Nick Oliveri is probably best known for being the guy who got kicked out of Queens of the Stone Age. After seeing his show at the Frequency, the question was no longer why he got kicked out, but why Josh Homme even started another band with him after they were bandmates in Kyuss. Oliveri is easily the most offensive and inappropriate person I have ever seen on a stage. I lost count of his distasteful comments only a few minutes into his set. His extended rant about finding the Facts of Life character with cerebral palsy the most attractive “because she couldn’t get away” was easily the most cringe-inducing “banter” I have ever heard. The fact that he seemed proud of not remembering anything about the last QotSA show he had played in Madison was bewildering and embarrassing.
All of which may have been tolerable if his music had actually been good. It wasn’t. I can’t imagine what thought process led him to the decision that a solo acoustic record was a good way to follow up his tenure as the bass player in a very loud, very electric band. His rapid strum guitar playing was adequate, but a band might have at least disguised the fact that he can’t sing, at all. He completely destroyed a cover of the Ramones’ “Endless Vacation,” despite the fact that they may be the only band that wrote songs with fewer words than his songs. The best part of his set was when he brought his Australian girlfriend up to sing a song. While it was shocking that he has a girlfriend, it was a pleasant surprise that she could actually sing. Her deep, melodious voice was refreshing after his guttural screams. After she finished, an audience member asked, “why are you singing at all Nick?” Good question. Luckily he persuaded her to sing another. As she left the stage, someone else yelled “I’ve Got You Babe.” There was a pause and then everyone laughed when they realized how apt it was.
At this point you have to be wondering why I was even at this show. You know, sometimes it is fun to see a train wreck, which I was pretty sure this was going to be. It may have awful, but it was hilariously awful. As terrible as Oliveri was, the openers were well worth the ticket price. Helen Money is the stage name for Chicago-based cellist Alison Chelsey. Under this name she creates musical soundscapes with her cello using an array of pedals an electric guitarist would covet. It wasn’t necessarily my thing, or something I would listen to at home, but it was absolutely fascinating to watch her create them live. It also marks the first time I have seen a cellist stand up to play.
Perhaps even more impressive was the third band on this all-acoustic bill, local punk metal band Droids Attack. They obviously worked very hard converting their sludgy rock to acoustic instruments, and it was pretty cool. At times Brad Van’s screams would overwhelm his borrowed acoustic guitar which never seemed to be loud enough. The look on his face was priceless when he announced “listen to this,” as he held the guitar in front of the amp producing the slightest hum. “Feedback!” he declared, “I didn’t think it was possible.” Their drummer Tony Brungraber got off easy. Nate Bush looked slightly uncomfortable for most of their set, a wristband pulled up to mid-arm where it hit the edge of the much wider acoustic bass, but it sounded really cool. I applaud them for taking this gig so seriously, where the headliner obviously did not.
Helen Money
Droids Attack
Nick Oliveri
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