with Mild High Club, The Murlocs, White Fence, Dinner, Boulevards, Pond
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Live At The Orchard, Urban Orchard.
Once again we find ourselves at the captivating Urban Orchard for another weekend of the Live At The Orchard series. Despite the overcast cooler weather, compared to the summer sun of previous weeks, punters were out in droves to catch the psych-rock sensation of Gizzfest.
The mixed menagerie ranged from the young stylish hippy-psyche types, sporting their craziest fashion and dancing in circles at the front of the stage to the older rock generation, standing back behind the pit, taking in the show and smelling like Otto’s jacket. There really was a full mix of ages at this event and everyone was in high spirits and feeling the good vibes.
LA’s Mild High Club opened the festival with their welcoming, self-proclaimed slack funk psychedelica. Perfect for settling in with a beer and taking in the picturesque surroundings.
Dinner was something to behold, it was hard to tell if this is a serious musical act or a cabaret tongue-in-cheek comedy show. Dinner, consisting only of Anders Rhedin and a backing track, leaped and bounced across the stage making it hard to take your eyes off the charismatic solo performer, making up for the lack of anything else on stage. At one point requesting the entire front of stage to sit down as he made his way into the crowd; is he really doing that ‘bit’ or taking the piss out of it?
Pond absolutely exploded into Elvis’ Flaming Star, with that bassline it is just impossible to stand still. Highlights were Waiting Around For Grace, Cloud City, Zond and Giant Tortoise, which is just the heaviest song in the multiverse with those fat synths and killer hooks. A magical moment that caught everyone’s attention was when the multi-talented Jay Watson stepped up to mic to provide lead vocals for the hypnotic Sitting Up On Our Crane, coincidently with the cranes of the city skyline hanging just overhead.
Riding high off the success of their 2016 album Nonagon Infinity released earlier in the year, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have achieved triple j cult status. Opening the set with the first single off the album, Gamma Knife injected high energy, electrifying the appreciative crowd, which set the standard for the rest of the evening.
Visually looking like a cross between AC/DC and Nirvana, frontman Stu Mackenzie and guitarist Cook Craig thrashed around in unison whilst traversing their retro instruments masterfully. Many commented on the practicality of having two drummers on stage and the logistics of touring, but watching both play perfectly in time, matching each others rolls and licks exactly, it was a sight to behold and admire at the exceptional skill involved.
Highlights were People-Vultures, Cellophane and Evil Death Roll. Revellers were also treated to some new material half way through the set. When this band really hits top gear is during the drawn out, jam-like extended bridges that peak and trough giving the show that real stadium rock feel with the crowd responding to every musical break.
They finished the set with the epic and infectious Rattlesnake. A common theme in the King Gizzard sound is the vocal melody following a catchy guitar hook, a sound very evident in 70’s surf rock and 90’s grunge. By the end of the number every attendee walked out of the venue chanting the mantra, Rattlesnake, rattlesnake, rattlesnake…
