Get Out Of The Kitchen

With a convoluted and ludicrous name like King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, it would be easy to assume that the Melbourne-based collective don't take themselves seriously. However everyone else should, as the release of debut record 12 Bar Bruise is an exercise in garage shambolics that focuses on fun but doesn't skimp on the hooks. Since being Unearthed by national youth station triple j, they have wasted no time in obliterating venues and punter expectations alike, combining with their energetic tales encompassing personal misdemeanours with garish noise and cheeky wit, something that bassist Lucas Skinner admits comes naturally.

“We have been heavily inspired by Australia punk and garage from the past twenty years, even further back than that,” Skinner enthuses. “And the scene is really healthy; we are all feeding off each other. Most of our music is tongue-in-cheek and never meant to be taken too seriously. We started out as mates in other bands, hanging out, and we came up with songs that we could all jam on. The line-up at the beginning was always changing but it didn't matter because the songs were easy. It's what we do it for, it's basically a side project where mates can have some fun and play some parties. Then things started to snowball and the band became more serious, no longer on the sidelines, but it's always retained that core of having a good time with your friends, as lame as that may sound!”

With songs that range from a substance-fuelled error in judgement (Uh Oh, I Called Mum) and a roll call of their favourite AFL players (Footy Footy) it's clear from the outset that King Gizzard is an outfit fuelled by mates mucking around, yet it's the accessibility of 12 Bar Bruise that belies the potential novelty of it all. “With songs like Footy Footy, we are just mucking around and Joe [Walker] did that voiceover. We were doing gags like that in the studio, and decided to keep it because we thought it was hilarious. We love making awesome punky, poppy music that is fun to play. Subject matter is never serious between us and that rubs off on the lyrics. If you listen to these songs without the lyrics they are great songs. Songwriting doesn't need to be deep all the time, people forget that sometimes.” 

Aesthetically having seven members all going crazy makes for a live experience, but Skinner admits that it's a recipe that has taken a lot of deliberation and finesse. “[With a seven-piece], it's heaps different from recording to playing live. We have only really rehearsed twice as a full band; it ends up being too much noise. We have tried to write as a seven-piece before, and it's just completely ridiculous. There are too many cooks and we end up getting frustrated with each other. So we break things down; Stu [Mackenzie – vocals/guitar] writes most of the songs, we do a demo with the drum machine, then me, Cavs [Michael Cavanagh – drums] and Stu will flesh that out then record as a three-piece. Everyone adds their bits over the top. We then have to learn these songs as a seven-piece. We have a production line going now, it's pretty sweet.”

It's a visceral, no-holds-barred experience. “Our shows are loud, hey,” Skinner laughs. “We have tightened it a bit, but its' still about going full on. We create organised chaos.”

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard will be playing the following shows:

Friday 28 September - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney NSW
Saturday 6 October - The Tote, Melbourne VIC
Sunday 7 October - The Tote, Melbourne VIC
Friday 12 October - The Ed Castle, Adelaide SA
Friday 19 October - The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart TAS