review_dec1

Shihad has the knack of taking a stack of varnished wooden panels, a couple of microphones and amps and turning them into a playground of rock and roll.

Before the group's onstage arrival, warm up band, Superheist, tortured the crowd with its unusual 'talk-then-scream' rap.

It is one thing to be a musician, and prance around the stage sharing your music. But it is another thing to traipse around the stage screaming into a microphone to be heard over crashing cymbals with your bum cleavage in view of the entire crowd.

However, despite glimpses of butt crack, and members of the crowd covering their ears to shelter them from inaudible tracks, the group did have a few redeeming tracks. Superheist pulled themselves together in the dying moments of the their set, giving the crowd 10 minutes of final synchonised rock tunes after both drum and vocal microphones appeared to be adjusted.

As Superhesit left the stage, the crowd were given time to nurse their ear drums as they stood out the 30 minute wait for headliners Shihad.

Moments before the maniacs of rock appeared on stage, a chant was released. The crowd, who followed the bleating of a sports whistle sang out in unison, "Shihad" and then stamped their feet.

As the group's cliched smoke machine was switched on the chant became louder. A deafening rupture of voice squealed with excitement as the lads showed their faces.

Toogood, in his 'skinny' frame took the brunt of the crowd's screams replying with his trademark opener, "Are you guys ready to rock?" The bellowing return from the crowd was so great that the group's impromptu start was overshadowed. Undeterred by the fact that his vocals were awash amid the screaming crowd, Toogood continued in full strength blurting out his words.

The group, known for their brilliance in onstage performance, didn't let the Sydney crowd down as they clambered up and over stationary amps and discarded instruments to stage dive into the crowd.

Powerful tracks like Pacifier and Wait and See off the group's album The General Electric were blasted throughout the venue. In one of his cheeky moments, Toogood was slightly taunted by the group when he brought up the subject of sport.

A slight hush went over the crowd as Toogood stated: "You guys are pretty good at sport aren't ya? I don't give a fuck about sport. I'm in a rock band. You don't see me as a front rower for the All Blacks."

After what seemed like hours of quality performing both musically and with on stage antics, the group left the stage.

As a parting gift and a gesture of appreciaition, Toogood and his band members returned to the stage with the green room catering and offered it to the crowd. (After note: This was before the encore...Karl was the first to come out...he had a bottle of vodka and platter of bread, and then Jon came out with a platter of various foods...including spiced tomatoes-I had one of those....they were yummy. Then Phil came back out with a platter of fruit. It was a very nice gesture by the guys...and we all love them for it!!!!!)