Words by Rowdygizzfan, additions by u/BuzzTheFuzz

I made this guide to address the tidal wave of new fans attending concerts for perhaps the first time. First, welcome to an incredible band known for out of this world live shows. Its quite a rabbit hole and we're a pretty friendly group. You’re going to have a great time attending live but if I see one more new thread in r/KGATLW asking what a King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard concert is like, I swear I’m going to compile all the answers to the common questions into an easily accessible document and publish it for all to read.
Oh wait, that’s exactly what this is.
I’m from the US and I’ve never been to a major venue or show outside the US. Your mileage will definitely vary elsewhere in the world. Every suggestion I have is just that: a suggestion. Nothing I say should be taken as hard fact and your experience might vary greatly from my written word. Don’t use anything I say in here as justification for your actions and do take all my advice at your own risk.
And yes, I do go over how to make sure you get a poster.

Index

• What do I need to do before getting to the show?
• How early should I arrive at the venue?
• What do I need to bring to a show?
• What should I wear?
• What do I do once I’m in the venue?
• What happens during a Gizz show?
• What happens at the end of a Gizz show?
• What do I do now?!?

What do I need to do before getting to the show?

• Tickets
  Know the venue or broker’s (Ticketmaster, AXS, etc.) ticketing policy before attending the show. Some won't accept screenshots (Ticketmaster), some need printed tickets (small local venues), while others need you to sacrifice your first born to enter. There isn't an end all be all policy here: check the venue’s (I wouldn't bother asking brokers like Ticketmaster) policy either online or calling a few days in advance. It's well worth knowing this before you show up to the venue just to get turned away for a ticket verification you need but don't have.
  I would download the specific app (Ticketmaster, AXS, StubHub, whatever) to your phone before you go. Yeah it sucks to have another app but it has saved me so much hassle so many times. Login and make sure you see your tickets if you bought them or accept the transfer if you bought second hand.
  Buying second hand tickets for cheap could be its own article but here are the basics.
  Reputable sites like Cash or Trade (cashortrade.com) are great for buying from fans at face value. Your payments over the site are also protected if anything goes wrong. If you must buy your tickets from some random dude on Reddit, always use services like PayPal Goods and Services or Venmo “turn on for purchases”. These are the only services I will recommend as I have used all of them, getting my money back from scammers multiple times with PayPal and Venmo.
  Pro Tip: if you’re willing to wait until show day to grab tickets, resale prices will drop like crazy. Scalpers try to offload tickets and people have day of conflicts. If you’re brave enough to wait outside the show with no tickets, you can almost always make some new friends and find an extra ticket(s). Just use the above safe methods in case something goes wrong with the transaction.
  Don’t expect Wi-Fi or your phone service to work for tickets: have physical backups. Shows can often be in places where Wi-Fi doesn't exist or cell towers get overwhelmed by the sheer number of fans (I couldn't load tickets at the gate at either the ‘23 Caverns shows or at ‘23 Remlinger Farms). Take a screenshot of emails and tickets to prepare for this eventuality. If you can find a confirmation, order, whatever number, have it handy. This is greater than gold when you need tickets, as this is one of the things that they often need to print tickets at the book office.

• Food and Drink
  Venue food is almost always overpriced, under spiced, and potentially hazardous to your health (NEVER eat Island Noodles). There are exceptions to this rule but if you haven’t scoped it out beforehand, you’ll usually find yourself overpaying for shitty fried food or splitting a $30 large pizza with complete strangers in the rain in Columbus, OH (shoutout to those guys). Find a restaurant close to the venue or eat before you go: your wallet will thank you.
  I would hydrate before you go, whichever way you choose. Its hard to stay hydrated when you’re riding the front rail or don’t want to leave the pit so stock up before you start sweating. If alcohol is your thing, pre-gaming is highly suggested (but not too hard). There is nothing that will weigh on your wallet faster than a highly acquired taste for $18 Bud Light Seltzers but one or two will keep you going. AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER.
  If you’ve never been to a specific venue before, it can help to download a venue map and other information in advance (see my note about tickets above). This has been getting better in recent years but the last thing you want is to be drunk and exhausted at the end of a show, unable to find your car because you accidentally went to the South Lot at Red Rocks and you were parked in the North lot (we still laugh at him).

