Kyuss Lives! – London HMV Forum – Saturday 2nd April 2011 (Live Review)
Monday, 04 April 2011
Written by Rob Sleigh
“I fucking love my life,” yells the lead vocalist with German doom metallers Burden. Why? Because he’s spent the past three weeks touring with reformed rockers Kyuss Lives. That’s right – Kyuss Lives, as the original stoner band have chosen to re-christen themselves for this reunion tour without co-founder Josh Homme. A controversial decision, maybe. But apparently an acceptable one, judging by the dense crowd packed into the sold-out Kentish Town Forum. Many may argue that Kyuss merely represented a minor introduction to Homme’s colossal musical career. However, no one seems to have mentioned that to tonight’s audience, who are singing their hearts out to almost every tune played by the remaining three original members – John Garcia, Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork.
After Burden, who provide a modest but entertaining warm-up to this evening’s programme, we are treated to the delights of Norway’s Blood Cargo. Aptly dressed in a Down t-shirt, vocalist Dani does a remarkable impression of the sludge band’s Phil Anselmo, which goes down well in the rapidly filling London venue.
As an oddly-familiar pungent smell becomes faintly noticeable, the origin of the term “stoner rock” seems increasingly clear. This, along with the growing anticipation in the Forum, reaches its crucial peak as the lights go out and the three original members of Kyuss, along with guitarist Bruno Fevery, take to the stage for tonight’s Kyuss Lives show. Getting things off to an almighty start with ‘Gardenia’, the opener from 1994’s ‘Welcome to Sky Valley’, both old school and new school fans proceed to send the moshpit into fever pitch.
Garcia, who is somewhat more rotund these days, appears like a rock and roll mafia boss with his dark shades, ponytail and black shirt open to the navel. His voice, on the other hand, is much more familiar. The soulfully booming vocals soar far above the huge desert rock sound and even the deafening fans, who are ardently singing along. Continuing the fancy dress theme, drummer Brant Bjork attacks his kit looking like a heavy metal Jack Sparrow complete with bandana, long black curls and matching moustache. Bassist Nick Oliveri, with his clean-shaven scalp and faun-like beard, is instantly recognisable and probably the most familiar to younger Kyuss fans, who will know him from his days with Queens of the Stone Age.
Watching the reunited band on stage, you certainly get the impression that this was a long time coming. All four members frequently exchange amused glances and cheerful banter. Although they keep the conversation with the crowd to a minimum, this is far from a lacklustre set. As the band roll through classics like ‘Thumb’, ‘100 Degrees’ and ’50 Million Year Trip’, they appear to perform the near two-decade-old tracks with utter glee. Garcia spends much of the gig enthusiastically dragging his mic stand around the stage, while Oliveri swings imaginary hair around in time to the gigantic groove.
Kyuss Lives? It certainly seems that way. Although Homme’s hallmarks can be heard throughout Kyuss Lives’ performance, the band are still an immense force to be reckoned with, even in his absence. As they finish up with ‘Green Machine’ from 1992’s ‘Blues for the Red Sun’ and the audience head for the doors, there’s only one word that people will take away from tonight’s show.
Stereoboard Rating: 8/10
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As an oddly-familiar pungent smell becomes faintly noticeable, the origin of the term “stoner rock” seems increasingly clear. This, along with the growing anticipation in the Forum, reaches its crucial peak as the lights go out and the three original members of Kyuss, along with guitarist Bruno Fevery, take to the stage for tonight’s Kyuss Lives show. Getting things off to an almighty start with ‘Gardenia’, the opener from 1994’s ‘Welcome to Sky Valley’, both old school and new school fans proceed to send the moshpit into fever pitch. 
