Let’s be honest, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have one of the most ridiculous names buzzing around the local music scene at the moment. It’s the kind of name that when you mention them to people who haven’t heard the band, chances are you’ll be greeted with bemused enquires of, `king what and the whatty what? Come again, please?’ But rest assured, these seven lads won’t be a well kept secret for long.

KGATLW have been together for just over a year now. Living next door to one another in share houses in Carlton while studying at uni and playing in separate bands, the members of King Gizzard were drawn together when they were invited to jam at a warehouse party in Lygon St. With a mutual love of Pavement, Thee Oh Sees and Nuggets Comps, their casual jamming soon blossomed into a dynamic surf, punk and psychodelic ensemble. Regular gigs at Melbourne pubs followed before the guys were snapped up to appear at this year’s Meredith Music Festival.

King Gizzard’s Willoughby’s Beach EP is full of scuzzy lo-fi rock that is wrapped up in a very retro and psychodelic coating. It’s gritty and unpolished, warts and all stuff – and that’s what makes it so damn great.

My friends actually introduced me to their bassist, Lucas Skinner, at the Meredith Music Festival this year. I’m pretty sure he thought I was a bit of a twat because I had glitter on my face. Oh well, we can’t all be hip rock stars can we?