Queens of the Stone Age at Baloise Session

Another day, another concert. This time it was Queens of the Stone Age at Baloise Session which, by the way, is celebrating its impressive 40th anniversary this year! Having a band like QOTSA on the lineup was quite the power move for the festival.

Queens of the Stone Age are known for their blend of heavy rock riffs and desert vibes, the band’s set at this year’s Baloise Session promised to be a little different though. This all thanks to their new “Alive in the Catacombs” album, a stripped-down and intimate take on their usually hard-hitting sound.

The evening was opened by Swiss indie dream-pop band Moonpools. At first glance, their dreamy and atmospheric sound felt like an odd match for a rock powerhouse like Queens of the Stone Age – but in a way, it all made perfect sense in the end. Their set created a warm, start to the night, and it was clear how much they enjoyed being on such a legendary stage. It’s always great to see local talent shine.

Concert Photos: Moonpools at Baloise Session

Tiny B-Stage and Big Legends

Shortly after 9 PM, the lights dimmed, signaling the start of QOTSA’s show. Baloise Session CEO Beatrice Stirnimann briefly returned to the stage, hinting at something special… And sure enough, most people had already noticed the tiny B-stage set up right in the middle of the audience. If you’ve seen their Jimmy Fallon performance (watch it here), you knew what was coming! The legendary band kicked things off on that small stage, somehow fitting six (or more!) people onto it. No idea how they managed that. The stripped-down start was intimate and unexpected, with Josh Homme wandering into the audience while other members popped up around the venue, creating a wonderfully immersive experience. At one point, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen stood right between the photographers and fans – and barely anyone noticed because all eyes were still on the b-stage.

From the B-Stage to the Main Stage

After four songs, QOTSA made their way to the main stage to continue the set. I’ll admit – I wasn’t super familiar with their live shows, so I was slightly confused (and amused) when Josh suddenly waved around a cleaver on stage. But hey, it was all part of the fun! Even though this show wasn’t a typical Queens of the Stone Age concert, it was very much “Alive in the Catacombs” coded, so stripped-down, moody, and intimate. It worked beautifully in this setting, and the energy in the room was quite special.

A Night to Remember at Baloise Session

One of the funniest and most endearing moments came when Josh approached a little girl sitting on her dad’s arms at the side of the stage. He meant to interact sweetly – but accidentally scared the shit out of her. And in the end even made her cry. His reaction was priceless. He said something along the lines of “Oh no, I’m so sorry I scared you. I seem to do that a lot! In fact, I just scared everyone over on that side,” pointing to the other side of the stage. How cute thought. Josh then wandered off to the other side, where another little girl handed him a picture she had drawn. She was a little older then the other girlie and wasn’t scared to interact with Josh 😃

All in all, it was another magical night at Baloise Session. The atmosphere, as always, was super special and apart from some people in the back that could not stop chatting away and annoying the hell out of me (why spend money to not even listen to the music?!) it was a great evening! Also, seeing such a legendary band as Queens of the Stone Age in such an intimate venue was a rare treat. Huge thanks to Baloise Session for making moments like this possible.