• Mind-altering Substances
  What about cannabis, psychedelics, or any other substances you may like to enhance your experience with? I can only really recommend you don’t break the law, which will vary greatly between locations, particularly regarding cannabis.
  But here is some more generic advice: live music shows are generally not good environments to try a substance for the first time, experiment with high/unknown dosages, or to mix different substances. Too many strangers, too much sensory stimulation, too many rules in effect. On one hand, if you’re highly experienced you already know better than what I can write here; but otherwise if you are uncertain about anything it's better to just leave it. I promise you will have a great time anyway, and even taking a risk with plain old alcohol is more likely to spoil your show (and for those around you!) than to improve it.
  Pro tip: Smoke and vapor bothers many people in a dense crowd, if you are partaking, please do your best to direct it away from other people.

How early should I arrive at the venue?

This is probably the question I see the most and likely the reason you’re reading this. This answer has such a wide range depending on venue, specific event, time of year, weather, your goal for the show, etc. that it’s almost impossible to get it right every time. But, I have found some guidelines have helped me at Gizz shows (and beyond).
King Gizzard will typically have an opener. Generally, doors to the venue will open an hour before the opener goes on. Then, Gizz will go on 30-45 minutes after the opener finishes. Typically, that means something like doors at 7 PM, opener 8:00-8:45 PM, and Gizz goes on somewhere around 9:15 PM to play until 11 PM. Exact times will vary based on local curfews but this is the general pattern I have observed, and more specific timings are almost always available on the venue’s website or social media.
If you want a poster/limited merch: varies greatly.
Arrive at least 1-2 hours before doors, scaled to the size of the venue. Realistically, with their popularity exploding if you want a foil poster, you’ll probably have to double that time for most venues as you’ll need to be one of the first people in the door. American fans have gone absolutely rabid for merch.
This is the most variable time range on the list because it can really just come down to dumb luck (like merch arrival delays or printing delays) but in my limited experience, I have seen a pattern. The larger the venue, the more people show up; the more people show up, the more competitive the merch line. It's also of note that larger venues will split merch among multiple stands, hurting people who get in line later by reducing their chances in a specific line (plus scalpers, cutters, generally terrible human beings consumed by Capitalism, etc.).
I got in line one day at 11 AM for Red Rocks ’22 for a 7 PM start and did not get a foil poster; the regular posters sold out shortly after I got out of line. So, I don’t camp lines anymore unless I’m one of the first people there. Smaller venues have been easier to score at in my experience. I got in line 45 minutes before doors at Mr. Small’s ’22 (800 person venue) and readily got a poster. My experience was similar at the Caverns shows this year (1200 person venue). Just make sure you aren’t in line when the boys start playing.

If you want the Front Rail, never done it, wouldn’t know. I don’t know the exact answer to this question but I imagine you would have to be one of the first people in to get the front rail (in addition to having an iron bladder), so see above for the timing window. I do have fond memories of people SPRINTING to get the front seats at Red Rocks, and I hope they didn’t tumble headlong down the amphitheatre. See below for why I don’t think this is the best strategy but I know some people will want to experience the show from the very first row. I am not one of those people (tiny bladder), so you may have to go to other sources for a better opinion.

If you want 'good' Position in a General Admission venue: literally anytime before the show starts. There really isn’t a bad space at most shows. The boys are LOUD, so you’ll be able to hear them pretty much anywhere. If you want a good view, you’ll need to work for a reasonable spot but the acoustics will be fine venue wide. Posting up in a less dense, open space in the crowd generally gives you enough room to have a reasonable view and still have enough room to dance without hitting anyone.
If you want a good spot without fighting, I would get there for the opener or while the opener is playing (about an hour after doors). The worst time to find your position is while everyone is standing around waiting for King Gizzard to start playing. If you can cement yourself a good space early, people will fill in around you and you can generally keep your view, otherwise you just become the person trying to move through where people aren’t moving. Don’t push your way forward. If you want to get further up the front, the best way is via the far side (if there is space), then make your way across if the rows aren’t too dense.
Once the music starts, the crowd becomes a fluid, and you are a drop of water. During the course of the show, people will move back once they have had enough dancing or moshing.
Pro tip: people will be looking to catch their breath after the metal songs, and the best way for them to do that is to move away from the stage.

