Australian psych-rockers King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard sounded a little different at their concert in Athens, Greece on Tuesday. That’s because drummer Michael Cavanagh (aka Mickey)Â tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to perform. Rather than finding a substitute drummer or cancelling as they did their spot at Boston Calling, the band got creative, using a drum machine to fill in for their contaminated compatriot.
“If it wasn’t for COVID, we probably would’ve gotten one of you to come up and drum for us,” multi-instrumentalist Joey Walker told the crowd.
Fresh off the release of their 20th album, Omnium Gatherum, the prolific ensemble treated fans at Gagarin 205 to a 12-song set complete with lots of improvised jams despite the lack of interaction from their robotic drummer. The set included the tour debut of “Sense”, as well as performances of “Let Me Mend The Past”, “Sleepwalker”, and “Mystery Jack”. Omnium Gatherum tracks “The Garden Goblin”, “Presumptuous”, and “Persistence” also appeared on the setlist.
After an extended 20-minute pairing of “The River” and “Wah Wah”, the audience joined in for a singalong on “Work This Time”. The subsequent readings of “Sea Of Trees”  and the aforementioned “Persistence” led up to the show’s finale, “Hot Water”, off of the band’s 2012 LP 12 Bar Bruise, which featured Stu Mackenzie on the flute.
Check out an audience recording of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard performing with a drum machine on Tuesday at Gagarin 205 in Athens, Greece below.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard has upcoming tour dates that hopefully will not require a drum machine, including a spot at Bonnaroo. Click here for a complete list of dates and to purchase tickets.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Live In Athens – 5/31/22
[Video: Josh]
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Setlist: King Gizzard & The lizard Wizard | Gagarin 205 | Athens, Greece | 5/31/22
Set: Sense [1], Let Me Mend the Past, Sleepwalker, Mystery Jack, The Garden Goblin, Presumptuous, The River > Wah Wah, Work This Time, Persistence, Sea of Trees, Hot Water
[1] Tour debut.