Mark Joseph (The Big Wu) chatted with Jam in the Stream ahead of his gig that included legendary JGB organist Melvin Seals, billed as a special guest Saturday night at the Fitzgerald Theater. Joseph and Heatbox both released albums at the historic St. Paul venue.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard announced the bulk of its touring plans for 2024, with shows in Europe, four festival appearances in South America and two legs of touring in North America. Most of those shows are in the U.S., though there are a few dates in Canada. They also plan on playing three acoustic shows in the U.K., Detroit and San Diego. This is an addition to the previously announced marathon 3-hour shows in Hamburg, Germany, Forest Hills Stadium in New York, Chicago, Washington’s Gorge, and Austin, Texas.

Billy Strings closed out his Renewal Festival in Buena Vista, Colo., with surprise appearances before and after his band’s two-set headlining set, that included originals and covers of Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage,” and John Hartford’s “All Fall Down,” among many others.

Billy Strings’ opening day of third annual Renewal Festival in Buena Vista, Colo., was a jam-packed day, with lots of music, sit-ins withe likes of Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt, and playing and pickin’ deep into the night.

A lot happened while Jam in the Stream’s editor was away, off the grid, for a month. Here’s a wrap-up of the biggest news regarding Phish and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard during that time.

Minneapolis-based Mae Simpson released “Cap Guns,” the first song off their upcoming album. Guitarist Jorgen Wadkins chatted with Jam in the Stream about the single, and the band’s upcoming album, which was produced by saxophonist Brian “Snowman” Powers.

Monday night is not a normal Monday night.

It’s followed by the Fourth of July, so there’s two shows of interest happening in the Twin Cities.

First, Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade is at the Palace Theatre.

Then, Minneapolis jam band Twine will be playing an after-show at KJ’s Hideaway, a short walk away, right afterwards.

Tuesday is our nation’s birthday (hopefully, you have that day off). So everybody wins!

King Gizzard’s tour finale at Hollywood Bowl Wednesday was one part tribute and one part victory lap, a three-hour exclamation point on an incredible tour that never let off the gas, rain or shine, for 15 shows.

Especially the last.

The show started off with a four-song tribute to Broderick Smith, who initially was to perform (likely those same) songs from the 2013 Eyes Like The Sky LP, the band’s second album.

Smith wrote and narrated the album, which is something like a Spaghetti Western audio book.

Smith is the father of the band’s entertainer/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Ambrose Kenny-Smith. Smith profoundly influenced both Kenny-Smith and the band itself, and it is plain to see. Smith was a British-born Australian entertainer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who fronted several Australian rock bands such as Sundown, Carson, and the Dingoes.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard saved something special for their last of three shows at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Wash.

Despite having one show left in their tour – a marathon set at Hollywood Bowl Wednesday – this was the last show on the “residency” portion of their tour, where they played multiple nights at four locations.

This last show contained several songs that hadn’t been played this tour, including saving one of their most beloved songs to close out the show.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard played “Static Electricity,” and “Work This Time,” in their second of three shows at Remlinger Farms outside of Seattle on Saturday. The band has two more shows left in their U.S. Residency Tour, with one more show at Remlinger Farms tonight, and a marathon set at Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s Stu Mackenzie and Joey Walker came out dressed in fishing bibs as they took to another rainy stage at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Wash. They were opening a three-night run, the last extended residency stop, on their 15-show U.S. Residency Tour, which concludes Wednesday with a marathon show at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard played “Change” for the first time during the final of three shows at Chicago’s Salt Shed. It was somewhat of a reward for fans who had been soaked by rains for hours to see the band at the venue’s outdoor stage setup.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard returned to Chicago on a cold and windy night. Even as they played a venue that blocked the view of their backdrop, they won over new fans with a show that highlighted their heavy mode as well as improvisational talent.

King Gizzard played for the first or second time, “Satan Speeds Up,” a psychedelic classic the band put out back in 2014 at their day-time show at Red Rocks in Colorado Thursday. Read more about the show in this writeup.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard played to the Colorado crowd in their first of three shows at Red Rocks Wednesday night. They debuted two songs, “Motor Spirit,” and “Hate Dancin’.” The band has two more shows there Thursday, June 8.

King Gizzard’s final of four shows at The Caverns in Tennessee was a special one.

Not just because it was one of their rare acoustic performances.

There were so many things worth noting about this one, from some deep jams to a dedication.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard celebrated Pride Month in rural Tennessee by dressing in drag at their third show in a row at The Caverns Saturday.

The band debuted “Witchcraft,” the fourth song they have live-debuted in as many shows on this U.S. Residency Tour. The song is off the forthcoming LP, PetroDragonic Apocalypse, which is due out June 16.

And guitarist Joey Walker, looking ahead to tonight’s acoustic theme, wondered out loud about the whereabouts of the Nashville-based guitar virtuoso Billy Strings.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard gave fans the live debut of “Astroturf,” at the second of two shows in the underground amphitheater at The Caverns in Pelham, Tenn., June 2. It was the first time the band played live anything off their last album, Changes, released last October. That was one highlight in a show full of highlights, with inspired jamming and great song selection including four songs from the 2014 album I’m In Your Mind Fuzz to start the show and “K.G.L.W” to close it out loud.

Jam in the Stream’s show story for Night 1 at The Caverns June 1, 2023. This writeup is a working document, with updates forthcoming.

An exclusive interview with McBess, the illustrator behind the music project Mcbaise, the funky, jazzy indie psych band that anchors London-based Dirty Melody Records. Jam in the Stream editor Javier Serna caught up with McBess at a pub in the Shoreditch neighborhood of London in late February, 2023. If you like chill, psychedelic music, and you know about Mcbaise’s music, you’ll want to read this. If you like chill, psychedelic music, and you don’t know about Mcbaise, you NEED to read this.

The Minnesota Zoo has brought back live music, which was ended during the pandemic. While five shows were held last year, there will be nine such events this year, each with a themed night and all local musical performers, including Chicken Wire Empire, The Cactus Blossoms, Frogleg and Mae Simpson.

Jam in the Stream was on site for Phish’s Hollywood Bowl run at the end of their 2023 Spring Tour on the West Coast. This is the first of three show write-ups of those shows, this being of the third and final show of the run, on April 23, 2023.

Jam in the Stream’s photo gallery from Frogleg’s headlining gig at The Hook and Ladder Theater in Minneapoilis Saturday, April 29. Duluth’s New Salty Dog and Minneapolis’ Apocalypse Girlfriend opened up.

The Kitchen Dwellers’ guitarist Max Davies answered some questions from Jam in the Stream amidst the band’s Spring ‘23 tour with Sicard Hollow, as the band headed for the east coast and Midwest.

Ghost Funk Orchestra bandleader and guitarist Seth Applebaum chatted with Jam in the Stream editor Javier Serna ahead of the band’s first Minnesota gig at the Turf Club in Saint Paul.

Jam in the Stream weighs in not on the Goose show itself, per say, that rolled through Minnesota Sunday but the polarizing aspect that three up-and-coming bands have sparked the past few years. It’s OK to like, or not like, any or all of them. But it would be better if we all just remembered to be kind to one another.