What do I need to bring to a show?

Depending on the venue (check their website!), my packing list does or does not include:

• 13” x 15” CLEAR vinyl drawstring bag (outdoor or larger venue).
  Passes almost all outdoor venue security policies, clear is very important if you don’t want to be hassled.
  Pro tip: these are very water resistant if you can make sure the top is sealed.

• 9” x 4” Fanny pack (indoor venue).
  For moshing or venues with power tripping security.
  Can sit against your stomach or under your shirt, incognito and hard to reach Just big enough for phone, wallet, and accessories.

• Sit Pad (sitting room only).
  Foam or other flat, small, and foldable seat Don’t bring a real chair unless the venue explicitly allows it Great for venues with hard seats Pro tip: fuck all of that plastic, buy recycled! I use the Nemo Chipper and love it

• Hat/Sunglasses/Sun protection (indoor/outdoor)
  For outdoor venues or if the indoor lights are too bright for your current state of mind, flashing lights are fun, but you will be surprised to find how much they drain your energy once you try filtering them out.

• Garbage bags (outdoor venues only)
  Poncho in a pinch, collect people’s trash, cover merch that won't fit in your bag, what’s not to love?

• Poster tube (if I plan to camp the merch line)
  Keeps the clout chasers from fainting by bringing your poster into the pit. Great for displaying stickers too.

• Ear plugs (WEAR EAR PROTECTION AT EVERY VENUE)
  Pro tip: the little hairs in your ears don’t grow back. PROTECT YOUR EARS, THE BOYS ARE LOUD.
  Suggestions at every budget level:

  • Cheap: Mack’s Acoustic earplugs. I used these for years, but regular earplugs tend to elevate the bass too much for me.

  • Mid: Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs. My partner uses these and likes them

  • $$$: Custom moulded earplugs. Talk to an audiologist in your area to have a custom mould of your ear taken (super comfy). Comes with changeable decibel level filters depending on the volume of music, and they let me get the glittery kind with my HSA money: American Healthcare/10

• Collapsible water bottle (all venues)
  Pay the money for a reusable bottle now or pay $5 a can for Liquid Death at the venue, you’ve been warned.
  Pro tip: Fuck all of that plastic, reuse reuse reuse! I use a Platypus collapsible 1 L bag.
  Good venues will hand out water to those on the front rail, if you don't need it (you probably do), help pass it around.

• Battery Bank and Charging Stuff
  Can’t call an Uber or reconnect with your friends after the show with a dead phone. Or if you know you don’t want to take any photos or recordings, consider turning it off to fully engage with the show. One less device on the network can help everybody else’s connectivity for locations that don’t often have large gatherings of people.

• Snacks (venue dependent)
  You’d be surprised how many venues will let you bring in food (usually outdoors). Check policies online and follow them, or pay $15 for chicken tenders. They’ll be dry and there won’t be fries.

What should I wear?

Comfortable shoes are a priority, you will be on your feet a lot, and they will get stepped on if you are in the crowd so take that into consideration. If you are with a group, it can be surprisingly easy to lose each other so I would recommend wearing something brightly colored and recognizable on your upper body. Self expression at shows is lots of fun, but do not wear large hats, people behind you will be much more upset at you obstructing their view than they will be pleased at how cool and unique you are. Dress for the weather, hypothermia at music events is more common than you think, and you can always take a jacket/coat off and hold it instead of having no way of getting warmer (aside from dancing). Spotting band shirts is always fun, bonus points for how far removed it is from King Gizzard.

What do I do once I’m in the venue?

