King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard 7/30/25 Westville Bowl

 For those of you who have ever uttered the phrase “it was a little jammy”, should probably back off from this post. KG&TLW are the torchbearers of the jam genre. The group looked to be 6 or 7 strong, but it was difficult to tell from my vantage point. From Melbourne, the band is known for its omnivorous musical appetite and prolific recorded output. Krautrock, psychedelia, metal, disco were all safe targets for these guys. Their legendary live shows are a tapers dream, and they have been known to release 5 records in a year. The recent release,  Phantom Island was showcased. The group was backed by the Orchestra of St Luke’s a chamber outfit from Philly conducted by Sarah Hicks. Looked to be about 30 pieces, strings brass and percussion tried to keep up with the Aussie dervishes. There was even a monstrous harp, cuz why not?  I’m not too familiar with their catalog, but the setlist went as follows: Phantom Island, Deadstick,  Lonely Cosmos, Eternal Return, Panpsych, Spacesick, Aerodynamic, Sea of Doubt, Silent Spirit, Grow Wings and Fly, Hot Water. While there was no discernible setbreak, the internet listed a set two with: The River, Crumbling Castle,  This Thing, Mars for the Rich,  Dragon,  and closed with the anthemic Iron Lung. Truly an egalitarian affair, four band members sang, each with a different vibe, one was punky, one sounded like Elton John, the mix and match was dizzying. The guy who sang most played a flying V guitar, and did an amazing flute bit. The crowd was predominantly 20 year olds, and they truly packed the Bowl on this steamy evening. Towards the end of the show, a contingent of revellers in front of the stage started running in a counterclockwise circle that looked like a whirlpool of humanity. Musicians have been jamming for centuries, the intoxicating notion of playing at a frenetic pace in a band situation is best experienced live. For me, the 1971 Fillmore East recording by the Allman Brothers blessed us with the ultimate jam In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.  A headstone in Macon was the impetus for that song.  My recent orchestral experience at the Bowl had Beck tastefully shaded, while these Aussies dared the orchestra to follow. From Macon to Melbourne, when life deals you a cornucopia of styles, some might make lemonade, the Gizz makes jam.