Culture
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard cuts “The Lord of Lightning” from Columbus setlist, avoids weather jinx
By: Ruthie Herman
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King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard performed at KEMBA Live! outdoor (405 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH) on May 21, 2022. Prolific recording artists and outstanding live performers, the Australian rock group is known for their ambitious exploration of genre, ranging from psychedelic rock and thrash metal to dream pop and microtonal music. Their 2022 World Tour graciously delivers on pre-lockdown tour plans with headlining shows and festival sets.
Gizzy heads of all ages and varieties, clad in plastic ponchos and rain gear, lined up in the pouring rain to fill the almost-sold-out amphitheater. Thousands of fans were undeterred by the forecasted thunderstorms that, mercifully, cleared up just after doors opened.
King Gizzard’s 2022 setlists vary for each show, pulling from their entire discography with few repeat appearances. Saturday’s set popped off with “Superbug” and “Hell” off the acclaimed thrash metal record “Infest the Rat’s Nest.” Next up were three songs known as the Horology Suite (“Inner Cell,” “Loyalty,” and “Horology” from “Polygondwanaland”), cheekily dedicated to the former Aussie prime minister and his re-election defeat earlier that day. One setlist casualty, “The Lord of Lightning,” was likely cut for time to accommodate “Magenta Mountain” and “Am I in Heaven” jams– or perhaps, to avoid jinxing the amicable weather.
Singer-songwriter Jess Cornelius opened the show, joining King Gizzard as supporting artist for the second of nine shows on the US tour.
