KING GIZZARD
PHOTO ESSAY
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: A perfectly ordered chaos
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard at Poble Espanyol, Barcelona. Photo: Ivan Martínez (TMN).
On May 25th, the Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard played at Poble Espanyol thanks to Primavera Tours. It was the second stop of their Europe Residency Tour and a night that felt like a whirlwind: chaotic, intense, but incredibly well organized. More than a concert, it was an experience that blended powerful music, madness, and a very strong connection with the audience.
Saying it was a chaotic show isn’t a bad thing. It’s King Gizzard’s style. They don’t stick to a single genre: they move from psychedelic rock to metal, from garage to experimental, without anything sounding out of place. They change a lot, but they always sound good. And that’s clear both on stage and in the crowd, which didn’t stop moving from the very first minute.
The night began with Etran de l’Aïr, a Nigerian group that played much calmer music. It was a big contrast but helped set the mood. When Gizzard came on, the energy changed completely. They started strong, with no introductions, and although the crowd was a bit still at first, they quickly let loose.
The band Etran de l’Aïr opened the concert, foreshadowing what was to come. Photo by Ivan Martínez (TMN).
Joey Walker, with his guitar and voice, was one of the standout performers. Beside him, Stu Mackenzie, the band’s leader, started singing but then let Joey and Ambrose Kenny-Smith take over. Ambrose was fully into the show, jumping, shouting, enjoying every moment. You could tell he was giving it his all, and the crowd felt it.
At one point, after several songs, drummer Michael Cavanagh performed an incredible solo. From there, everything got even wilder. Ambrose climbed onto the barricades of the pit and began singing face to face with the crowd. And right then something special happened for me: without thinking, I moved quickly and sat on a fairly high ledge among the audience, right at stage level. From there, I was able to capture one of my best photos of the night. It was a very intense moment, with Ambrose giving everything and the crowd completely fired up. And in the middle of all that chaos, I found the perfect angle.
In the crowd, the crowdsurfing never stopped: people were launching themselves and flying over hands as if it were part of the show. Some went one by one, others three at a time. It was madness.
Then something unexpected happened. Stu and Joey stayed at the center of the stage in front of a mountain of cables and synthesizers, and improvised a song for more than twenty minutes. It wasn’t a regular song; it was something they were creating right there, with strange and very hypnotic sounds. It felt like we were all in some kind of trance.
When that calmer moment ended, they came back with their final songs. You could tell the concert was ending, but nobody wanted it to finish. Everyone was jumping, shouting, singing. It was an explosion of energy and emotion.
From my spot as a photographer, the experience was amazing too. In the pit, all the photographers helped each other: we swapped spots, gave heads-ups, and looked out for each other with respect. I was able to take photos that, to me, capture how incredible that night was.
“From my perspective as a photographer, the experience was also amazing. In the pit, all the photographers helped each other out: we swapped spots, gave each other heads-ups, and treated each other with respect. I was able to take photos that, to me, reflect how incredible that night was.”
“I want to thank Teens Media Network for giving me the opportunity to cover this concert, and also Primavera Tours for the accreditation and for bringing such a unique band to Barcelona. It was a night to remember. And if they come back, I’ll definitely be there again.”
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