If you’re reading this, you either know these two bands (Daisy The Great and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard) or (more likely) you’re intrigued by the bizarre names. Regardless, here is a rundown on the recent New Orleans performances of two very different, but very talented, musical groups.
Daisy The Great was a random find for me, which is always a treat. While on the search for a live show to kick off my sophomore year, I came across Kelley Nicole Dugan and Mina Walker, the two women behind this dope band. After listening to one of their songs, “The Record Player Song”, I was hooked. They have all the building blocks for an alluring indie-pop folk group: clever lyrics, layered harmonies, and much appreciated dashes of humor.
Going into the show I was a little nervous, because despite knowing I liked their studio stuff, I knew there was a chance that all the complex harmonies would not translate well live, and the performance could fall short. Nothing is more disappointing than realizing a band you love can’t actually play live.
Luckily, these girls did not disappoint in the slightest. The harmonies were incredible live— balanced and sometimes even expanding to four parts instead of their typical two or three. The band’s chemistry was incredible, and their dance moves were a force to be reckoned with. Additionally, despite being a small, lesser-known band, they had a full house and an engaging audience. The show was short but sweet, and I was sad to see it end.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard was a completely different story. With two openers, the band didn’t actually go on until much later than I anticipated. One of the openers, Orb and Stonefield, were a great surprise and made the wait feel shorter than it was. Nevertheless, when King Gizzard finally went on, I was very ready to see what they had to offer.
I can’t even begin to explain what genre this band falls under because every album is so different from each other; the best way to describe them is by simply calling them experimental. The band is Australia-based, and has created an extensive music collection in a surprisingly short amount of time. I was definitely excited to see where they would take the show with such a large amount of material, seeing as it goes in so many different directions musically.
They played quite a few songs from their newest album which, unfortunately, is the one I’m most unfamiliar with. This did not prove to be a problem though, because their energy made up for my lack of familiarity (and then some). They switched from flat-out rock n’ roll to acid rock to psychedelic pop so subtly that I was hardly aware there had been a change. Each song flowed perfectly after the other and nothing seemed out of place.
They played a little bit of everything that night. I was particularly happy to hear multiple songs from their album Fishing for Fishies, because it happened to be the first album of theirs that I really liked. There were also multiple songs from other albums, such as Infest the Rats Nest, I’m In Your Mind Fuzz, Nonagon Infinity, Gumboot Soup; and, believe it or not, even more as well. It really is incredible for a band that’s only been active since 2010 to have such an impressive catalog to pull from, and they definitely weren’t shy about making that clear with their setlist choices.
These shows really couldn’t have been more different in style and vibe, but both were incredibly magnetic in their own sense. They were both highly impressive performances, and I would not only recommend checking out their music catalogues, but also seeing them life if you ever get the chance. It’s well worth it.
Cover Photo: DIY Mag
