Hi all,

I'm new to the hobby, but already know that this is something I can really get into.

I have purchased a cheap (but good) Chinese set, and want to "upgrade" to something nicer + aquire some more single picks.

I am ready to throw in around €140 (+/-) for a better quality set, but I'm having a really hard time with finding any EU shops that sell picks that are well-reviewed by the community.

I hear Peterson picks are some of the best. Also Sparrows I feel like I hear a lot of people talk about.

That said, I'm not against purchasing outside the EU, but do know that everything will have added + 25% VAT + (usually) expensive shipping + If I exceed ~€150 for the set (not including shipping) I will have to pay 12% of the total amount (shipping included)

I will listen to all types advise, including being pointed to other forums

Queens of the Stone Age - live @ Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany, Southside Festival (2023-06-16). Set list:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:07 Misfit Love
• 07:31 Little Sister
• 10:42 I Sat by the Ocean
• 14:56 My God Is the Sun
• 19:05 Carnavoyeur
• 23:27 The Way You Used to Do
• 28:30 If I Had a Tail
• 34:06 Emotion Sickness
• 39:48 Smooth Sailing
• 45:06 The Evil Has Landed
• 51:43 Paper Machete
• 55:04 Make It Wit Chu
• 01:02:30 Go With the Flow
• 01:05:40 No One Knows
• 01:11:03 A Song for the Dead

.

• Josh Homme
• Troy Van Leeuwen
• Dean Fertita
• Michael Shuman
• Jon Theodore

From the video's description:

Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme on Stereotypes, Existence, & Gallows Humor

Josh Homme, the frontman of Queens of the Stone Age, reunites with Kyle Meredith in a discussion about the band's upcoming album, "In Times New Roman," their first release since 2017. Homme shares his approach to creating music for all stereotypes and delves into the concept of how our musical preferences evolve as adults, often embracing the music we may have despised in our youth. Homme reveals that he is essentially soundtracking his own life, which he describes as pretty crazy at present.

Furthermore, Homme explores the more aggressive moments featured on the new album, delving into his thoughts on the existential question of why we exist. He also discusses the use of gallows humor as a means to cope with the heaviness of human existence.

From the video's description:

THE END IS NERO TOUR IS COMING. We’ll be joined by special guests Phantogram, Viagra Boys, The Armed and Jehnny Beth on select dates. Tickets on sale Fri, 6/9 at 10am local.

View all dates at: https://qotsa.ffm.to/tour

From the video's description:

Listen or order the new album In Times New Roman... https://qotsa.ffm.to/itnr

Directed & Animated by Steffie Yee

www.steffieyee.com

Produced by The Wild Honey Pie

www.thewildhoneypie.com

From article:

Josh Homme has revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. While he didn’t get into specifics, the Queens of the Stone Age frontman says he underwent successful surgery to remove the cancer, and is still in the process of healing.

In a new interview with Revolver, Homme talked about the difficulties of the past few years, which have included the pandemic, the deaths of close friends, and a messy legal battle with ex-wife Brody Dalle of The Distillers. As it turned out, he privately battled cancer, as well.

“I never say it can’t get any worse,” said Homme. “I never say that, and I wouldn’t advise it. But I do say it can get better. Cancer is just the cherry on top of an interesting time period, you know? I’m extremely thankful that I’ll get through this, and I’ll look back at this as something that’s fucked up — but will have made me better. I’m cool with that. There’s a lot of stuff I want to do. And there’s a lot of people I want to do that with.”

The singer-guitarist added that he’s turned to music as a way of healing during his recent struggles. “I’ve got nothing against therapy,” continued Homme. “I just don’t go because I play [music] instead. Over the last couple of years, I’ve done a lot of therapy, but at the end of the day, I understand how to proceed, moving forward with the religion that I use — music.”

He went on to say, “This has been the darkest four years of my life. But that’s OK, too. In the heartaches, my mistakes, these deaths, and my own physical things I’m dealing with — even though all that has occurred and smashed my old life to pieces, those pieces I’ve been able to build into a ship that’s about to launch. I will float into my new life from all those pieces.”

Homme channeled his emotions into Queens of the Stone Age’s new album In Times New Roman…, which arrives this Friday (June 16th). QOTSA will support the LP with a recently announced 2023 North American tour, kicking off August 3rd in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Tickets are available here.

