Feature photo by Kerstie Wolaver
Story by Kerstie Wolaver
On Aug. 31, fans decked in overalls, long flowing dresses and tie-dye ignored the country music filling the bars and honky-tonks of Downtown Nashville. Down by the Cumberland River, a psychedelic night full of music unfolded.
A rain-drenched crowd poured into Ascend Amphitheater to prepare for the grand spectacle of acid rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. The downpour didn’t damper the spirits of eager fans waiting to experience the genre-bending group.
A cloudy Nashville skyline loomed behind the stage as the crowd took their seats in the stands or on the lawn, and fans quickly came alive as King Gizzard took the stage and pounded through their opening song “Evil Death Roll.”
The Melbourne, Australia-based group rolled through the set seamlessly, incorporating wild guitar solos for fans to get lost in.
Pianist Ambrose Kenny-Smith whipped out a harmonica after a sly remark from frontman Stu Mackenzie.
“This is as country as we get, Nashville.”
While the pit crowd raged, jumped and thrashed to the music, the audience on the lawn had a different approach. Lounging in the grass, gazing at the sky or spinning barefoot to the music, fans all found a way to embrace the night.
King Gizzard incorporated songs from throughout their discography into the set, continuing to surprise the crowd song after song. They made sure to play plenty of fan favorites, though, including the sweet and steady “Work This Time” and the bluesy “Le Risque,” which they dedicated to Nashville legend Johnny Cash.
The group even brought out ex-Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg, who took the stage to drum on their 2019 song “Perihelion.” Weinberg generated an outburst of cheers from the crowd, whose roars nearly drowned out his drumming.
Colorful lights and lasers danced in the air as smoke billowed from the crowd throughout the set. Hands reached towards the stage lights as the music continued.
Couples stood together, swaying hand in hand to the music, while others laid on blankets with interlocked arms.
The band followed “Perihelion” up with the live debut of “Chang’e,” before moving straight into the hard hitting “Extinction” to close the set.
The psychedelic Saturday night ended with lights reflecting off smiling faces as the eclectic audience filed onto the neon streets of downtown. With music still ringing in their ears, fans reflected on the head-banging evening and expressed their hopes that the King Gizzard gang would make their way back to Nashville for another performance soon.
Kerstie Wolaver is a Reporter for MTSU Sidelines
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