By admin 
HangupsMusic.com – Queens, New York – The hallowed grounds of Forest Hills Stadium, a venue steeped in rock and roll history, bore witness to an electrifying and utterly unexpected musical convergence this past Saturday. Australian psych-rock experimentalists King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, renowned for their prolific output and mind-bending live shows, welcomed none other than legendary E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg to their stage. The spontaneous collaboration, a thrilling generational and genre-defying moment, saw Weinberg step in for his son, Jay Weinberg, continuing a nascent but increasingly cherished tradition of guest drummers within the Gizzardverse.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have, over the past decade, carved out a unique and unassailable niche in contemporary music. Their relentless creative drive has resulted in an astonishing discography spanning garage rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion, folk, and microtonal explorations, often released at a dizzying pace. Live, the Melbourne septet (often performing as a six-piece) are a force of nature, celebrated for their marathon sets, improvisational prowess, and the sheer kinetic energy they unleash. A key component of their live sound is the dual drumming attack of Michael Cavanagh and Lucas Harwood, providing a propulsive, often polyrhythmic backbone to their intricate compositions. This established a fertile ground for additional percussive layers, making the idea of a guest drummer a natural, albeit always exciting, prospect.
The recent string of high-profile collaborations with Jay Weinberg, the acclaimed former drummer of Slipknot, had already become a celebrated highlight for King Gizzard fans. Jay, known for his thunderous power and precision, had joined the band on several occasions, most recently at their three-night Field of Visions II festival in Colorado. These appearances were more than mere cameos; Jay integrated seamlessly, adding another dimension to the band’s already formidable rhythmic tapestry. His presence underscored a mutual admiration between the diverse musical worlds of metal and experimental rock, and hinted at a burgeoning "drumming dynasty" connection that fans keenly observed.
As King Gizzard embarked on their own three-night residency at Forest Hills Stadium – a significant milestone for any touring act, let alone one known for its sprawling, often improvised performances – anticipation was palpable for another potential Jay Weinberg appearance. The iconic Queens venue, which has hosted everyone from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones, was an ideal setting for King Gizzard’s immersive sonic journeys, promising unique setlists and extended jams each night. The energy on Saturday evening was already electric, with the crowd fully immersed in the band’s psychedelic odyssey, when Joey Walker, one of King Gizzard’s guitarists and vocalists, stepped to the microphone to address the eager audience.
"In continuing with the tradition that we started over the last year or so, where we get our friend Jay Weinberg to come out and play a song with us," Walker began, a mischievous glint in his eye, "It’d be rude not to." A cheer erupted, quickly followed by a collective gasp of surprise and delight as Walker continued, "But Jay’s busy, he’s down in Nashville, so Jay made a call. ‘Alright, I’m going to call dad!’" The revelation hung in the air for a beat, before the collective understanding dawned on the thousands gathered. The stadium erupted in a roar of disbelief and exhilaration. "So, we got Max Weinberg, drove all the way from Atlantic City to come up and play a song with us, so give it up for f***ing Max Weinberg!"
And then, there he was. Max Weinberg, a figure synonymous with rock and roll royalty, sauntered onto the stage, drumsticks in hand, a broad smile gracing his face. His presence alone commanded attention, a stark contrast to the often-unpredictable, frenetic energy of King Gizzard. Yet, in that moment, the seemingly disparate worlds of classic rock and avant-garde psych-rock seamlessly merged. Walker’s quip, "I just got nervous," perfectly captured the magnitude of the moment – a seasoned rock veteran, a legendary sideman to "The Boss" himself, joining a band known for its boundary-pushing experimentation.
The chosen track for this historic collaboration was "Hot Water," from King Gizzard’s 2017 microtonal masterpiece, Flying Microtonal Banana. The song, with its hypnotic, serpentine melody and driving, almost trance-like rhythm, proved to be an inspired choice. It offered ample space for Max Weinberg to integrate his signature style without overwhelming the band’s intricate sonic architecture. As he settled behind the third drum kit, situated perfectly within the existing percussive setup, the collective pulse of the stage shifted.
Max Weinberg’s drumming style is legendary for its power, precision, and the relentless, driving force he brings to every beat. With the E Street Band, he is the rhythmic engine, a master of dynamics and groove, capable of both subtle swing and explosive fills. Joining King Gizzard, he didn’t attempt to emulate their existing drummers’ more complex, often polyrhythmic patterns. Instead, he brought his unique, propulsive energy, laying down a solid, unshakeable foundation that amplified the song’s inherent groove. The interplay between Weinberg’s steady, powerful backbeat and Cavanagh’s and Harwood’s more intricate, interlocking rhythms created a rich, multi-layered percussive landscape. The sound was immense, filling the open-air stadium with a primal, irresistible force.
Fans watched in awe as the three drummers locked into an undeniable groove, each contributing a distinct voice to the track. Max Weinberg, a picture of focused intensity, infused "Hot Water" with a new sense of classic rock swagger, a powerful counterpoint to King Gizzard’s psychedelic wanderings. The visual of three drummers on stage, generating such a colossal wall of sound, was a spectacle in itself – a testament to the universal language of rhythm and the unbridled joy of live musical collaboration. The moment was not just a novelty; it was a genuine artistic synergy, demonstrating the fluidity and open-mindedness that defines King Gizzard’s ethos, and Weinberg’s enduring passion for drumming.
The immediate aftermath on social media was, predictably, a whirlwind of astonished reactions. Videos and photos of the performance spread like wildfire, cementing the event as an instant classic in King Gizzard’s already storied live history. Critics lauded the band’s audacity and Weinberg’s willingness to step into a vastly different sonic environment. It was a powerful statement about the intergenerational appeal of music and the enduring camaraderie within the drumming community, showcasing how mutual respect can transcend genre boundaries.
The Weinberg family’s growing connection to King Gizzard speaks volumes about the band’s widespread influence and the genuine admiration they command from musicians across the spectrum. From Jay Weinberg’s modern metal mastery to Max Weinberg’s iconic rock and roll pedigree, the lineage of drumming excellence finding a home, even for a single song, within King Gizzard’s world is a remarkable narrative. It underscores King Gizzard’s status not just as a band, but as a dynamic musical collective, constantly evolving and inviting unexpected guests into their ever-expanding universe.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s Forest Hills Stadium run concluded Saturday night, leaving an indelible mark on both the venue’s history and the band’s legend. The band then continued their relentless touring schedule, hopping counties for a subsequent show at Brooklyn’s Under the K Bridge Park on Sunday. But for those fortunate enough to be present in Queens on Saturday, the memory of Max Weinberg, the "Mighty Max," joining the psychedelic mavericks for a blistering rendition of "Hot Water" will undoubtedly resonate as one of the most unexpected and thrilling live music moments of the year. It was a powerful reminder that in the unpredictable world of live music, true magic can happen when legends collide.
