King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard sounds like the title of a long-lost Dr. Seuss book. It's actually the name of a trippy, psych-rock seven-piece from Melbourne, Australia.
Formed in early 2011, the prolific crew has two full-length records to its name this year alone: "Oddments," which surfaced in March, and "I'm In Your Mind Fuzz," which is scheduled for digital release on Halloween and should be pressed on vinyl and CD by year's end. With KG & the LW set to visit Subterranean on Saturday, Oct. 18, here's a list of reasons you might want to consider these Aussies your new favorite band.
1. Music fans tend to say they listen to everything, but these guys sound like they actually do
Nearly every concert write-up and/or album review describes the band's sound as "unclassifiable." And it's true. On "Oddments," the musicians audition styles like a harried impressionist rapidly running through the entirety of his or her schtick, and its giddy, ramshackle tunes arrive steeped in vintage soul, garage, psychedelia, advertising jingles, world music, 1960s pop and much, much more.
2. Richard Linklater is going to need to cast someone in his proposed "spiritual sequel" to "Dazed and Confused"
And these shaggy, indifferently dressed musicians could easily fit the bill. I mean, take a look at that press photo; these dudes could have been beamed in from the late '60s or early '70s.
3. The band members have a fondness for technology popularized decades ago
King Gizzard's latest video, for the "Mind Fuzz" track "Cellophane," was filmed in 3D - but not that modern, uber-expensive RealD that makes directors like James Cameron swoon. We're talking old-fashioned, straight-from-the-drive-in, red/blue lens 3D.
4. They turned $50,000 from an Australian brewing company into a new album and a U.S. tour
In 2013 King Gizzard was awarded the inaugural Global Music Grant at Australia's Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards. The band utilized a portion of the $50,000 prize to fund an extended stateside trek, which included a high-profile stop at the Austin Psych Fest, and put the remainder toward recording sessions at a house in upstate New York, where it completed early work on "I'm In Your Mind Fuzz." Considering the buzz currently growing around the group, both seem like wise investments.
5. San Francisco rockers Thee Oh Sees are fans
Well, Thee Oh Sees frontman John Dwyer is, anyway. "I'm In Your Mind Fuzz" is scheduled to be released on his label Castle Face Records.
6. The musicians transform indecisiveness into an admirable character trait
The first two tracks on "I'm In Your Mind Fuzz" are "I'm In Your Mind" and "I'm Not In Your Mind," respectively. Both rip, but I'd hate to get stuck behind any of these guys in the voting booth.
7. They wrote a song about Vegemite that's far more appealing than the Australian foodstuff
The playful, simply titled "Vegemite" could pass for a vintage advertising jingle. "I love my Vegemite," the band sings atop a bounding, kindergartner-on-Pixy-Stix groove. "It's strong as hell and black as night." I'd much rather listen to this delirious psych-pop gem dozens of times than sample another bite of toast smeared with that yeasty, unforgiving sludge. No offense, fellas.
8. Because it has mastered the art of the #humblebrag fan retweet
A sampling of recent retweets includes: "broke my knuckle at @kinggizzardband last night at the curtin, but t'was the best night of my life" and "Oddments by @kinggizzardband is amaze. Listen to it while eating burgs." Which most certainly bests listening while snacking on Vegemite.
9. Gizzard's success could inspire a welcome flood of Australian acts stateside
If you dig what you're hearing from the King-ly collective, check out similarly tripped-out countrymen like Richard In Your Mind or The Frowning Clouds, which just released the gloriously chaotic, 1960s garage-indebted "Legalize Everything."
10. The band's ever-shifting music is perfect for those with short attention spans
Wait, what was that again?
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at Subterranean. $12-$14.