Performance Notes
HOW TO PLAY THIS MONTH’S SONGS
By Jimmy Brown
“EMOTION SICKNESS”
Queens of the Stone Age
[from left]
Queens of the Stone Age’s Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita and Josh Homme perform in Berlin, November 9, 2023
FRANK HOENSCH/REDFERNS
ONE OF MODERN rock’s most distinctive and creative bands, QOTSA consistently serve up well-written and -produced songs that feature their signature style of catchy and often quirky guitar riffs, great vocals and sardonic lyrics. This single from the group’s latest album features frontman Josh Homme and co-guitarists Troy Van Leeuwen and Dean Fertita presenting a tastefully layered arrangement of fairly simple, meat-andpotatoes rhythm and lead parts that together form a rich sonic tapestry as the song unfolds and develops.