What a show! After a cancellation years prior, this show was, against all odds, worth the wait. A perfect first show hitting so many hits, old and new and not a single beat missed. This is King Gizzard at the top of their game and at full sprint on the first "normal" show of a legendary tour.

The boys had traveled north from their epic 3-hour marathon Berkeley set and were ready to rock. Roseland is a smaller venue in Portland, comparatively at least, and couldn't fit the larger screen they brought out for the rest of the. The tighter stage, minimal effects, and hungry crowd brought an energy from the early days and they kicked the night off hard with Gaia into Predator X - echoing the heaviness of the Infest the Rats Next album release party from previous visit to that same stage.

The heavy riffs of the openers continued into Magenta Mountain, showcasing an excellent example of how their live shows can improve and build on already great songs. I never knew Magenta Mountain could rip so hard. This nearly 10 minute version peaks with a shredding guitar solo and synth jam that kept the energy in the room electric.

Following was a slight reprieve with a tight and psychedelic Poly trilogy, Inner Cell > Loyalty > Horology. Caught in a trance, the crowd was transfixed and transported into Polygondwanaland. This, Rattlesnake, and Garden Goblin (LOL) were my biggest requests for the night and hearing those first few bars of a less-than-likely request solidified this as all time show for me.

Next up was a new one, Ice V, one of two singles released so far on Ice Death. This was most of our first forrays into the new "jam era" and they delivered. These jams are relatively new in the rotation and you can hear the fun they're having on stage playing together with such ease.

The hits continued with Blame it On the Weather and Hot Water leading into a crowd favorite (or..my..favorite?) - Garden Goblin. Cookie mentions how much he misses his dog, <3 , and Cookie provides a perfect 3 minute soundtrack for the room full of dancing goblins.

We then get a (nearly) double debut with Iron Lung - the single having been released earlier that day - and Magma - previously unheard. Two absolute bangers back to back. While this debut of Magma sounds closer to it's album version than the sprawling heavy jam epics it has grown into, it was truly a special treat to have been in the crowd for the debut of one of a now all time favorite. The energy in the room from the subtle start and throughout the explosive build was like nothing I new sleepy Portland could bring on a Tuesday evening.

But they weren't done there. "This song is about snakes" sent the room into a frenzy as the opening riff to Rattlesnake rattle rattle rattled us to our very bones. The official count is 7 teases in the absolute magnum opus of a Rattlesnake medley. I beg you, dear reader, take a listen to this nearly 16 minute monstrosity of a song (as of writing, the longest and potentially most tease-heavy version to date). 

I send all my love to Mystery Jack for his excellent recording of this show and others. Give it a listen - you won't regret it!