Use some time to get the lay of the land before anything starts. Where are the bathrooms? Closest food/bar? Fun venue booths or activities? If you had any lingering anxiety (I sort by new on r/KGATLW, I know y’all are nervous wrecks), now is the time to have your questions answered before the show gets going. Outdoor venues/festivals can be huge, see my previous note about venue maps. Personal items are frequently lost, so if you find anything on the ground (shoe, phone etc.) best practise is to hold it above your head and call out what the item is. This may also encourage other people to help find the owner, but when it comes down to it venue staff can likely handle lost/found items. At a general admission show, find a spot to stand/sit once you have the lay of the land and a better understanding of the main areas at a show. Positioning during a show is very fluid but the major sections of a concert venue at a Gizz show are generally as follows:

• Mosh pit
  This will usually be centre stage, a venue dependent distance from the front. If you don’t want to mosh, don’t setup here. I will almost always never start in the pit, regardless of show/artist/venue, as I like to gauge the general rowdiness first: I’m looking at you windmillers.
  If you do want to mosh, great. Please have an understanding of how to keep yourself and others safe before you enter. It is up to ALL OF US to ensure the safety of those around us and understand how to be degenerates but safely.
  Here are some guidelines I’ve found have helped me out at shows:
  • Safety is top priority in the mosh pit. Don’t do anything that your mother (or if it hits your conscience harder, Stu) wouldn’t want you doing to yourself, others, or property around you. *WHEN SOMEONE FALLS, WHAT DO YOU DO? PICK THEM UP. Being on the floor at a concert, in any standing room only location, can be the fastest way to leave the venue in pieces. Priority #1 is getting people up when they fall, it is a good idea to vocally make it known that someone is on the ground as even the people right in front them aren't likely to realise. I don’t care if Cavs is in the middle of his solo. I don’t care if your deity of choice descends from the heavens to prove that God is in fact real. I don’t care if they’re playing Vegemite live and the pit is a roiling vortex: WHEN SOMEONE FALLS, WHAT DO YOU DO? PICK THEM UP.
  • Protect your face and head. Ramming into people at speed is almost always going to give you whiplash and limbs fly everywhere. Keep your head up with your arms at chest height. You can use this stance to push/bounce off people when in motion or deflect incoming bodies. Glance or roll off people (especially those smaller or larger than you) and don’t lead with your head or shoulders either: this isn’t American football.
  • You will get very hot, and therefore drenched in your own and other's sweat. This and body odour are how you know you're having a good time, if juices are not your vibe, neither is a long-lived mosh.
  • Secret pro tip that isn't to be abused: supplementary to the earlier point about people moving back to catch their breath, it is never guaranteed you will exit the mosh in the same place you entered. This means the mosh could be your ride several rows closer to the front, however the ticket has a price: one healthy dose of participation until everyone forgets where everyone else started.

Remembering a few things and being aware of yourself and others is the key to having a good time in the mosh pit. Moshing is about the collective energy of our community that we can let loose during shows, and that can manifest in dangerous ways if we as a community let it. With this in mind, King Gizzard mosh pits don’t tend to get as extreme as say, some punk or metal subgenre shows do. Most people are there primarily to have fun, so if you pick the right song, it is generally a beginner friendly environment. If you are going to mosh for the first time, make sure you stand to the side and observe for a bit before you dive in! If someone is particularly drunk, aggressive, grabby, whatever, this is never ok: get security. Certain demographics of fans are more vulnerable to, or even the targets of anti-social behaviour, it is up to the more privileged of us to shape the attitude and behaviour at our shows, and that starts with holding each other accountable for our actions.

• First few rows
  You’ll be right in the action as far as seeing the boys but the first few rows are a very dynamic spot. Gizz shows do get rowdy and while you might not be in the mosh pits if you’re in the first few rows, you’ll definitely feel the mosh pit indirectly as well as crowd push at certain shows/songs/venues. Generally, this is nothing to worry about but be ready to get pushed side to side, forward, and backward with the crowd. This is also where you will potentially have crowd surfers cruising over you, be wary of this if you don't want to help hold them up.
  If it's getting particularly pushy or the crowd starts to sway, as a smaller dude, I like to cross my arms over my chest, bend my knees, and go with the flow of the crowd (to an extent). Arms crossed over the chest allow your arms to expand forward and to the sides as necessary (elbows may be needed to teach some particularly pushy people a lesson) and not locking your knees is just a good life lesson. Don’t fight too hard against people pushing you but still try to stand your ground (and definitely stay on your feet).

