Hashtronaut, a stoner rock band from Denver, Colorado, have built a reputation for gigs that hit far harder than their jokey name and cannabis-soaked persona might suggest, with guitarist Robb Park noting that audiences who expect a novelty act are often surprised by how serious the band's live performances are. The piece, tied to a recent appearance at London's Desertfest, explores how the band leans fully into their weed-fuelled identity while still delivering a heavier and more intense sound than typical "stoner rock" acts, drawing comparisons to bands like Sleep.

The band, whose motto is "weed and riffs and amps and weed," are candid about consuming large quantities of cannabis as part of their process, including joints and edibles, taking advantage of Denver's legal recreational marijuana laws for adults aged 21 and over. Despite the comedic framing suggested by their name, Park stresses that Hashtronaut are "dead serious" musicians, with the article framing this contrast between their laid-back stoner image and their heavy, committed live sound as central to the band's appeal.