they haven't lost their ability to rock either.
Jesse Hughes emerged, tattooed arms aloft to ‘Everybody Dance Now’ blasting through the speakers as Josh Homme quietly set himself up behind the drum kit, the current tour features the original line-up with Homme (or Baby Duck) for the first time in years.
Hughes was suitably moustached, soaking up the bubbling atmosphere in his greased back hair and vest-top, whilst Iggy Pop watched from the balcony nestling his bare crossed feet on the bars.The Eagles threw themselves into a snappy duo of songs, in the form of ‘Bad Dream Mama’ and ‘Don’t Speak (I Came to Make a Bang!)’. Josh Homme remained mostly quiet throughout the evening but takes up a verse with that distinctive snarl on ‘Anything ‘Cept the Truth’.
Hughes was on top showman form, and genuinely seemed overwhelmed by the ecstatic reaction to the tunes. “This next song's a lie 'cos I don’t wanna be in LA, I wanna be here in London with you,” Hughes exclaimed before charging the band through 'Wannabe in LA'. He carries the traditional rockstar image, simultaneously mocking and owning it, as he licked his fingers every time he has to push his trademark glasses up his nose, and dedicating a number of songs to 'the ladies'.
Josh Homme doesn't steal Hughes' shadow, and is never directly mentioned throughout the evening, "I'd like to thank Baby Duck who brought me into this musical world." And as the verse of "It gives me wiggles and makes my rump shake" rings out in 'I Only Want You', it sure feels great to have a bit of a giggle back in Rock 'n' Roll.
Eagles of Death Metal played:
‘Bad Dream Mama’
‘Don't Speak (I Came to Make a Bang!)’
‘Anything 'Cept the Truth’
‘Cherry Cola’
‘Whorehoppin' (Shit, Goddamn)’
‘Complexity ‘
‘Heart On’
‘So Easy’
‘Wannabe in L.A.’
‘Miss Alissa’
‘Already Died’
‘Stuck in the Metal With You’
‘The Reverend’
‘Secret Plans’
‘Silverlake’
‘I Like to Move in the Night’
‘I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)’
‘I Got a Feelin (Just Nineteen)’
‘I Only Want You’
‘Speaking in Tongues’
