This update is actually coming a lot sooner than we originally thought — though we have also had a lot going on since the last post. Not least, King Gizzard have completed a tour! This has been their first since the launch of KGLW.net. Aside from a few loose shows over the new year, this was the first true test for the ongoing setlist notation process. Requiring us to keep up with the shows while they are happening, with inconsistent internet access, time zone conversions, unreleased material, and wild speculation, it has been an interesting challenge to keep it all together to provide our signature detail and accuracy as soon as we are able. The ‘23 Europe tour has also attracted several new members to the team who have been crucial for the increased workload, so welcome and thank you!

Phase 1 of the site is essentially defined by this process, everything you have seen here so far is static, meaning it is manually written and published. The plan for the next phase has always been a custom developed setlist database — a huge undertaking (at least in order to satisfy our vision in terms of performance statistics) that we knew would take a long time.
But there are other options.
Setlist.fm is currently the most popular site for tracking King Gizzard setlists, and they even offer an API that allows use of their data in custom sites (this is how several other King Gizzard fan sites operate). It is an adequate tool, but quickly shows many weaknesses in tracking the types of information that hardcore fans are most interested in. It is also owned by LiveNation and subject to strict rules (they technically forbid linking to anything other than their home page to protect ‘their’ setlist data). As fans of live music and open development, this is an association that KGLW.net does not want.

As one of the earliest websites (ever), Phish.net is very important to the history of internet music fandom, and has served as a point of reference for us since before our launch. It has a long history and development cycle that has changed with Phish itself, matching the needs of the Phans to track setlists. This process eventually became so robust that it spawned Songfish, a software service that would allow input of generic setlist data to generate tracking sites for any band.
We want to do the same for King Gizzard. To create a unique tool, built by fans for purposes specific to the band. With this in mind, we initially thought we shouldn’t restrict ourselves to someone else's (paid) closed-source product, or compromise with its features. However, after a series of generous meetings (its founder Adam Scheinberg is a King Gizzard fan!), we have comfortably been able to convey our ethos, which we have found Songfish are more than happy to facilitate.
As we balanced pros and cons, it started to become more and more clear that Songfish would not contradict our long term goals, but actually be a valuable stepping stone on the way, that would help us develop our vision, provide a better service for users, and ultimately produce a better custom solution when the time comes.

So welcome to the next phase of KGLW.net! We are now powered by Songfish to produce the most comprehensive and accurate King Gizzard setlists available anywhere, completely independent of LiveNation, and fully developed by and for King Gizzard fans.
We have transferred all our existing data and content into the new platform, which provides a smoother refreshed interface, and big new features:

Setlist Statistics

These include: song frequencies, segues, debuts, parent albums, venues, teases, cities, countries, bust-outs, guest performers, and more. The accuracy of statistics is subject to improvement through the ongoing setlist notation project, but rest assured that they are based on meticulous verification and improvements to many known errors in setlist.fm data.

User Accounts

The creation of a user account grants access to two key features: setlist groups, and show reviews. Using custom groups, you can now use KGLW.net to track your show attendance and run statistics on performances that you have seen (or any other grouping).
If you had a significant experience or anything else you want to tell the world about at a King Gizzard show, you can now also leave a written review right on its setlist page. Please get creative, but keep it relevant to the performance itself.
User accounts conform to data security regulations, and their use is subject to moderation that includes the prohibition of hate speech and harassment.

Songfish API

Songfish also provides an Application Programming Interface, meaning you can gain access to the raw data that the site is built from. We’ve obviously got the basic application of the data as a setlist tracking site covered, but the Gizzverse is the limit!
Our data and this API is already being used for the Reddit and Discord setlist bots. As well as kglw.today, an open source ‘today in King Gizzard history’ page.

Request For Contribution

The best way for you to take advantage of this update is by creating an account, checking out the new features, generally exploring the new functionality of the site, and sharing it with any King Gizzard fans you know.
If you are looking to contribute further to KGLW.net, we are seeking:

• Bug reports for the new platform. Known bugs:
  "Naarm (Melbourne)" shows twice in some played cities lists, this is being investigated.
  When viewing all public groups, the number of shows within is listed as 0, however once you have navigated into the group it functions as expected.

• Show tapers. Let us know if you are planning to tape an upcoming King Gizzard performance. We'll have team members at most of the upcoming NA tour, and can also help process and seed raw recordings.

• Contributors for setlist notation. During the last tour, we had a great time using Reddit threads to collectively track setlists as they were being played. This allowed contribution from the wider community to more quickly cover a wider base of information, and to instantaneously get multiple opinions on things easily missed such as teases. But we are also working through all available King Gizzard live recordings to ensure setlist pages are as informative as possible. If you have a keen ear for teases and segues, ideally have experience with 'jam band' setlists, and want to help with this process, let us know. A team member typically listens to a recording, generates notes, then opens up discussion to suggest changes for a set time period before publication.

• General suggestions and contributors. Got an idea for the site and want to get involved? We are always seeking creative King Gizzard fans, particularly front or back-end website developers, digital artists, and creative writers. Even if you are none of those things and just want to help, we would greatly appreciate your input and can always find uses for your attention to detail.

• Experienced accredited non-profit organisation administrators and volunteers. Launching a non-profit organisation that does more than just promote other charities is a large, complex task. We are still passionate about harnessing the collective fandom of King Gizzard to be able to make a difference in things we care about like the environment, and need contributors with experience and time to donate in order to further our already significant efforts in organisation. Please reach out at [email protected], or through our social media channels in the navigation bar at the top of the page.

Every update so far has felt like the beginning of the next big step, and this has been our biggest so far. Many thanks to Adam for his generosity and support, and to the ever changing KGLW.net team who have come together to make this transition happen!