That sure is a way to start the tour. "Am I In Heaven?" is a pretty reliable jam but this one was really something else with about a twenty minute runtime. So much going on in that one. Then we get to the metal stuff (specifically PDA) and right out the gates is the debut of "Flamethrower." While I'm somewhat disappoitned they cut the outro, the rest of this was great and as heavy as you'd expect. I like how Ambrose's vocals back up Stu in it. There's nothing too unique about "Witchcraft" and "Supercell" but they're strong as they usually are, minus a lyrical flub in there somewhere. The highlight of the night (for me at least) was the "Crumbling Castle" > "The Fourth Colour" at the end of the first half. While these are often very strict in regards to how the band plays them (due to the progressive rock nature of these tracks), the band ended up jamming these a bit, especially "The Fourth Colour" which goes way longer than the three minute blast that it usually is. It's such a fun listen. "This Thing" is where our second half starts and there's a jam here too, taking influence from ZZ Top. It's cool. I remarked this when watching the show but usually "Iron Lung" is a highlight in a show, a peak even, but here it actually feels like the low point. I think that says a lot about how wild this set was. There's a great transition into "Hypertension" which is pretty good but the way we end up in "Work This Time" is crazy. This version is great and takes from what was heard on the previous tour. It's the last big peak of this show IMO. "Magma" is good but pretty much what I expected and "Float Along - Fill Your Lungs" is cut short before it can spread its wings. Good version that isn't given the time it needed.

While both "Doom City" and "Minimum Brain Size" were on the setlist, I'm ultimately happy with what we got. This was a great start to the tour with a number of key jams that will be worth revisiting.

In my mind it's hard to beat 2016 Gizz just out of energy alone. Sure, sets aren't as wild as they are now but there is such a hard edge to it all that makes it wildly infectious. This show at the Independent is a great example. High octane psychedelic rock that kills time and time again. It's flawless. Glad that they filmed and released this one, it's one of those that you just crank up and lose yourself in.

Cabaret Vert '16 is a band firing on all cylinders. One after the other, each song builds and builds with intensity leading to some of the most powerful moments this band ever had on stage. The show is largely focused on Nonagon Infinity material and it rips all the way through - occasionally taking a break for "The River" and "Hot Water." It is fierce. 

There's many shows that could be the best they ever performed. We could argue about some sloppiness here and there. That said I can't think of another that melts my face like this one.

10/15/2022 was my first Gizzard show and for what it was I liked it. Was it the best show I heard in person, let alone from my time listening to the band online? Solid no. It was good though.

Radius is an interesting place - an old steel mill turned concert venue. The place was cool though it radiated that industrial vibe. The weather was cold and many in line tried their best to stay warm. Some had even ordered pizza while waiting in line - a strange occurance I've only seen this one time. The inside was dark and loud, even somewhat menacing in a cool sort of way. 

The show was energetic but the thing that holds me back is the setlist which ranges from understandable to strangely obtuse. We start fine with "Venusian 1" and "Venusian 2" - two high energy metal songs. Interestingly and rather unfortunately the Infest the Rats' Nest piece "Perihelion" was left out - which struck me as odd and still strikes me as odd. A missed chance at something truly sepcial. From there the band switch gears entirely into "Slow Jam 1" - a long and slightly meandearing jam follows. "The Grim Reaper" is fun no matter how strange for the band, that's about all I can say. Following this the band got into their microtonal output and we got "Oddlife" which was simply fine. Next was a surprise with Sketches of Brunswick East's "The Book" which once again felt strange. It was a decent performance. Next was arguably the best moment of the show, a good version of "Doom City" with some perfectly timed visuals from Galea. Another surprise followed - the live debut of Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava's "Lava" which was also arguably the best moment of the show featuring a great build up and a truly euphoric payoff. From there the band dipped into Omnium Gatherum with "Ambergris" and "Presumptuous" - both of which were once again just fine. With Leah Senior opening this tour it would be a missed opportunity to not play something from Murder of the Universe so they did precisely that with a decent "The Lord of Lightning vs The Balrog" suite. The band's energy was great, Leah's narration was fitting and the band's build up during "The Lord of Lightning" made me lose my voice. Yet again another contender for best moment. Following that suite the band slowed down and dug into "Iron Lung" which had a smooth feel before going into a cathartic "Float Along - Fill Your Lungs." The show ended there.

