Melbourne, Australia’s King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are one of a very small group of artists who put out great music but whose greatness is only matched by the sheer volume of music being produced. (Guided by Voices may be the only other highly visible touring band to consistently release several albums each year.)
Having released five albums in 2022 (Made in Timeland; Omnium Gatherum; Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms, and Lava; Laminated Denim; and Changes) and two records in 2022 (PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation AND The Silver Cord), the sextet have recently released their 26th studio album, Flight b741.
Formed in 2010, King Gizzard quickly gained a faithful and rabid following, selling out venues across the globe, and Aug. 15 at The Anthem was no exception. In fact, the crowd became as much part of the performance as Stu, Ambrose, Joey, Cook, Lucas, and Cavs.
Kicking off the show was New York City’s Geese, which I had been hoping to catch and they certainly did not disappoint with a sweaty, fun set.
At The Anthem, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard wasted no time in hitting the stage and jumping right into “The Dripping Tap” with Ambrose Kenny-Smith (keys/harmonica/sax/guitar) taking the mic initially before Stu Mackenzie (vocals/guitar) and Joey Walker (vocals/guitar) turns trading verses (and guitar licks). In fact, in one song the band blended so many styles over the span of the nearly 20 minute piece that it felt like a show in and of itself. As the Stu and Joey came back to the mic singing “Drip, drip from the tap don’t slip on the drip” — everyone in the crowd bouncing up and down and more than a few crowd surfers riding across the capacity venue to land in the arms of security and ushered back to the venue’s dance floor.
You never really can predict what one King Gizzard album might be like from one to another, and seeing them live go from a heavy thrasher to something akin to a subdued jam to then a classic rocker in the span of a single song like “Iron Lung” is a sight to see.
Watch the official music video for “Iron Lung” by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard on YouTube:
And there were a few surprises as well with the live debut of the song “Antarctica” from the latest album. The gospel-like jam kept the packed dance floor moving.
It has to be said that the level of musicianship within the band is incredible. Lengthy grooves can sometimes feel, well, very long, but King Gizzard is able to keep it interesting. In the midst of odd time signatures, blistering solos, and constantly playing to the crowd, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard cooked up a churning stew of grooves that never let up.
The biggest reaction was most certainly the heavy metal thrumming of the last few songs of their set. Pulled from PetroGragonic, “Supercell” and “Motor Spirit” became one of the most electric performances of the evening replete with distorted guitars and drum solos before heading right into “Mars for the Rich,” another heavy number. A song about the ever widening wealth gap between rich and poor, lines like “Mars for the privileged / Earth for the poor / Mars terraforming slowly / Earth has been deformed” and “I work fields with / Blistered fingers / I look starward / That world has no place for me” hit hard.
The band wrapped up their nearly three hour set with the brilliant “Gaia,” capped off with an amazing drum solo by Michael “Cavs” Cavanagh. At this point, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard should be a household name. Their level of craft is incredible and the change to see them live shouldn’t be taken for granted.
The setlist included:
The Dripping Tap
Iron Lung
Antarctica
Raw Feel
Sad Pilot
Evil Death Roll
Ice V
The River
Crumbling Castle
The Fourth Colour
Supercell
Mars for the Rich
Motor Spirit
Gaia (Included a five-minute drum solo)
Here are more photos of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard performing at The Anthem on Aug. 15, 2024. All photos copyright and courtesy of David LaMason.
And here are photos of Geese opening for King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard on August 15, 2024.
