In July 2005, California rock band Queens of the Stone Age—whose album Lullabies to Paralyze (2005) cemented their leadership in desert rock with psychedelic and alternative metal elements—performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, a prestigious event on Lake Geneva known for its eclectic lineup. Their hour-long set, packed with heavy riffs and Josh Homme’s charismatic delivery, blended groovy rhythms with melancholic textures, highlighting the band’s shift to a mature sound post-Nick Oliveri’s departure. Captured in the iconic Auditorium Stravinski, the performance electrified the crowd, with reviewers describing it as a “raw and captivating” moment, reinforcing QOTSA’s status as festival favorites adept at merging rock with Montreux’s jazz traditions.