“Intense,” “hot,” and “fucked up” were all phrases I heard used to describe the sold-out King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard show in Chicago on June 10th. Fans were lined up down the block in hopes to get early access to the Riviera Theatre’s general admission area for the best spots to watch the show or be in the mosh pit.
It was a cool yet humid afternoon and evening. Fog was high and thick in the city. You couldn’t see the tops of most buildings. It was a bit of a surreal image perfect for a psychedelic rock show. I felt bad for a group of four guys who were asking one of the bouncers for any unclaimed tickets. They’d driven all the way from Ohio and didn’t know the show was sold out until they arrived.
Unfortunately, I missed Amyl and the Sniffers, as my friend attending with the show with me had a late appointment, but we got in after she went through a near TSA-level search at the door. We immediately noticed the heat in the place. A lot of bodies were in there, and the humidity crept in from the streets and into the theatre. Security was already hauling a sweat-soaked woman who could barely walk out of the stage area as we walked down the foyer.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard didn’t seem to feel the heat, however. They only increased it.
The mosh pit started quick. I didn’t get into this one. There were so many people there that moving from our spot (between the downstairs bar and the sound booth) to the main floor and pit was nearly impossible. My friend told me that a lot of the people already looked dehydrated and / or drunk and / or high, and she then remembered that the Spring Awakening electronic music festival had been happening in the city all weekend. Many had decided to wrap up their weekend with Australian psychedelia after going crazy with dubstep and trance for three days.
King Gizzard ripped through “Lord of Lightning” and got a big reaction for “Rattlesnake”. One of the high spots of the night for me was hearing a slightly aggressive version of “Sleep Drifter.” It had an edge to it that you won’t hear on Flying Microtonal Banana.
The three tracks from Nonagon Infinity got a great response from the crowd, of course. My friend was describing the show as “intense” by now. She went to the restroom at one point and came back to tell me, “The real show’s out there (in the foyer). Some girl is fucked up out there and they’re dragging her and other people outside.” I made a break for the restroom at one point and discovered the humidity had turned the foyer floor and stairs down to the restroom into a Slip and Slide. I made it there and back without falling, but I’m not sure others were so lucky.
I was happy to see the four Ohio guys walk by me with drinks in their hands. I clapped one on the shoulder and told him I was happy they made it into the show. The whole crowd was buzzing, both naturally and through chemical means. My friend was a bit freaked out by part of King Gizzard‘s projections that included a cartoon crocodile flying a biplane. King Gizzard shows are always wild, and this one was no exception.
Catch them if you can while they’re in the U.S.
Keep your mind open.
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