So much has happened since the last time I saw King Gizzard in Philadelphia. That show on 10/22/22 marked a swerve in my life’s path that I never could have expected. Just a couple of weeks before stepping into Franklin Music Hall for my first Gizz show, I’d registered the domain where you’re reading this blog post. It had only been four or five months prior to that when my obsession had begun. I’d listened to their music here and there from around the time Trey Anastasio started talking about his new favorite band, but the music hadn’t stuck me right away. When it did stick, the hook went in deeply.
Starting KGLW.net felt absolutely right even though I was a new fan and had not yet seen my first show. Some may question that move, but I just knew I needed to “clench the moment in [my] hand.” That risk has been one of the best I’ve ever taken, and this Tuesday night at the Dell Music Center is the proof. The journey from then to now has been full of amazing people, stunning places, and music that is shockingly good (and seemingly getting better every show). But this isn’t just my story. So many faces in the crowd share that same glow.
And we were certainly lit up at the Dell! It’s a newly renovated venue that is managed by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation located in East Fairmount Park. The park atmosphere made for a great vibe heading in. I traveled with a friend, his son, and his son’s friend. The son’s friend is a big fan, but my friend and his son had never seen Gizz before (they’re all fans now). We passed out KGLW.net stickers on the way in, making new friends and feeling the love to learn that so many people know of our site and use it.
Once inside (and on the other side of an extremely slow beer line), I met up with three friends. The first goes by Synesthesiac. He and I went together to that Philly ’22 show, and I hadn’t seen him in person since. Great vibes all around. That was especially the case when I made my way down to KGLW.net’s MVP, @bvbootleg. He ran our KGLW.net Mixlr stream that nearly hit 1,000 concurrent users! BVB was with our new friend of the site, @gizzardoriginals, and they just so happened to have extra space for me to land in section B6 right in front of the board. I looked down the row and even more friends were seated there! Talk about feeling at home!
Then, something happened I never expected. GizzardOriginals led us to the soundboard where he introduced us to Jason! BVB and I got to share our love of his work with him, thanked him for all he does, and relished the short exchange. It was especially cool to hear that Jase is well aware of our site. We left him with a mitt full of stickers and our gratitude. (NOTE: Be on the lookout for upcoming collab between GizzardOriginals and KGLW.net.)
Beaming from that experience, I was shocked to see the band take the stage around 8:40pm. It was time! We were being treated to a microtonal start, just the same as it’d been for my first show with its “Oddlife” opener (a fitting start to my altered life). This one opened with “Minimum Brain Size,” which rocked, and then another surprise to hear the opening notes of “Doom City.” I felt super lucky to get “Doom City” at Forest Hills, so I was especially happy to hear it again. I knew they’d soundchecked both “Static Electricity” and “East West Link,” but that didn’t mean they were going to play the songs. So, to hear “Static Electricity” begin truly gave me a jolt. I love that song, especially as a big Captain Beefheart fan. I’ve always associated Beefheart’s “Electricity” with Gizz’s static version. “East West Link” is another one that I was thrilled to hear mostly because I had a period where I was very into L.W. and I’ve also listened to that San Lois Obispo ’22 show a bunch. There they play “East West Link” following “Static Electricity.” In fact, I just realized that the last eight times they’ve played “East West Link,” it’s followed “Static Electricity.” Shocking!
Next up was “Daily Blues,” definitely my favorite on Flight b741. It’s also becoming one of my very favorite live songs after seeing the Forest Hills version that segued into “Cut Throat Boogie,” hearing Cleveland’s take that slipped into “Mr. Beat,” and now the Philly “Daily Blues” that segued into “Hot Water.” It’s hard to say which I like the most, but I’m a massive “Hot Water” fan, so that may be my favorite. Though, I’ll have to go back and listen again to Edinburgh’s “Daily Blues” that segued into “The Bitter Boogie.” Regardless, “Daily Blues” now regularly features a jammed out ending that smoothly segues into great songs. Lots to get excited about there, but the song itself is some of the band’s best writing to my ears. I absolutely love Ambrose’s “lukewarm/paper thin” part.
We then ascended to a trio of Flight b741 tunes that all hit right. Despite seeing these songs at my previous stops in D.C. and Forest Hills, I was glad to hear them again. That was my third “Antarctica” in four shows, second “Sad Pilot,” and second “Le Risque.” They all just rock so hard in person. I was admittedly getting a bit burned out on “Sad Pilot" after hearing it a lot during the Europe/UK shows in May and June, but it’s still a thrill live.
Next comes the Are-you-fucking-kidding-me-right-now?? section of the show. The River!? Seriously? I am actually going to witness another version of The River after being so lucky to get one in D.C. and to have been witness to the Chicago ’23 space-fest?! If you’ve heard this Philly version, you’ll know that this honestly may be their best yet. I am not as deep in the zone as my buddies yebrent and @w.b.t.g.slinger (Check the KGLW.net Forum thread: "The Ebbs, Flows, Ripples, and Rapids of The River Live Performances"), but I’d venture to say it’s a real contender. It is confirmed to be the LONGEST VERSION OF THE RIVER EVER! (And as a personal aside, I’m a real river-loving guy. I’ve been a board member of my local Riverkeeper association for a number of years and spend as much time on nearby rivers as I can…so, “The River” has always been one of my absolute favorites. I feel truly fortunate to have caught another epic one.)
Mind Fuzz suite I was expecting since it hadn’t been played since Maine. That was certainly fine with me! This was only my second time hearing this live with the first being Forest Hills. The energy was absolutely crackling and that “Cellophane” felt like it nearly blew the top of my head off.
Metal!? They’re really doing metal, too? I hadn’t thought they would due to the seating situation that made a real pit impossible. I just so happened to be wearing my KGLW.net “There is No Planet B” t-shirt, so catching that song again had my head whipping back and forth like a balloon tied to the roof of a car speeding down the highway. “Dragon” and “Flamethrower” ramped up the intensity even though it didn’t seem possible. Absolute fire! So much fire that a fire alarm even went off!
The table!? I can’t be seeing this! We could not believe it when the table was carried out as “Flamethrower” kept on pumping out the heat. The next however many minutes that was…”Gilgamesh->Set”…I was just totally locked into the band. Those stray thoughts that sometimes come during a show about work or other distractions, well, they were completely absent during the dance trance I found myself in during “Gilgamesh.” Mighty “Set” spiked the intensity even more, but when Ambrose, Joey, and Lucas backed away from the table to return to their primary instruments, that’s when the most magical moment of the night happened. That closing jam was one of the funkiest, freeing, flowing I’ve ever heard (and I’ve seen a lot of Phish shows before my Gizz life started). It’s a sparkling moment in what seems to be King Gizzard’s infinite rise.
I will close with gratitude for you who are reading this, and for anyone who has clicked on KGLW.net since we got our start. I never could have imagined where we’d be with this website and its community by this point, and it really is all thanks to you and to our tremendously talented and generous team members. Say hello to our team (passing out stickers) along the way this tour. We’ll be at most stops along the way. I’ll pick back up for the Vegas>Phoenix>Albuquerque run.
Until then,
AlteredBeef
“I will not give up on this…Never!”