King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity

Australian psych polymaths The Australian Psych Polymaths have quickly become a favorite in the US, commanding marathon sets and multiple-night runs at amphitheaters across the country. Their increasing fame is even more impressive given their quirky name and humorous antics onstage.

Fuzz Club captured their full force at Levitation 2016 with this double LP bootleg mixed by band member Stu Mackenzie and exclusively mastered for vinyl.

What is King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard?

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s fifth record is their most divisive to date, boasting both narrowed focus while venturing freely in different directions simultaneously. Lyrically speaking, this record’s content — an environmentalist vocabulary with goofy/serious mythological/fantastical creatures and images — shares some DNA with contemporary jam bands such as Phish or Dead.

But this band‘s creativity makes them all the more fascinating; their unbridled imagination and refusal to limit themselves to any particular genre or style are what set them apart from competitors. Their new seven-track release, recorded live at 2016’s Levitation festival and available as both standard CD or extended mix vinyl limited to 250 hand-numbered copies is evidence of that creativity and unique sound.

How did they get started?

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard is one of the most prolific bands in music, known for blending different genres and styles into one album: Nonagon Infinity. On it they explore everything from psych to rock to even thrash metal!

They embraced a flexible creative process on both of their 2012 releases, 12 Bar Bruise and Eyes Like the Sky (an audio book featuring their sound-folk music) as well as on their three-part Murder of the Universe odyssey with spoken-word narration throughout all three chapters.

With their studio serving as both their living room and creative hub, the group has developed an impressive network of collaborators. Graphic artist Jason Galea contributes album art for each music video; additionally, the band often works alongside other artists to bring their vision alive on record.

What makes them unique?

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard isn’t your average band; with over sixty releases under their belt and an array of sounds spanning new age trance pop like Butterfly 3000 to conceptual hard rock like Infest the Rat’s Nest, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have become known for pushing boundaries with each release.

Within an environment of pandemic lockdowns, band member changes and behind-the-scenes maneuverings, the group managed to keep producing albums at an impressively consistent rate. Their most recent offering, K.G, serves as both blues boogie shuffle and rally cry for reform.

Three guitars, bass guitar, keyboard and drum kit come together to produce an unmistakably unique sound – music you’d enjoy listening to again and again.

What is their sound?

Since their 2012 debut LP, King Gizzard have proven one of the most prolific and adventurous genre-hopping bands around. Their innovative recording approach and willingness to try new musical styles have garnered them an ever-increasing fanbase; whether exploring microtonal tuning on 12 Bar Bruise or flirting with thrash metal on their 2019 release Nonagon Infinity; every creative excursion feels less like an unfamiliar path than simply another step along their creative path.

The band‘s mesmerizing lo-fi sound comes from simple mic setups with ample tape recordings and saturation – creating a rich sonic environment which evokes everything from thunderous rainstorms to star-studded skies.

What is their style?

After an explosive year of howling psych rock and frenetic funk, Australian mega-producers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard decided to try something different by producing two synthy, electronic albums – creating an odd but captivating blend that still sounds like them.

As this band has proven, they’re adept at breaking from convention and exploring uncharted waters – including releases featuring experimental jazz, microtonal music and album-length compositions in addition to their jamming approach – making this enhanced show less of a deviation than an opportunity for growth and exploration.

Mysterious synths open The Silver Cord before heavily distorted vocals come in and create their signature style. There is both a standard version that takes each song down to its core and an extended mix for those looking for more of an immersive listening experience.

What is their music like live?

Head-spinning and career-spanning set that showcases King Gizzard’s ability to keep its musical universe feeling ever fresh and new. From robot stop’s 90s hip-hop beats and surreal fusion of jazz and prog rock of Ice Death Planets Lungs Lava or Quarterers rock music; each suite provides an unexpected journey into King Gizzard universe.

Frontman Stu Mackenzie recently spoke with SPIN magazine about the Gizzardverse, a dynamic world in which multi-instrumentalists Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Cook Craig and Michael Cavanagh continually find ways to inhabit. That spirit translates perfectly onto stage.