Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age have spent nearly three decades carving out their own corner of the rock world, blending fuzzed-out desert riffs with unexpected pop hooks and art-rock ambition. Formed by Josh Homme out of the ashes of Kyuss, the band has become synonymous with a heavier, groovier strain of alternative rock that refuses to sit still stylistically, moving from stoner-rock crunch to sleek, almost glam-inflected songcraft across their catalog. Albums like "Songs for the Deaf" and "Rated R" helped define a generation's idea of what heavy rock could sound like outside the mainstream metal playbook.

What sets Queens of the Stone Age apart live is the sheer physicality and swagger of their performances—Homme's magnetic frontman presence paired with a rotating cast of world-class musicians who've included members of Nirvana, the Foo Fighters, and beyond. Their shows are known for tight musicianship wrapped in a loose, dangerous energy, swinging from full-throttle riffage to slow-burning, hypnotic grooves. It's rock and roll with both muscle and mystery, delivered by a band that has never been content to repeat itself.