A lot of places have already sold out. Get yours quick!

EU

• May 28: Boston Calling Festival, MA
• Jun 16: Neuhausen Ob Eck Southside Festival, Germany
• Jun 17: Landgraaf Pinkpop Festival, The Netherlands
• Jun 18: Scheessel Hurricane Festival, Germany
• Jun 20: Halifax The Piece Hall, UK
• Jun 22: Margate Dreamland, UK
• Jun 23: Cardiff Castle, UK
• June 26: Glastonbury Festival, UK
• Jun 28: Roskilde Festival, Denmark
• Jun 30: Gdynia Open'er Festival, Poland
• Jul 02: Werchter Rock Werchter Festival, Belgium
• Jul 04: Lyon Les Nuits de Fourvière, France
• Jul 05: Albi Pause Guitare Festival, France
• Jul 07: Madrid Mad Cool Festival, Spain
• Jul 08: Lisbon NOS Alive Festival, Portugal

US

• Aug 12: New York Forest Hills Stadium, NY
• Sep 09: Sao Paulo The Town Festival, Brazil
• Sep 24: Louisville Louder Than Life Festival, KY
• Oct 08: Sacramento Aftershock Festival, CA

@qotsa

[email protected]

The new album is called In Times New Roman... and it dropped on Friday the 17th of June, 2023

Hoping to see you over there

From video's description:

Ahead of the release of In Times New Roman... – Queens of the Stone Age's eighth studio record – now is a good time to explore the weirdness and originality of Josh Homme's production style.

One of the reasons I love Homme’s work is because of the way he uses texture and rhythm. He deploys these elements to create compositions that are primal, vulgar, odd, sinister, and, at times, even romantic. He uses them to elevate, distort, and even defy the conventions of rock music. And he does it not just through composition and instrumentation, but through production.

He's a master of soundfeel.

From video's description:

Video by Liam Lynch

Matador and Death played by Liam Lynch

From the video's description:

Creating the sixth Queens of the Stone Age record would be anything but easy. Following 2007’s Era Vulgaris, mastermind Josh Homme would take a six year break from the band -- producing the Arctic Monkeys’ third record (Humbug), playing in other bands like Eagles of Death Metal and Them Crooked Vultures, while also welcoming his second child. But in the fall of 2010, after developing an antibiotic-resistant staph infection, Homme was hospitalized for nearly two weeks. Then bedridden for a handful of months. Leaving the frontman to sink into a deep depression.

The singer and guitarist would later tell journalists that his heart had actually stopped during the surgery meant to rid his infection and that even after he was revived, he felt like a part of him had been left behind on the operating table. Lost and out of love with music, the turbulent process of assembling ...Like Clockwork would lead to quite possibly their best record yet, helping redefine the band’s signature style while documenting Homme’s personal journey of moving forward. Let’s explore The Tragedy Behind ...LIKE CLOCKWORK

From video's description:

Songs For the Deaf is one of the last great hard rock albums of recent memory. It’s just bass, drums, guitar and plain ol’ OVERDRIVE. It saw Queens of the Stone Age capitalize on their unique position in rock, assembling a one-time-only, star-studded line up for a loose concept album: a drive through the blistering California desert. Buckle up.

From the album's Wikipedia article:

> In Times New Roman... is the eighth studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released on June 16, 2023, through Matador Records.[2] It was announced in a video teaser on May 11, 2023, and is the band's first album since Villains (2017).[5] The announcement occurred alongside the release of the lead single, "Emotion Sickness".[6] The band will tour North America and Europe in support of the record.[7][8]

Filmed at Boston Calling on May 28th, 2023.

Copied from the video description:

Joshua Homme, guitarist and songwriter of Queens of the Stone Age, has been through a lot in his years as the sole constant member of the band. Through loss and grief, Josh continues to express himself through music on the band's new album, 'In Times New Roman...'.

Homme reconnects with Zane Lowe in the studio to discuss some hardships, and how he's written his way through it. Josh reflects on some friends he's lost, including Anthony Bourdain, Mark Lanegan and Taylor Hawkins. He expresses his gratitude to be alive to tell his story today on 'In Times New Roman...' and reflects on the legacy of David Bowie.

The album dropped on the 16th of June, 2023. Here you can listen to it through and through