Rockers’ unplugged preview

THREE hundred lucky local Queens of the Stone Age fans got up close and personal with the band last night, when the acclaimed Californian rockers unplugged their amps and played an exclusive acoustic show at Mona.

Hailed as “the greatest rock band alive” by Triple J and “rock’s last remaining outlaws” by The Guardian, QOTSA — Joshua Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita, Jon Theodore and Michael Shuman — are in Hobart on the final leg of their epic 13-month Villains world tour.

After playing stadium shows in Brisbane, Newcastle and Sydney over the past week, QOTSA treated Tasmanians to an intimate acoustic performance down in Mona’s Nolan Gallery last night, ahead of their big gig at the Derwent Entertainment Centre tonight.

The band and promoters Frontier Touring put strict anti-scalping measures in place for last night’s show, with all proceeds from ticket sales donated to the Royal Hobart Hospital children’s ward to help buy equipment and support the paediatric services team.

QOTSA play an all-ages show at the DEC from 7pm tonight, with special guests C.W. Stoneking and The Chats. Tickets are still available for $98, go to www.ticketmaster.com.au or phone 136100 for bookings.

“With a musical spectrum as wide and wild as the Australian outback itself, an unforgettable night is not a mere possibility, but a goddamn certainty!” Homme says.