I don't get this show. It's composition is understandable looking at it from the outside in regards to flow but the more I think about it - the more questionable the substance is. It's so low in big moments - sometimes alluding to or achieving something huge before breaking it with an honestly lame follow up. For every "Lava" there seemed to be an Oddlife" or "Presumptous." The choice of songs doesn't even feel right. Why "Venusian 1" and "Venusian 2" but not the essential inbetween? Why go for "The Book" and "Oddlife" and not "K.G.L.W." or "Open Water?" It just doesn't sit with me in a way that's hard to explain. It isn't bad and I enjoyed it but this was a strange stop in 2022.

6/12/2023 was the first Gizzard show I saw in person that fulfilled the excitement, energy and variety that I love from this band. It was my third show but by that point it was the best.

The Chicago residency had some funky weather but thankfully 6/12 was a nice Summer day. Not too hot, not too cold, in a gorgeous in between. Perhaps the weather influence their set and the energy that coursed through the band right from the word "go."

Like the night before Gizzard opened with a microtonal set though this time it progressed much better. They started with a rocking "Rattlesnake" that had the crowd moving before making their way into the K.G. single "Honey" which set a mellow tone going for the next tracks. "Shanghai" from Butterfly 3000 was up next and stood out as the first true highlight of the night with it's long, extended jam featuring Stu singing "grow wings and fly" with Amby echoing him, a loud but thrilling electronic jam and some fun dances from Stu. Changes got some representation with "Hate Dancin'" and "Astroturf" - both of which were nice follow ups to the last two songs and once again noteworthy. Cook got a song next and it was the upbeat but slightly off balance Gumboot track "Down the Sink." While there was lyrical flub, it was yet another highlight at least for me. Following that was a tour debut and debatably a live debut - Nonagon Infinity's "Invisible Face." The track had seen some performances dating back to around 2016, they never played the entire track as heard on Nonagon Infinity until 6/12/2023 and while it was seemingly impromptu the band got it down quite well and began to work their way through the end of Nonagon. A slightly weak "Wah Wah" grabs hold of the audience before battering them down with a heavy "Road Train" before spiraling into a fun post-Eric classic "Ice V." Yet another highlight. From there the band grabs hold of their C# tuned guitars for the "Inner Cell" trilogy which was nearly as gripping as it was on Polygondwanaland. The band then dives into their metal repitoire with a loud, thrashy "Supercell" and a crowd favorite "Self-Immolate" featuring a long, tribal drum solo from Cavs. The show ends on a short but sweet "Am I In Heaven?" wrapping up the night with smiles all around.

6/12 isn't the biggest show from Gizzard but it was a fun one and something I have a feeling will be a fan favorite for 2023. It has a little something for everyone with an energy capable of converting listeners into fans. In other words, it was quite good.

When I got out of Gizzard's first show at the Salt Shed, all I could think was "that was good but I think something better is coming." Not to spoil my other thoughts on the Chicago residency but that line of thinking wasn't wrong. For all intents and purposes, the start of the Salt Shed was a good Gizzard show.  Some could even argue a great Gizzard show which is all fine and dandy. For me however it was just the start.

The Chicago residency was plagued with bad weather and it was apparent since the first day. The summer days before the 11th had all but vanished and turned into a chilly, windy Chicago day. The temperture was fine but the wind knocked things down to a tough forty degrees. Some fans hid inside their coats and jackets, some tried to double up their clothes with newly bought Gizzard shirts, others didn't care and stuck around freezing. The band themselves seemed cold as well and one has to wonder if Chicago's windy conditions played a part in the set's energy.

