Four Best Moments From Queens of the Stone Age’s ‘Catacombs Concert’ in Los Angeles

Josh Homme, the much-celebrated lead singer for the Queens of the Stone Age, performed one of his most daring concerts yet in Los Angeles — his first in his adopted hometown after a health scare last year forced him to cancel a number of shows. 

A native of nearby Palm Desert, the 52-year-old Homme has said little about the 2024 health scare that forced him to cancel part of the part’s tour, instead channeling the experience into a foray into both death and claustrophobic darkness, with the release of this year’s Alive in the Catacombs EP. Created as a tribute to the six million people buried in Paris’ underground ossuaries, the unique record features stripped down versions of of the band’s deeper cuts, partially rearranged with several string accompaniments, all recorded live in the cavernous confines of the underground Parisian layer.  

Fans loved the concept and early this year, Queens of the Stone Age announced they were taking the show on the road, expanding their setlist beyond those on the original EP to feature 17 deep cuts, including “Spinning in Daffodils” from Homme’s former side project Them Crooked Vultures. Many tracks were rearranged with new string and horn accompaniments, which often dramatically reworked the material.

For the Live in the Catacombs tour, the band booked 18 performing arts venues and theaters, including last night’s concert at the Dolby Theater, home of the famed annual Academy Awards at the famous intersection of Hollywood and Highland. 

The result was a new live concept show for the band anchored by Homme, Dean Fertita, Jon Theodore, Michael Shuman and Troy Van Leeuwen. Tuesday’s performance skipped the typical over-the-top theatrics of a QOTSA arena concert and instead delivered an evening of entertainment that was theatrical, intimate and at times uncomfortable and even unsettling, yet ultimately ended on a moment for both Homme and the band.   

Below, check out Billboard‘s picks for the four most memorable parts of the night.