Gig review: Shihad in Wellington
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It is amazing to think that Shihad have lasted as a band for 20 years: an incredible feat for a big rock band from a small country. Seeing Shihad in Wellington always feels special; the lads in their home town.
Shihad
Where: Wellington Town Hall
When: Friday, July 25
They opened the blistering set with Home Again, a song any other New Zealand band would beg for to use as an encore.
The infectious stop-start riff of the buzz-pop anthem introduced the classic sound of an on-form Shihad.
I have no huge interest in the latest release, Beautiful Machine, but the songs were given more energy in the live set; stripped of the studio polish and angrier, bolder.
But it is the material from the group's eponymous album and The General Electric that still pack the biggest punch when performed in front of an eager audience.
The Metal Song (scarcely performed by the band) was positively resplendent, the shout-along chorus to My Mind's Sedate backed up the fine opening work set in place with Home Again and Comfort Me was one of many singalong anthems.
Run, from the band's sidestep under the name Pacifier, was presented in stripped-down acoustic attire and showed dynamic subtleties.
Jon Toogood continues to live up to the components of his surname as a frontman for the group; running across the stage, climbing speaker-stacks, playing bare-chested and belting out great rock songs.
Not to discredit Phil Knight (guitar) and Karl Kippenburger (bass), who have always delivered the goods, but Shihad's crown jewel is Tom Larkin.
He is the country's greatest hard rock drummer and top rock bands need great drummers and lead singers; take The Rolling Stones for example. He keeps the gears from grinding, powering out the groove.
Shihad's success over two decades seems to come from the fact that this is a band that loves playing live; four musical friends working together to deliver the tunes.
And it was a fairly generous selection served up, catering to the wide fan base with songs as old as the band and classic cuts from fan-favourite Killjoy.
The other winning factor was the Town Hall, Wellington's best rock venue.
*What did you think of the show? Post your comments below.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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PHOTOS FROM THE WELLINGTON GIG ARE HERE: http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/gigantic_photography/Shihad%20-%20The%20Beautiful%20Machine%20Tour/
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Ch, check 'em out!
This gig was the highlight of my week. Great music and a great crowd who were loving it. I agree with what was said about Tom Larkin. Drummers often don't get the credit they deserve. He is a machine. Other things that added to this gig were :- No aggressive elements in the crowd (I don't like pain), everyone was focused on the music and the mixing quality was great from where I was standing. Long may Shihad last.
My ears are still ringing.... and I'm still grinning :)
Good solid Shihad performance. Plenty of rockers with very little 'slow' numbers (normally they play a few acoustic songs). The pit was pretty tame but still very active (which isn't always a bad thing). Superb finish with Screwtop and You Again. Was great to see Karl playing bass for Lugar Boa and (especially) for the Mint Chicks so we got a track off Crazy Yes, Dumb No. Show's that Karl has some serious talent too - picking up and learning all those extra songs since the Akld gig!
Ok... I feel bad.
I turned 30-mumble on Friday night and decided to go and see Shihad... something I wanted to do for a long time, but just never got around to it.
Great show and just made me feel worse for not seeing them 15 years sooner! :) I will definately be going again!
Great gig! Really awesome crowd, great sounds!
Awesome show, some new stuff, some old stuff, some heavy stuff & some acoustic stuff.
Agree that Larkin is their trump card, he hits those drums hard and it's that that gave the new songs the nuts that I said here http://stuff.co.nz//blogs/blogonthetracks/2008/07/15/shihad-it-but-has-she-lost-it-and-if-so-when/#comments would happen live. Sweet vindication.
Really amazing show, and good write up, especially how it concludes with the Town Hall being the best rock venue in Wellington, it really is amazing in there. Great set list, good to see everyone going hard towards the end. Thanks Jon for your guitar pick too :)
Best show??...maybe...haven't seen them play better in the 4 times I have seen them.
Sounds like a great show. Thank you Simon for finally giving Tom Larkin the credit he is due. Not only is he the best part of Shihad and the best rock drummer in the country, but he is also an amazing producer and sings some amazing backing vocals that compliments Toogood in the way that Dave Grohl could sing harmonies over Kurt Cobain.
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Shihad once again great live, was contemplating heading up to Napier to seem them again the next night. This is the 7th or 8th time I have seen them and they are just as good as ever.