The penultimate edition of Brent’s Rec’s is a follow-up to Volume 4 from a year ago featuring early taper-made King Gizzard matrix recordings. Matrix recordings are a mix of the soundboard and an audience recording. In King Gizzard’s case, there are 11 known taper made SBD/AUD matrix recordings from 2014-2019. All 11 known recordings were made by only a handful of US tapers. The soundboard recordings for these shows were not officially released, so the tapers were likely permitted to plug directly into the soundboard. I didn’t want to end this series without one more shoutout to those early King Gizz tapers, and to remind readers of some great shows that may not be on their radar. This edition features the six remaining matrix recordings not highlighted in Vol. 4 last year. Also in this edition after the Brent’s Recs, there is another Wishlist of archival shows in the hopes the band will one-day release more recordings. First up though are some wonderful matrix recordings.
Brent is creator of the King Gizz Live Spreadsheet and a KGLW.net collaborator, Brent (@Gizzhenge here and Bluesky and (u/yebrent) on Reddit). These recommendations are the best combination of complete recordings, in high quality, of the band in their top form.
October 26, 2014 - Baby's All Right - Brooklyn, NY, USA
This is a high-quality sbd/aud matrix by NYCTaper and contains the earliest known live recordings of Stressin’, Her & I (Slow Jam 2), and Vegemite. This is by far the most unique recording in this edition and it technically may not be considered a King Gizzard show, but it's got Stu, Joey and Cavs playing King Gizz songs so I’m including it. The brief show took place the afternoon of Stu’s birthday with several other band members in attendance. There is also a YouTube version created by Gizzy with all known videos synced up with NYCTaper’s matrix audio. I really love this version of It’s Got Old with a slightly slowed tempo and some nice harmonies between Stu and Joey. I always end up replaying the extra fuzzy guitar solo in Sleepwalker a few times. The God is Calling Me Back Home closer starts like it's going to be a train wreck before finding solid footing and ending the set on a big high before the crowd serenades Stu with Happy Birthday to You.
October 31, 2014 - RAKit Club - Brooklyn, NY, USA
This is a high-quality sbd/aud matrix by NYCTaper and one of only two known King Gizzard shows on Halloween. Halloween isn’t a popular holiday in Australia, and it appears that only half the band dressed up in very surreal homemade costumes. Check out the wild photos synched up to NYCTaper’s matrix recording with the YouTube version. The opening almost 20-minute Head On/Pill along with Mind Fuzz suite are the big highlights. The Head On/Pill is a must hear version and has Stu on flute for a portion. I also really love these versions of Black Tooth, Danger $$$ and the closing Hot Wax.
September 12, 2015 - "Hopscotch Festival" The Pour House Music Hall - Raleigh, NC, USA
This is a high-quality sbd/aud matrix by acidjack. Its another high-energy Mind Fuzz suite to kick off the set, and 18 shows into a 20-show US tour has the band as tight as they had ever been to this point. Other highlights are Hot Wax, The River, Cut Throat Boogie, Sleepwalker, and an early Robot Stop > Hot Water sandwich. The 20-minute closing Am I in Heaven? -> Pill is as good as any from 2015.
August 24, 2019 - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL, USA
This is a high-quality sbd/aud matrix by Mystery Jack Official. As was standard with this tour, the set starts with new tracks from Infest the Rats Nest, with Self-Immolate kicking things into high-gear. Other first half highlights include Evil Death Roll and the Horology Trilogy, especially the heavily synthed Loyalty section. The short microtonal section was capped off with an always welcome Billabong Valley. The second Fishing For Fishies and Rats Nest sections finish things off strong. Beginning with This Thing, and 30-minutes, 6-songs, and one false ending later, the Hell outro wraps up one heck of a show.
August 30, 2019 - Franklin Music Hall - Philadelphia, PA, USA
This is a high-quality sbd/aud matrix by Mystery Jack Official. Planet B is always a solid opener, but The Great Chain of Being is the highlight of the opening trio of metal. Stressin’ is a welcome breather before launching into what was my #1 ‘want to hear’ song at my first show, the always fun to hear Mind Fuzz suite. The 2nd half of the 95-minute set has a bunch of what would now be considered live rarities like Acarine, The Bird Song, and Cyboogie. Throw in back-to-back soulful Amby tunes, a mid set Murder of the Universe, and a pair of epic metal closers, and we are very lucky Mystery Jack made and shared this matrix with us. Make sure to thank him next time you see him.
Future Archival Release Wishlist #2
See the previous Brent’s Recs #8 for my initial wishlist of potential archival releases. For this edition I want to stick with the theme of the 2-drummer live era, and specifically focus on 2018, the first year King Gizzard supposedly began multi-track recording of most of their live shows. Yet, no official 2018 bootlegger recordings exist for what I think could be some of the most exciting shows of that 2-drummer era. Here are a few I’d wish the band would release, assuming quality recordings exists.
March 3, 2018 - L'Aéronef - Lille, France - The 2018 Europe winter tour is famous for most shows ending with an abbreviated The River > God is in the Rhythm, and these were the last times the cult favorite, God is in the Rhythm was played live. The song is one that some persistent fans will repeatedly request, but the band (or Stu?) has yet to relent. It would be nice to have an official bootlegger of at least one show from this tour. Plus, this show has several guest sit-ins and the live debut of Beginner’s Luck.
August 13, 2018 - Akvárium Klub - Budapest, Hungary - At 2 hours and 20 minutes per Cav’s Instagram photo, this is believed to be the longest King Gizzard show up until the first marathon show in 2020. I’ve yet to find a single partial song recording of this mystery mini-marathon.
November 23, 2018 - Enmore Theatre - Eora (Sydney), NSW, Australia - This is the first of three legendary shows leading up to the 2018 Gizzfest, which itself was featured in Brent’s Recs, Vol. 2. It includes the live debut of The Great Chain of Being and The Bitter Boogie along with the first Stressin’ in over 2-years.
November 24, 2018 - The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel - Adelaide, SA, Australia - The 2nd of the Australian shows leading up to 2018 Gizzfest, and the one I most want to hear in clear multi-sourced sbd quality. This one includes the live debut of Tezeta along with the envy-inducing bustouts of Let Me Mend the Past, Dead-Beat and Muckraker. Let Me Mend the Past slips into semi-regular rotation from here on out, while Muckraker is still #1 on my live wishlist.
November 29, 2018 - The Tivoli - Brisbane, QLD, Australia - The final show leading up to Gizzfest features the live debut of Work This Time and bustout of Pop In My Step.
Links to these and future Brent's Recs, highlighting the very best King Gizz audience recordings will be at KGLW.net's Brent's Recs Page and King Gizz Live Spreadsheet. Just one more Brent's Recs to go, so make sure you give Brent a thank you for this huge contribution for live Gizz fans. Brent and other historians and archivists of this community deserve our gratitude for all they freely give. Many thanks from the KGLW.net team.