It often features distinctive repetitive drum beats, a propensity for free-form jamming, and "trance-like" or "sludgy" grooves.

[7] Palm Desert has been named by Blender magazine as "one of the top seven rock n' roll cities in America".

[2] It is largely known for its heavy, grinding riffs and association with the use of illicit substances, particularly marijuana, peyote, LSD, and magic mushrooms.

[12] These shows consisted of small crowds of people partying in the desert, beer drinking, drugs, and the use of gasoline-powered generators to provide electricity for the musical equipment.

The Desert Sessions series has now yielded 12 volumes, which have been released in pairs on CD but individually in 10" vinyl EP format.