Stars of the desert rock scene shine at Mojave Experience

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Stop me if you’ve heard this before: There’s a new music festival coming to the desert.

Most festivals take place in beautiful, warm locations and feature artists from around the globe. Mojave Experience is different – it feels more genuine and local.

This weekend, enjoy performances by Mario Lalli, Sean Wheeler, John Garcia, and Nick Oliveri. They’ll be playing Friday at 7 p.m. at Mojave Gold in Yucca Valley, and Sunday starting at 12:30 p.m. at Joshua Tree Lake & Campground.

Pioneering bands like Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age launched and popularized the desert rock sound. This festival wasn’t brought to the desert – it grew organically from the local music scene.

The Mojave Experience was created by Patrick Brink, the singer and songwriter for Volume, who grew up in Twentynine Palms. He originally planned the festival as a platform for his band, but realized it could become much bigger, so he chose not to perform in it himself.

Brink wanted the event to start with a positive vibe and prioritize everyone having a good time. He focused on ensuring a smooth experience for attendees, performers, vendors, and volunteers alike.

To make the festival a success, Brink brought in Mario Lalli, a highly respected figure known as the pioneer of desert rock, immediately boosting its reputation.

When Lalli was starting out as a musician, he played with several bands associated with SST Records, an independent label based in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. SST was known for bands like Black Flag, Minutemen, and Saccharine Trust. Through this scene, Lalli met Dave Travis, who had a generator and would provide power so musicians could play shows in unique locations – from beaches and mountains to the desert.

Lalli purchased a generator and began hosting concerts in his backyard. He explained, “We’d bring the generator out to the desert and enjoy jamming and making music while we were high.”

The generators caught the eye of local children, including Sean Wheeler, a Palm Springs resident whose family has lived there for four generations – his great-grandparents were some of the town’s original settlers.

Wheeler became interested in music after seeing Black Flag play a show in Palm Springs. He started a band, but practicing in his garage led to noise complaints and even run-ins with the police. He decided moving to the desert would solve the problem, figuring it would be easier to play music without getting in trouble.

It began as small, private gatherings for friends who just needed to relax and be themselves, but it quickly became much bigger. Lalli explained they formed some fantastic bands, created flyers, and tried to direct people to their remote location – which sometimes led to problems.

Lalli’s most recent generator party, titled ‘Splattering of the Tribes,’ attracted over 1,200 attendees from across California, including many first-time desert visitors. Lalli described it as “a beautiful, chaotic night.”

Since the pandemic, more people have moved to the desert, leading to a surge in live music and entertainment options. Lalli notes there are now at least six venues with stages and sound systems just along the highway between Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms.

This will bring more dining options and activities for people attending the festivals. Besides Mojave Experience, the Hi Desert Lo-Fi Lit Fest is happening this weekend too, offering free panels, workshops, and readings. (Just so you know, I’m participating!) The literary festival also includes a performance by Mike Watt & the Missingmen at Mojave Gold in Yucca Valley on Saturday night.

Kyuss was once the dominant force in the desert rock scene, known for incredible, genre-bending live performances. After Kyuss disbanded, Queens of the Stone Age emerged and quickly gained popularity. As Queens of the Stone Age’s fame spread, the story of Kyuss and their influence only became more legendary.

Mojave Experience lets fans who attended the original shows revisit those special moments, and gives newcomers a taste of what they missed. John Garcia, formerly the singer for Kyuss, was eager to perform with his band once he learned Mario was involved. He explained, “Mario’s involvement meant it was the real deal – everyone trusts his judgment.”

Garcia, a resident of the Joshua Tree area, is excited to perform with friends and former bandmates. He says recent experiences have given him a renewed appreciation for opportunities like this.

Things haven’t always been easy for Garcia. Back in 2012, he had a legal battle with former members of the band Kyuss over who had the right to use the band’s name. Now, he’s prioritizing his family and enjoying making music with friends. He doesn’t aim to revolutionize rock music, as he puts it, but rather to add a few unique touches and maybe even shake things up a little.

Nick Oliveri, a bassist known for his work with bands like Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age, is a bit of an unexpected addition to the lineup. He currently plays in several groups, including the Dwarves and Bl’ast, and surprisingly, he’ll be performing with an acoustic guitar.

Oliveri describes his solo performances as intensely energetic. He explained that he plays and sings with the same passion and physical commitment as he does with his band, even going so far as to call his style ‘death acoustic’ – a raw, powerful take on the acoustic genre, similar to death punk or death metal.

I’m really excited to see Earthless at the festival – they’re sharing the headlining spot with Dead Meadow. What’s cool is they have a real connection to the desert too! Back in 2021, they recorded an amazing live album and video called “Live in the Mojave Desert Vol. 1” right out there in the Mojave. It’s seriously good stuff.

As a huge music fan, I always love hearing about the roots of bands. It’s wild to think about how formative some early experiences can be. For Earthless drummer Mario Rubalcaba, it all started when he was a teenager. He used to skate this crazy spot called the Nude Bowl near Desert Hot Springs, and he actually saw Kyuss play a show there. He told me that back then, there just wasn’t anything else that sounded like Kyuss – they were totally unique!

Lori S., the drummer for Acid King, is a regular performer at Pappy & Harriett’s in Pioneertown. She’s also seen legendary band Kyuss play in her hometown of San Francisco, but she equally enjoys playing alongside up-and-coming bands.

Lori said she appreciates seeing a combination of established bands like hers alongside newer groups inspired by the same music. She believes it’s important to share musical traditions and ensure the legacy continues.

I’m a big fan of Jim Ruland – he wrote this amazing book called “Corporate Rock Sucks” about the SST Records label, and he also sends out a really cool weekly newsletter called Message from the Underground. I just heard he’s got a new novel, “Mightier than the Sword,” coming out this fall from Rare Bird, and I’m already excited to read it!

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2026-03-19 20:31