I got obsessed with this band, started a website about them with some friends, and knew I could not miss this last best chance to see them in the United States before they left my part of the world. A Phish buddy near Philly wanted to go and had a place to stay, so we made it happen. We parked right near a residence of Edgar Allen Poe and edged closer to the Franklin Music Hall. I remember the feel of a small and packed venue, finding a way to get upstairs into a 21+ area that had a good view, and locking down spots far in the back perched over it all. My buddy stood on a bench and had the highest bird's-eye view of the venue out of anyone. We heard some Leah Senior, had a beer, and got ready.
King Gizz for me is a lot about discovering new tastes and interests, opening myself up to wild new ideas and intense desires. Their metal has spoken to me in ways I never anticipated, and Murder of the Universe drew me in deeper than anything. I listened over and over and over again. Not just that album--I listened to pretty much everything--but I kept going back to their heaviest music. So, up there on the balcony when they opened with Oddlife, then Billabong Valley I got eased in. I felt the energy and intensity. But then K.G.L.W. Outro...it hit (after an emergency string replacement) and I was at my first metal show. My hair was still long from the pandemic for the first time in my life and I let it all go right there. Mars for the Rich. Predator X>Organ Grinder. This would be it for me. An altered future.
The Her & I jam taught me that I cannot miss any opportunity to see this band live, to listen to this band's live recordings, and that every effort to track the development of their performances is worth our energy. Grim Reaper and Ice V had me dancing so hard, exactly what I want from a concert.
The Altered Beast we got at this show was one of the wildest concert moments I've had and that continued straight into Evil Death Roll. This Evil Death Roll is on the top highlights list, for sure. I've listened to a lot live Gizz, from the past couple years especially, at this point. That Evil Death Roll...that was ruthless and sadistic and vindictive. This show proves live Gizz is incredibly addictive.
--AlteredBeef (writing this only days before his next Gizz shows!!)