Gig review: Shihad in Auckland

BY CHRIS SCHULZ

Kiwi rock acts Shihad and Luger Boa teamed up with Aussies The Living End and Airbourne to celebrate a local radio station's birthday. Reviewer Chris Schulz was there.

Legal Tender: Shihad, The Living End, Airbourne and Luger Boa
Where: Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland
When: Wednesday, October 7

Jon Toogood's bottom lip is trembling, his cheeks puffed out and his skinny arms flailing as he plays the classic riff for You Again, punching the air between gaps for extra emphasis.

For fans of Kiwi rock music, it doesn't get much better than that: Toogood and the boys in full flight, playing that quintessential Shihad song that dates back to 1995's Killjoy.

That might have been the highlight of the night, but there were plenty of moments to rival it as Shihad teamed up with fellow New Zealand rockers Luger Boa, and Aussies The Living End and Airbourne, to celebrate the 18th birthday of radio station The Rock.

At the Legal Tender tour's Auckland stop last night, The Living End provided a furiously frenetic and typically sweaty set full of highlights, like when double bassist Scott Owen stood up on his giant instrument and belted out the rumbling bassline for Second Solution.

The Aussie stalwarts played most of their hits - West End Riot, Prisoner of Society, White Noise - but the best was saved for last, with an instrumental jam session and front man Chris Cheney's arthritis-inducing guitar playing for How Do We Know?

There was also plenty to enjoy from the show's opening acts, Luger Boa and an ear-splittingly loud set from outrageous Ockers Airbourne. Sadly, there wasn't any of the Australia-New Zealand banter that could be expected from a line-up including two bands from each side of the Tasman.

But Shihad stole the show. They're celebrating their 21st anniversary this year, and performed a greatest hits set during a powerful hour of rock that proved they're still at the peak of their powers.

From Toogood climbing speaker stacks and crowd surfing to sing the closing notes of Wait and See, to the evil grin and groovy dance moves pulled during Rule the World, and the new song that included a riff to rival anything on Killjoy, Wellington's finest were tight, entertaining and - during show opener My Mind's Sedate and mid-set rocker The General Electric - deliciously rawkus.

With a set closing rendition of Comfort Me, and an encore comprised of Love is the New Hate's superior Empty Shell, and Run, it was all over at the school night time of 11pm. Needless to say, it was a little too soon.

But it was enough to prove that Shihad are still New Zealand's best live band. And maybe, just maybe, they might be Australia's best live band too. There's a topic to debate over your next beer.

* What did you think of the show? Post your comments below.

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