The three big names which make up newly concocted “super group” Them Crooked Vultures were playing to their largest crowd ever Saturday night at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.

“This is the biggest show we’ve ever played and it means a lot to us,” singer and guitarist Josh Homme said prior to capping off roughly two-hour show. “It means a lot to us. We’re just four guys who wanted to play together.”

Well, in this instance “just four guys” happens to be Queens Of The Stone Age architect Homme, Foo Fighters main man Dave Grohl on drums, touring guitarist Alain Johannes and Led Zeppelin bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones.

And for most of the 15-song set, Them Crooked Vultures rampaged through a brand of ‘70s era-influenced hard rock that truly has to be seen to be appreciated. Whether watching Grohl punish himself physically as much as his battened-down drum kit numerous times or Jones shuffling around while keeping the groove, the band does not take any short cuts in achieving such an impressive sound.

After playing a sold-out show last October at Sound Academy, Them Crooked Vultures returned with a similar set list, opening with the swampy hook of No One Loves Me & Neither Do I which had most on the floor bobbing along. Relying on the performance aspect to atone for no video screens for fans on the floor, in the near-capacity lower bowl and partially filled upper tier, the group dished out Gunman before the “little dance number” Scumbag Blues reared its catchy head.

Part of the attraction of the band, though, is seeing both Homme and Grohl playing off of Jones, the elder statesman at 66. As Jones doled out a few quick bass lines during Scumbag Blues, Homme and Grohl both resembled kids in awe of meeting their rock hero for the first time.

Dead End Friends and especially the gear-shifting Elephants fared fine, but Highway 1 -- the first of two non-album tracks performed – didn’t quite match the intensity or bombast of the single New Fang or the tight Mind Eraser, No Chaser. But an ensuing effort with the title You Can’t Possibly Begin To Imagine was a surprise highlight. Here, the slow, seedy bluesy arrangement had Jones initially on fiddle while Homme fed off the crowd clapping along.

If there’s one number which seemed to be the proverbial black sheep, it was easily Interlude With Ludes, a Doors-ish attempt that featured Homme (who later lit up a cigarette) prancing around the stage while Jones tried to hold things together on his key-tar. Mission not quite accomplished.

Regardless, Them Crooked Vultures held some of the best for last beginning with the lengthy Spinning In Daffodils that had Grohl looking like Animal from the Muppets with his rapid fills and rolls. Following the Zeppelin circa Physical Graffiti nugget Reptiles, the band closed things out with no encore but a fabulous, fatiguing Warsaw, a marathon-ish tune driven by some terrific playing.