Australia’s psych-rock darlings and the universally acclaimed King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are spending 2025 proving once again to be one of the hardest-working bands in any modern genre. After spending the last few months traversing Europe and releasing their cinematic Phantom Island LP in June, the prolific outfit still refuses to rest as they bring their sweeping live performances back to the States. Last night (July 28), King Gizzard took over Philadelphia’s TD Pavilion for their first North American stop of 2025 and the start of their orchestra tour. For the band’s quick stint in the U.S., King Gizzard will be performing with local orchestras to bring the swelling dramatics and whimsical undertones of Phantom Island to life, and the city of brotherly love got the first taste of this new live persona of King Gizzard.
King Gizzard performed the entirety of Phantom Island for the Gizz fans of Philadelphia. All ten songs from the band’s 2025 album were played with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, allowing soaring arrangements like the title track and “Spacesick” to become even more palpable, and that was just the first half of the show. After a twenty-minute intermission, Gizzard returned with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia to perform a collection of hits and deep cuts from their sprawling discography. The band pulled out heavier tunes like “Dragon” from their 2023 metal album, PetroDragonic Apocalypse, and brighter songs like “This Thing” from 2019’s Fishing for Fishies. Gizzard also performed songs like “The River,” “Iron Lung,” and “Mars for the Rich.”
King Gizzard’s 2025 journey across the States is officially underway, and they’re bringing their sterling orchestrations across this great land. The band will head to New Haven, Connecticut, to perform with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, who will also join King Gizzard for their stop at New York City’s Forest Hills Stadium. The band will perform two nights at Forest Hills, one with the orchestra and one being promoted as a “Rock N’ Roll Show.” Gizzard also has stops in Colorado, Maryland, and Los Angeles. You can check out the full setlist, tour dates, and footage from last night’s show in Philadelphia below.
https://kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/shows