Gizzard started with a set of microtonal songs starting with tracks from their album L.W., those being "Pleura" and "O.N.E.". The mid tempo but entergetic tracks set the stage for the night though sat a bit strange for me as openers. Next was "Nuclear Fusion" with guest vocals from an audience member named Seb who crushed it. The head bobbing jam was a bit rough around the edges however it was a highlight of the show and a whole lot of fun to hear. The band transitioned out of "Nuclear Fusion" into Joey's "Minimum Brain Size" which wrapped up the low key microtonal start just fine. From there the band made it to their metal set and started with a long suite consisting of Omnium Gatherum's "Gaia", the Petrodragonic Apocalypse slow burn "Motor Spirit" and Gumboot Soup's often overlooked godly banger "The Great Chain of Being" before going back into "Gaia" at the very end. This to me was a better start than the microtonal material and while I felt that at times the medley seemed a bit long, it was great to experience overall. Following that was "Witchcraft" from Petrodragonic Apocalypse which faired much better in my mind. So far the set was good but I had a flash of excitement shoot up my spine during the deep cut "Satan Speeds Up." The band got the track down and provided a great counterpoint to the previous heavy moments. "Trapdoor" was next and served as a sinister follow up to the lounge-y tune before it. Afterwards was the highlight of the night. "The River" felt like a fitting song as the venue was actually next to a river and the band pulled a lot of influence from the Grateful Dead (they saw Dead and Company at Wrigley the night before). The jam seemed to incorporate elements of the Dead's "Space" jams as well as their 1978 classic "Fire on the Mountain" but it wasn't too much of a copy as the band played through the average River repitoire with an excellent ending. Driving out of that was a rocking "Evil Death Roll" and a bouncy, crowd pleasing "Magma." Finally we got a bluesy ending fitting for the Windy City - "Boogieman Sam." The jam felt a bit long to me with a bit too little to do but when it hit, it hit. 

In my mind 6/11 was a night to knock out some b-listers. For as many stand out moments there were, there was always another that felt far less important. Paired with the band's less energetic vibe and the weather the end product was simply "fine." It was a Gizzard show more than capable of pleasing but it wasn't a classic - at least in my mind.

Near the beginning of this show Joey - with his eternal cosmic wisdom - stated something along the lines of "this is one for the history books." While I don't know if 6/13/2023 will be a Red Rocks '22 level event, it will certainly go down in history as a very solid and intriguing show.

The conditions of 6/13/2023 were challenging to put it lightly. The Chicago residency's weather was hit and miss and the final night was arguably the worst. Most of the day the Weirdo Swarm was met with harsh rain and a semi-occuring wind. Many fans hid in the Salt Shed's various buildings but the adventurous stayed outside at the stage or hid under umbrellas eating and drinking. In some ways it was surprising that Gizz decided not to move indoors but by the time they got on the weather had begin to pass and they made it clear that they were energized.

We start with a bang with a sampling of the band's metal works with a "Gila Monster" that worked the crowd, a "Converge" that could break some necks and "Planet B" and "Mars For the Rich" giving Infest fans exactly what they were searching for. However where one might guess that another metal tune like "Hell" would come up next, we ended up getting an unexpected "Plastic Boogie" which was as heavy as it was surprising. Following this the band debated whether it was time for a synth set but due to the weather they decided to hold off. Stu grabs his trusty flute and begins "Hot Water" which is a delightful, crowd pleasing romp but as the song winds down he picks up his Yamaha and begins the Laminated Denim banger "Hypertension." This song has always been a highlight in their live shows since it's debut and 6/13 was no different. While Galea worked the visuals giving the band a familiar yet chaotic backdrop, Gizzard shot for the sun and went there with insane highs that stood out during the residency. The Joey fronted track "This Thing" was next and won over everyone especially by it's ending groove. "Magenta Mountain" was next and was a crowd pleaser. Next however was what set this show apart from everything before it - the live debut of their ten minute jazz opus "Change." Admittedly I can't say this was as well performed as the rest of the songs as it felt at times like a true work in progress tune - which is something the band essentially admitted beforehand. It's a long song with many changes. That said it was a big moment of the show and ultimately one of my favorites due to it's gravity. Afterwards Gizzard gets sidetracked and almost plays their final song before correcting and allowing Cook to sing the lovable Omnium ditty "The Garden Goblin" which the band got just right. Finally the band wrapped up with a killer version of "The Dripping Tap" which had fans crowdsurfing throughout its entire duration.

6/13/2023 was a show that might be legendary for those who decided to face the weather rather than blame it. There was no mud like Woodstock '99 but what fans got was a great set that covered just about anything you could ask for on this tour. A perfect, fun yet uncomfy end to the ordeal that was Chicago '23.