Live Review: The Drones, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

The stage positioning of each member of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard reflects their chaotic yet inclusive style. Each of the members circle drummer Michael Cavanagh with lead singer Stu Mackenzie out front and guitarists Joe Walker and Cook Craig clustered to his left providing backing vocals. Their music is reminiscent of the surf rock style that they emulate, however due to poor mixing all treble from the vocals to the harmonica is drowned out by a mid-range sludge making them sound like every other stoner grunge outfit from the country. This is a shame because the band obviously have the talent and the energy to stand out from the rest.

The Drones' lead singer Gareth Liddiard takes the stage with his signature bottle of spirits (Finlandia Vodka is the poison of choice) and new addition Steve Hesketh on keys. True to the tour name, the band predominantly play songs from their sixth studio LP, I See Seaweed, released in March. The deliberate snubbing of their old stuff to their new stuff is well received, with one punter commenting, “I haven't heard one song I've recognised yet… but I like that”. The rest of the crowd builds up into a slow-moving, pulsating mass of shuffling feet and head bobbing; the only legitimate way to truly enjoy The Drones' music.

As always, bassist Fiona Kitschin's vocals provide an ethereal and eerie touch to Liddiard's long and spiraling lyrics. Indeed, judging by the sheer lack of banter (and considering that he gets half way through the vodka bottle, it's probably for the best) this is Liddiard's preferred method of audience interaction.

The final song of the set, I Don't Ever Want To Change coaxes the audience out of their shoegazing stupor to the point of moshing. The Drones walk off but the ear-splitting cheering and almost deafening stomping of the Forum's floor boards quickly bring them back on. “[T]his song features a shark,” Liddiard says introducing their first song of the encore.

Closing off the night with the epic Why Write A Letter That You'll Never Send, Hesketh really comes into his own providing the reflective and poignant backbone of the song. Leaving the haunting lyrics “I just want to make the world a much less painful place” hanging in the air, The Drones walk off leaving everyone wanting more. So much more.