• In front of the soundboard
  This place is awful, I wouldn’t bother trying to get a spot here. The sound is the worst in the venue and all the people who stand here are far too nice for their own good and smell distinctly of skunk. Best to just find another spot, because no one will take any steps to make room for you and this definitely isn’t a place to dance. I have braved the horrors of this location first hand many times for consistency, so you can be sure you don’t want to go through the same hellish experience. Give this area a wide berth if you know what’s good for you and be sure to leave the Mysterious creature they call “Jack” alone.
  (If it wasn’t obvious, that was all sarcasm).

• Anywhere else in the venue
  Don’t let anyone fool you: there isn’t a 'best' place to enjoy a show. On the periphery of the packed crowd can be one of the best places to enjoy a show for the first time or the millionth time. If you like breathing room, being able to see the stage, and reasonable acoustics, post up here. It's easy to dip in and out of the more packed crowd if you want to get closer and can still leave to go to the bathroom or grab another drink with ease. If you don’t like where you are (or a tall person stands in front of you), it's easier to relocate to somewhere you can enjoy yourself. This is for general admission venues obviously, otherwise you’re seated somewhere specific.
  If the venue has a second floor, one of my favourite spots to hang out is on the rail upstairs if the upper level isn’t reserved seating. Great view of the stage and a full view of the crowd below are a cool bonus for hanging upstairs (acoustics can vary depending on venue).

What happens during a Gizz show?

In short, magic. At least that’s why I’ve seen them 16 times.
A lot of people ask 'Will I hear this specific song?', 'Will they play heavy stuff?', 'When will they play this deep cut?', 'What do they even play?', and the answer to all of these questions is: it depends.
First, no two setlists from King Gizzard will ever truly be the same. The band will research what they played in the city on previous tours, and use a shared document to craft a setlist that ensures little to no repeats. Additionally, if you’re catching multiple shows close geographically, they have promised fans no repeat songs within a given state. With its live updates and the most accurate, verified data, right here is a great place to check what is likely to be played in the city you’re attending or what was already played in your state recently.
To break it down numbers wise, there have been interview accounts by members of the band that they rehearse and can play “somewhere around 100 songs” for their modern tours (about 43% of their discography depending on who you ask). From this group of ready songs, frontman Stu Mackenzie will construct the setlist close to show date following the guidelines above. Apart from the creative restrictions imposed by the band, there are general patterns that we the fans have picked up in their latest shows, as well as occasional ‘themed’ setlists (ie. acoustic) that are typically made known before the show.
Setlists can range anywhere from legendary jam sessions at 11 songs a set to 18-20 songs a set depending on the mood and length of the evening (festivals sets are shorter but more intense and less jammy, so generally have 10-15 songs). In their live performances from the last few years, we’ve seen elements from jam bands incorporated into live improv sessions on stage. King Gizzard will weave songs into one another, playing sections of songs (teases) in the middle of others before blasting back into the reprise of the first song. Even with dedicated “sections” in a given show, these jams blend genres wildly to produce entirely new compositions live on stage. If you try not to anticipate particular favourite songs too much, you will enjoy yourself better knowing what you did hear was almost always unique in some way.
As of the last US ‘23 tour and the beginning of Europe ‘23, the general sections of a King Gizzard show are composed of some combination of the following:

• Metal music
  With the recent release of PetroDragonic Apocalypse..., a prog-rock slanted metal album, Gizz are playing heavier than ever lately. Expect a selection of 2-6 metal songs at basically every show, played together or broken apart. This also includes albums Infest the Rats Nest and select metal songs from Omnium Gatherium and Gumboot Soup.

• Microtonal music
  0-5 songs from Flying Microtonal Banana, Gumboot Soup, K.G., L.W., or if you're lucky, Sketches Of Brunswick East_, will typically be picked and played together, as the band has to switch to their specially designed microtonal instruments. I have seen the microtonal section skipped multiple times on the last US tour.

• Synth based music
  Several of genres Gizz plays requires the heavy user of synthesizers. Typically the band will “switch” to this section to play the songs, as it requires a great deal of instrument setup and changing like the microtonal section. Look for songs from Fishing for Fishies, Omnium Gatherium, Changes, and others during this section.

