In a rush and can’t read the whole thing? Make sure to check out: “Mr. Beat” -> “Ice V”, “Raw Feel”, “All is Known”, “Predator X” and “Dragon.”

Introduction

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard made their long-awaited return to Liverpool on May 26, 2024, nearly nine years on from their previous appearance. With very little setlist information available from their two previous visits – in 2014 at the Arts Club and 2015 at The Kazimier – the band could select almost any track from their discography without breaching their golden rule of “no repeats from the last time we were here." Despite the broad selection of songs available, the band decided to debut yet another song from their forthcoming album.

Show Rundown

With Grace Cummings still ill, Atlanta-based punk band Upchuck were responsible for warming the crowd up. Upchuck played a blisteringly fast set in under 30 minutes. Their setlist established a precedent for what was to follow.

When Gizz took to the stage to make their first appearance in Liverpool in nearly a decade, they opened in (quite possibly) the most apt way possible: a Nonagon Infinity medley. “Gamma Knife” was an excellent way to engage the crowd and featured a tentative tease of “Motor Spirit.” “People-Vultures” continued the high-octane energy, before some tension was released with “Mr. Beat.” After a slick, several-minute jam, “Mr. Beat” morphed effortlessly into “Ice V." This was a personal highlight of the evening: Cavs’ ability to seamlessly reduce the tempo and lead the band into another funky jam was breathtaking.

Once the “Ice V” jam concluded, Stu excitedly declared “We’re gonna try something new!” Cavs opened the debut of “Raw Feel” with his archetypal rhythmic complexity before Joey stepped up to deliver lead vocals. As the track evolved, Ambrose and Stu each had a moment to display their vocal prowess, whilst Cookie and Lucas provided gentle backing vocals. Footage of “Raw Feel” has already been uploaded to YouTube and has been widely well-received, further solidifying the excitement amongst Gizzheads for album 26.

The longest jam of the evening was “The Dripping Tap,” clocking in at approximately 23 minutes. Unfortunately, there were some tech issues with Stu’s amp, which resulted in a slight lull around the 15-minute mark. However, if there is anything that the last two years of live shows has demonstrated, it’s that these boys know how to improvise. In response to the tech troubles, Ambrose and Cookie took to their synths and keyboards to provide some unique soundscapes, whilst Lucas held down the low-end. “The Dripping Tap” also contained teases of “Head On/Pill,” as well as a brief rendition of the Jimi Hendrix classic, "Hey Joe.” Despite the troubles, the boys delivered an exceptional rendition of the prog odyssey.

As the clock struck 22:00, Stu equipped the Flying Microtonal Banana. “Nuclear Fusion” kicked off the microtonal section of the show. After careful consideration, Joey selected Erl – who was dressed as “the Invisible Face man” – to deliver the opening lyrics.

“Honey” followed “Nuclear Fusion,” featuring the “Sleep Drifter” intro, alongside a brief tease of “Billabong Valley” during this microtonal jam. The boys unleashed a fantastic “O.N.E.”, followed by the biggest bustout of the evening: “All is Known.” This was an excellent inclusion for a night stuffed with microtonal tracks, especially after it was cut in Berlin due to time constraints. To round-off the microtonal tracks, Ambrose was given the spotlight with “Straws In The Wind.” This included a crowd call-and-response of “Free Palestine,” presumably inspired by a protest that had taken place in Liverpool earlier that day.

The final segment of the show was a four-track metal onslaught. This section commenced with “Perihelion,” shortly followed by “Predator X.” Although there was no segue between the two, both were absolutely spectacular, especially the visuals on “Predator X.” For the penultimate track, Stu, Cookie, and Joey all tuned down to drop-B to unleash “Dragon.” It is an understatement to say that they crushed it, especially Joey during his Latin verse. Finally, “Gila Monster” brought the evening to a close, with a cohesive and tight finish that served as a strong juxtaposition to the fluid jams from the beginning of the set.

Closing Remarks

Alongside Erl, I’d also like to acknowledge Helen and Stu, who were also wearing costumes from the “People-Vultures” music video; you guys looked great!