King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard has been my favorite band for many years now. I had the privilege of seeing them live at Red Rocks last year during a thunderstorm which made for an incredible experience. This year, I was able to see them for their American tour in Asheville.
The drive up to Ash is always fun, especially when the mountains start popping up, but heading there knowing I was going to see Gizz was extra special. I somehow convinced my roommates and girlfriend to get to the venue 3 hours before doors opened so we could get first dibs on merch and a good spot on the floor which I later realized was somewhat pointless.
While waiting in line, I could hear the band rehearsing through the metal garage doors on the side of the venue. I specifically remember hearing “Gilgamesh” through the doors and looking at another fan to see him excitedly pointing it out to his friends as well. When doors first opened, the crowd was sprinting to secure their spots at the front of general admission.
My feet were obliterated from all the standing but it was worth it because once we got into the venue, we were only a couple of rows back from the rail. I noticed the couple had gotten married at the meet-up (with Mystery Jack and Cavanaugh officiating!) before the show made it to the very front. It is crazy to think that the fanbase is so dedicated we have fans getting married at a show and showing up in a tux with cut-off sleeves and a dress with album covers on it. If that doesn’t scream commitment I don’t know what does.
The show finally kicked off at 8 with Geese as the opener. I had never heard of them before so this was my first experience with them. I can only imagine what it is like to precede a show with such a fanatic crowd but I thought they played a good set. It was very short coming at around 35 minutes but I did enjoy what they had to offer. The song “2122” in particular had a really cool breakdown that reminded me of a Black Midi song. I could tell the crowd was enjoying it but it is really hard to set the tone for a Gizz show when you know what’s in store.
Only 30 minutes after Geese finished up, Stu appeared in a white tank with cut-off jeans to receive a roar from the crowd. When the band finally came on stage, we were all ready to go. The air was electric as they started off with their first jam of a “Boogieman Sam” riff that led right into “Hypertension”. I didn’t get to hear anything off of Fishing For Fishies last year so the tone was set for me right off the bat. “Ice V” had the crowd going crazy which seems to be a fan favorite during live sets.
When the guys had finished playing new songs off of Flight b741, we got to hear “Gaia” with an extended drum solo. The crowd quickly formed a pit and my girlfriend looked at me in fear. She had never experienced a mosh pit before, much less at a Gizz concert. Elbows were thrown as the crowd went wild and we were pushed away from our prime spot near the front. I couldn’t even be upset just because the atmosphere was so fun and I had a great time watching people go nuts. We got two songs off of PetraDraconic Apocalypse and then it was time for “Mars For the Rich”. This was easily one of my favorites from Red Rocks and it was just as good in Asheville. The band looked at each other and asked “Which planet are we going to tonight?” right before they jumped into it.
After “Inner Cell”, the synth table was wheeled out which had a very impressive setup, complete with Stu’s fuzzy green bucket hat and sunnies ready to go.
When “The Silver Chord” was released, I wasn’t initially a huge fan. I do enjoy a lot of 80s synth and new wave but it just didn’t resonate with me. Hearing “Gilgamesh” and “Swan Song” live changed that for me. Clearly I don’t have the speaker setup to do this album justice because it was incredible live. I felt like I was noticing many more nuances in the songs that get lost when compressed for the steaming services. The songs just flowed so well into one another and watching the guys jam on the stage and the overhead camera made the experience for me. It actually was the live debut for “Swan Song” so it was a unique experience for the crowd. Finishing out the set, we had a kumbaya moment with “Float Along Fill Your Lungs” with teases of “Dragon”. It was the perfect closer especially since I didn’t get to hear anything of the album at last year’s concert.
When the lights came on, I couldn’t believe we were already done. Their shows just blow by even with the extended versions of songs sometimes hitting 20+ minutes. I made it out with my poster and tour shirt and was already thinking about when I’ll get to see them again. As long as they’re playing in the U.S.
Hey y’all my name is Dylan Kunkel and I’m originally from Florida, the land of harassing alligators and gas station felonies. Big Gizzhead, fan of divorced dad rock, and all kinds of jazz. When I’m not at the station you can normally find me in the lab or the gym. Please email me for information or involvement with events and fundraising!