In June 2007, California rock band Queens of the Stone Age, led by Josh Homme and at a creative zenith post Lullabies to Paralyze (2005), previewed the raw, garage-infused Era Vulgaris at Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park—an event launched in 2005 as a hub for indie and alternative sounds. Their dynamic set, brimming with Homme’s unrelenting drive and guitar improvisations, traced an evolution from psychedelic sprawl to aggressive rock 'n' roll, transforming the festival stage into a collective trance. This performance heralded their European dominance, where desert rock gained urban intensity.