• Rock music The rest of the show will be filled in by rock music of various forms. Psych, blues, funk, garage, and jazz fusion are the main genres you can expect, but it's impossible for me to tell you what you’re going to get. What you can expect are a selection of songs of various length and “jaminess” from a multitude of their 24 studio albums.

Some songs may be a few minutes each, like the tight and fast 'Mind Fuzz Suite' comprised of four songs off I’m In Your Mind Fuzz, or selections of narrative album Murder of the Universe. Others might be extended jam sessions, like psychedelic Head On/Pill that has been known to push 30 minutes. Still others are adapted into entirely new genres, like this tour’s electric Sense off of acoustic favourite Paper Mâché Dream Balloon. It’s truly a grab bag whenever you go and one of the main reasons to keep coming back.
Obviously as discussed there will be a mosh pit. People will be dancing, pushing, running, yelling, cheering, and many more things that continue to surprise me after so many shows. In addition to general shenanigans, one can expect to see certain 'memes' or recurring bits during a King Gizzard show. Some include:

• Rowing on The River
  One of King Gizzard’s most played live songs, The River and other songs (particularly water themed ones such as The Dripping Tap can sometimes feature people sitting down in or around the pit and rowing a boat together. This has been happening probably since the song debuted. I’ve also seen people riding inflatable rafts through the crowd, but that dude was just a solo act.

• Nuclear Fusion Intro
  At the beginning of Nuclear Fusion, Joey Walker will select a member of the band, crew, or audience to take over his throat singing. Whomever is selected is pulled centre stage, given a mic, and takes their best chance at sustaining the notes in the intro. This is not for the faint of heart, that intro is TOUGH.

• Straws in the Wind
  Yes, Ambrose likes to yell/screech this one. Yell back or he’ll keep going.

• Michael ‘Cavs’ Cavanagh Drum Solo
  Cavs’ work on the tubs is a highlight of any Gizzard show. Look for these during one specific song on the tour and a rare treat every few shows. The most featured songs for solos are Self-Immolate, Gaia and recently Astroturf, but occasionally a drum solo may appear on its own between other songs.

What happens at the end of a Gizz show?

A typical Gizz headlining show will last anywhere from an hour and a half to slightly over two hours. Marathon shows from Gizz are rare but means an extended set time, typically two ninety minute sets (with or without intermission). In the 16 shows I’ve been to and all the recordings I’ve listened to, I have never known King Gizzard to perform an encore. They haven’t played an encore in a long time, and only used to very rarely on special occasions. In their case, the show is the show; once their music ends, you’re in the clear to leave. Take your trash with you and make sure to take a quick look around to see if you dropped anything. People will slowly file out, there will be lines and traffic and it will take anywhere from 5-20 minutes to get out of an indoor venue (plus any associated traffic) to 30+ minutes to leave a large outdoor venue or festival (can be closer to an hour). Embrace the wait! My buddies and I keep drinks, snacks, and a Bluetooth speaker back at the car to have a mini tailgate while everyone else piles out. Venue staff and local police are often motivated to get people out quickly, but also realize not everyone can contribute to the gridlock: just listen when they tell you to disperse. If you want to meet the band to say hi or get things signed, I’ve never done it, but I hear the boys are good about it. You’ll need the inside scoop on where the band leaves the venue (or just find where everyone else is congregating and ask). I’ve heard to expect a long wait outside the venue (sometimes 2-3 hours after the show ends) and it's not a guarantee. Don’t be creepy or pushy, and be prepared to wait and still not get to meet them.

What do I do now?!?

Congratulations, you made it through your first King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard show alive! I knew you could do it. Hopefully you had a great time and heard that song you’d been chasing. If the bug bit you and you’re already planning for your next show, King Gizzard tours relentlessly and 1-2 tours in a given year for the US isn’t uncommon. Check out the forum or setlist reviews (and write one!) here on KGLW.net, to get engaged with what to listen to or watch next, and make sure we didn’t miss any special details about your show by participating in the discussion. The King Gizzard subreddit is also a great resource to get connected, meet the community, and find new ways to obsess over Gizz.
Welcome to the Weirdo Swarm, and I’ll see you at the next show!