QOTSA remembers teenage love on nostalgic single Where The Goth Girls At
Where The Goth Girls At?: Queens of the Stone Age Dive into Nostalgia and Perfection
Queens of the Stone Age are back with a new single, Where The Goth Girls At?, offering a dose of nostalgic chaos that perfectly sets the stage for their upcoming ninth studio album, Perfecth, set for release on October 30th.
This latest track acts as a tantalizing preview of the new era, following recent hits like Insignificant Other and Easy Street. Musically, the song manages to balance minimalist riffs with an explosive chorus, richly amplified by sweeping string and horn arrangements that give the track a beautifully dramatic edge.
The inspiration for the song delves into the sweet, slightly yearning territory of youth. Frontman Josh Homme drew the nostalgic themes from his time in a Palm Desert suburb, reflecting on the heady mix of teen romance and the desire to impress others. As Homme put it, the feeling is timeless: “Watching the goth girls working the counter at JCPenney and giving goth makeovers to the old ladies, that’s when I knew the only place I want to be is where the goth girls at. Teenage love, ain’t it grand?”
The visual accompaniment to the single is as wild as the music. The accompanying music video captures the chaotic energy of the group reuniting with previous directors, Christopher Gruse and Tony Wolski, alongside appearances from comedian Steve Agee, dancer/artist Scarlett Kapella, and singer/actress Lou Lou Safran. The visuals themselves are drenched in black ink, showing the titular goth girls commanding authority and self-assurance as they transform their surroundings.
The deeper philosophy underpinning the new album, Perfecth, is rooted in the concept that perfection is an elusive concept. Drawing inspiration from Kintsugi—the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by filling the cracks with gold—the record explores the beauty of imperfection. The album tackles themes of love, family, and the balance between what is significant and what is insignificant.
This idea is reflected in the album’s title. Homme suggests that because “perfect” as a word doesn’t actually exist, a more fitting descriptor is needed. Instead, everything seems to be Perfecth—a witty acknowledgment that true perfection is something you build, not something you simply find.
As QOTSA gear up for this new chapter, they are also winding down their current support for Foo Fighters in Las Vegas before embarking on an ambitious global tour. The band will head to Iceland on October 24th, followed by stops in Singapore, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, embarking on a journey filled with explosive sound and profound reflection.
Adding to the band’s outspoken nature, Josh Homme has recently taken a firm stance against the industry, expanding on his comments regarding “corporate assholes” setting arbitrary rules at live concerts, insisting that it’s all about controlling the fun.
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