Since their Cleveland debut a decade ago at The Happy Dog in Gordon Square, the Australian sextet, led by frontman Stu Mackenzie, has outgrown venues like the Rock Hall, the Beachland Ballroom, and the Agora. On Saturday night, they sold out the 5,000-capacity Jacobs Pavilion.
With 26 albums spanning multiple genres—metal, surf rock, and jazz fusion among them—King Gizzard is known for their energetic, multi-night marathon shows, where they showcase their sophisticated musical chops and create the night’s setlist on the spot. While last night’s two-hour show was shorter by their standards (two hours on the dot), it still packed a punch that left Cleveland concertgoers happy.
It’s a real-life “Choose Your Own Adventure” book when King Gizz takes the stage. Every night is a little different from the last -- surprising and delighting super-fans, and maybe disappointing a few who were hoping for that one specific song they love. According to some who attended the show Friday night in Detroit, the band was more subdued in Cleveland. While shots and beer flowed on stage just 24 hours earlier, the band stuck to water as their beverage of choice at Jacob’s Pavilion.
Opting for a more mellow first half, King Gizzard played songs off their ode to 70s rock, Flight b741, a self-described “accessible and fun album” released on Aug. 9. Peppering in tunes from albums past like “Muddy Water”, “Mr. Beat”, and “Ice V” kept more fans swaying and vibing along rather than moshing and crowd surfing. But those first eight songs were really just a warm-up or maybe a way for Stu and crew to harness their hangovers and muster the strength to power through the show.
The turning point came with a three-song set from 2017′s Polygondwanaland, including “Inner Cell,” “Loyalty,” and “Horology,” respectively, which served as the perfect mid-show buildup before launching into the metal-heavy chaos of the concert’s second half. Drawing heavily from their metal-inspired albums PetroDragonic Apocalypse and Infest the Rat’s Nest, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard delivered a fast-paced crescendo of songs that sent fans—many dressed as wizards, lizards, and hot dogs—into a frenzy.
“Wanna play ‘Dragon’?” frontman Stu Mackenzie casually asked his bandmates as he tuned his guitar, prompting the crowd to scream and pump their fists in agreement. Crowd surfers surged through the general admission floor, eager for another pass to the front, while even the Terminal Tower’s lights joined the party, glowing red and orange and dancing along to the beat.
King Gizzard ended the night with “Gila Monster,” with multi-instrumentalist Ambrose Kenny-Smith jumping off his platform to run around the stage and lead the at-capacity crowd in a roaring chant of “Gila! Gila!” As the final notes faded, Stu and guitarist Joey Walker thanked The Happy Dog for supporting them in their early years, then left the stage. There was no encore, but none was needed. With so many albums and songs to choose from, they had crafted the perfect set, leaving the air buzzing, ears ringing, and fans wondering: what Cleveland venue will King Gizzard sell out next?
Brooklyn New York’s Geese (not to be confused with popular indie groove band Goose) was a great complement to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and opened the night with their string of rock songs that pulled influence from several rock gods including Jeff Buckley, The Doors, and Blind Melon. Despite having a much more muscular sound, King Gizz has coopted a jam band following, many of whom would be more comfortable at a Phish, Billy Strings or Dead & Co. show than Metallica or Slayer. Whether that’s thanks to Phish guitarist/singer Trey Anastasio’s stamp of approval, the long and winding songs that effortlessly flow into each other, the ever-changing setlists or the band encouraging fans to create bootlegs and YouTube streams of its concerts, I don’t know. But spun-out tie dyes populate the band’s current crowd at the same rate as moshing crowd surfers.
But that embrace is a dream for a top-tier alternative rock band in 2024. No fan base is more loyal than the jam band scene — except maybe the longtime Gizzheads. Whomever they are, those who have hopped on the bus, no matter when they did, continue to propel a genreless group called King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, that on paper shouldn't have been in this position, to great acclaim and top bill on major festivals such Bonnaroo and Coachella.
For that, King Gizzard is obviously thankful. Their shows ooze fun and energy, despite the 60 two-and-a-half to three hour shows it’ll play this year. New generations of fans, like the young girl I saw in a King Gizz cape and painted face, are now joining their parents in the pit (or in the lounge, in this case). The band is encouraging fans to bootleg its live shows and make its own merch. Mackenzie even donned a homemade t-shirt thrown on stage by a man in a banana costume for a few songs. Over chugging guitars, the band preached a message of love, “Find that person you hate, and Grab 'em by the hand, look 'em in the eye and say, ‘I love you,’” sang Mackenzie. And if anyone missed it, a pre-show notice drove that point home:As the weirdo swarm grows, we have to work hard to keep our community inclusive. The mosh pit is a safe place for young, old, big, small and ppl of all genders. If you see any d—heads, alert security. Look after each other in there and BE YOURSELF. We love you all King Gizz.
