PITCHSHIFTER

Sikth belted out a good set that I arrived early enough to see this time around. A fair number of Sikth fans were in attendance but there was an equal number of very confused looking Shifter fans standing around. Current fans are obviously unaware of the boys murky past, when the concept of lyrics and distinctive individual words was considered to be not quite avante garde enough to bother with.
I must quickly apologise there before I get shot down in flames by the boarders, but you know what I mean... grrr.

Pitchshifter: closer, longer, and more intimate. That's NOT to say any the less energetic than the Astoria gig. JS was so excited to be with us that he toppled off the front of stage within minutes of making an appearance, much to the delight of the crowd and shagrin of security.

Everyone has their favourite 'shifter songs and board debates rage for pages about this very subject on a monthly basis. Recently it's been a bit of shame that the older songs, with the exception of Triad, have been passed over during live shows. Tonight was worth the wait though. A live version of Virus with the help of Mikee from Sikth on singing duties was a blast of fresh air and it was amazing to hear such an old favourite given a new lease of life. No doubt some of the more recent fans won't see what all the fuss is about, but for those older and more metal orientated amongst us no explanations are needed. I was still holding out for Underachiever but as it's giving JS a complex I was quite happy to settle for second choice.

Highlights of the night for me were Jason's stage dive & Danceswithgoths singing debut during down.

Funny thing seeing Pitchshifter live. Songs that never really struck you as being stand out tracks become them on the strength of the gigs. I never really rated Please Sir as a favourite until I heard it live. It's now the 'shifter song I leave gigs singing. OK so this is helped by the fact Please Sir has been the final song on the set list for a few tours, but still it does bring it home to you how good this band is live. Point in fact is the PSI album - it's a good album, though personally I don't think it is as good as some of their others, but live the PSI material is blow away stuff. The sheer amount of energy, determination and enthusiasm that 'shifter put into their live shows is awe inspriring. This is a band who are built on their live performance and that's what turns their fans into fanatics. You'll like the music, but you'd sell your soul to see 'em live.

Are the lads getting soft in their old age or did JS let a genuine display of affection creep into his voice when he said he's missed us? Well this is one f**ked up deviant litle shoplifter that has genuinely missed them. It's an honour and a delight to be able to see such a good band of *wholesome clean cut lads* play live again, and I must just say thanks to them for taking to the road for the DVD promo shows. May they go on to inspire a whole new generation of underachievers....

Set List: Scene This (>) Keep It Clean (>) Eight Days (>) We know (>) Hidden Agenda (>) Triad (>) Virus (>) Down (>) My Kind (>) What's Innit For Me? (>) Genius (>) Microwaved (>) Shutdown (>) Please Sir

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