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

!qotsa@sh.itjust.works

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