Palm Desert Scene

The Palm Desert Scene, often synonymous with desert rock or stoner rock, emerged from the sun-scorched expanse of Southern California's Coachella Valley in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Characterized by heavy, fuzzy guitar riffs, hypnotic grooves, and a laid-back yet powerful energy, it blends elements of hard rock, psychedelia, and blues. Bands like Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age spearheaded the scene, often performing in sprawling outdoor "generator parties" that captured the raw, untamed spirit of the desert landscape.