Photos and Review: Queens of the Stone Age Bring ‘The End is Nero Tour' to Halifax
WRITTEN BY: KATIE GORDON // PHOTOS BY: MITCHELL JODREY // THE BOOM AT NOON 
Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme playing at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax on April 17. (Photo: Mitchell Jodrey // The Boom at Noon)
April 17 in Halifax marked the final Canadian stop on Queens of the Stone Age’s “The End is Nero Tour.” The band had 12 shows scheduled for this leg of the tour kicking things off in Calgary on April 1, but the following night when the band was set to play Edmonton on April 2, the band was forced to cancel their show due to illness. Thankfully the crowd was still able to enjoy the thrilling opener, The Struts who have been setting the tone for the tour every night and captivating the audience - and in Halifax that was no exception. We’re certain there are a few more fans of the band today.
The Struts frontman Luke Spiller playing at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax on April 17. (Photo: Mitchell Jodrey // The Boom at Noon)
The tour, in support of the band’s eighth studio album, “In Times New Roman…” was released in June 2023, and was the band’s first album since their 2017 release “Villains.” QOTSA frontman Josh Homme has had a tumultuous few years where several of his friends have passed away, a publicized divorce/custody battle and in 2022 was diagnosed with cancer, which he says he has been successfully removed due to surgery.
Despite being a band for 27 years, this show was only the band’s second time playing Halifax - the first happened nearly 16 years ago at the Cunard Centre following the release of their fifth studio album, “Era Vulgaris.” Because of this, for many fans in the crowd, it was their first QOTSA show and the energy and excitement at the Scotiabank Centre was palpable.
Troy Van Leeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age playing “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax on April 17. (Photo: Mitchell Jodrey // The Boom at Noon)
Throughout “The End is Nero Tour,” they’ve changed up their setlist each performance and the variety of songs played in Halifax didn’t disappoint, bringing a perfect blend of old favourites like “No One Knows” from their 2002 album “Songs for the Deaf” which was the first song of the night and new tunes from their latest album, like “Paper Machete” and “Emotion Sickness.”
The show had a few memorable moments including crowd interactions, smoking a cigarette while introducing the band, bringing Mike “Bubbles” Smith on stage to sing “Make It Wit Chu,” and a few inappropriate remarks, which sadly detracted from the otherwise stellar performance from the band.
They played for nearly two hours before taking a quick break before the encore, closing out the regular set with the 2005 single “Little Sister,” asking the crowd to get up on each other’s shoulders and go wild and give it everything we’ve got - and the crowd did. When the band returned to the stage they played two other tunes from “Songs for the Deaf” - “Go with the Flow” and “Song for the Dead.”
Queens of the Stone Age performing in Halifax on April 17. (Photo: Mitchell Jodrey // The Boom at Noon)
In closing, last night's concert in Halifax provided fans with an exhilarating experience, showcasing the raw talent and energy of both Queens of the Stone Age and The Struts, filled with both nostalgia and excitement.
