When there's such a near-religious zeal surrounding a band, people on the outside looking in can't help but be skeptical. But as King Gizzard proved at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on September 8, the hype is completely justified.
![king gizzard performing at red rocks](https://media2.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/21890990/9-8-24-kinggizzard-photocredit-bjohnsonxar2024-19.jpg?cb=1725924405)
The members founded their own record label, Flightless Records, to release their music and support other artists.
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
By the time the opener, Geese, took the stage the first night, the venue was filled to the brim; latecomers were desperately searching for standing room in the planters after fruitlessly climbing through the rows, all lined with concert-goers decked out in King Gizzard merch. Those who wanted merch, meanwhile, had their own hurdle to leap: a line that snaked halfway down the stairs.
But no line was to be seen during the show itself: All eyes were glued to the stage as King Gizzard kicked off its set with "Daily Blues." The seven-piece band demonstrated a wealth of influences throughout the evening, moving from bluesy riffs to prog and psychedelic rock, with a dash of metal thrown in for good measure. "It's like we're going from blues to ZZ Top to jam and now metal," my friend, wide-eyed, said to me in the middle of the show. She had seen the band before, but the breadth still surprised her: Almost all of King Gizzard's albums lean into varied genres, yet seeing it translated live is whole other thing.
![king gizzard performing at red rocks](https://media1.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/21890987/9-8-24-kinggizzard-photocredit-bjohnsonxar2024-16.jpg?cb=1725924405)
They have a dedicated fan base and often engage with fans through social media and special releases
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Jay Weinberg, best known for playing drums with Slipknot for a decade until 2023, sat in on the kit for that jam and the next, a dive into prog rock with "Gila Monster."
![king gizzard performing at red rocks](https://media1.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/21890989/9-8-24-kinggizzard-photocredit-bjohnsonxar2024-18.jpg?cb=1725924405)
They sometimes perform under different names or personas, adding to their mystique.
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
The entire show — which included the tour debut of "Stressin'" as well as "Gondii," "Chang'e," "Extinction" and "Am I in Heaven?" — was an uninhibited display of rock-and-roll energy replete with complex music theory that's worth a book on its own. There were indie influences without the pretension, psychedelic jams without the wayward meandering, and pure, unadulterated punk. It was refreshing to see at a venue such as Red Rocks, where jam bands can tend to reign supreme.
But it looks like there's a new ruler on the rocks, and King Gizzard is deserving of its crown.
![](https://media2.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/21890991/9-8-24-kinggizzard-photocredit-bjohnsonxar2024-20.jpg?cb=1725924405)
Fans take it all in at Red Rocks during King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Rock music has reached new heights with this group, and King Gizzard will be riding that high into its next two shows at Red Rocks. As the band sings in "Le Risque": Adrenaline, my dearest friend / It's you and me until the end.
See more photos from the show below:
![king gizzard performing at red rocks](https://media2.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/21890992/9-8-24-kinggizzard-photocredit-bjohnsonxar2024-21.jpg?cb=1725924405)
Flight b741 is King Gizzard's 26th studio album, released in August this year.
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
![king gizzard performing at red rocks](https://media1.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/21890993/9-8-24-kinggizzard-photocredit-bjohnsonxar2024-22.jpg?cb=1725924405)
Flight b741 is King Gizzard's most collaborative effort to date, with all members contributing equally.
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
![king gizzard performing at red rocks](https://media1.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/21890994/9-8-24-kinggizzard-photocredit-bjohnsonxar2024-23.jpg?cb=1725924406)
For Flight b741, they didn’t use guitar pedals and recorded on secondhand amps.
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
![king gizzard performing at red rocks](https://media2.westword.com/den/imager/u/blog/21890995/9-8-24-kinggizzard-photocredit-bjohnsonxar2024-24.jpg?cb=1725924406)
They have released music in innovative ways, such as surprise album drops and limited-edition formats.
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)