roundhouse_review

         Toogood by name and too good by nature was the calling card left by New Zealand Rockers Shihad, in the aftermath of their latest rip-roar tour of Australia.

          Led by Jon Toogood, the now Melbourne bases group destroyed misconceptions that Kiwis' only eat 'fush and chups' and everything is 'choice bro', following a sterling performance of rock, heavy metal and cheeky atire.

          After leaping through a haze of stage smoke, the boys were greeted with roaring cheers, leaving warm up bands Motorace and Weta a distant memory.
          With Toogood's trademark finger pointed to the sky, he kicked off the night with the statement: "hope you're ready to fucken rock!"
          And rock they did. Spotty faced youths took up the challenge dodging security guards, bumping, moshing and crowd surfing to the thrashing tunes.
          After having minor trouble with the microphone, Toogood and band, Tom Larkin (drums), Karl Kippenberger (bass), Phil Knight (guitar), went to work in true rocker style, leaping, thrashing and struting their stuff around the stage.

          The lads, each in their own performance mode, provided the crowd with dare devil stunts with wild leaps off towering amps and continual whacking of guitars on the stage floor.
          Toogood provided to be the best entertainer. He stage dived into the crowd while ripping apart his voice with tracks like "My Mind's Sedate", from 'The General Electric'.
          In another of his onstage antics, Toogood, egged on by his band members, removed his sweat drenched shirt and remarked: "Gee, I'm a skinny cunt aren't I?" For the crowd, it was like on of its own was up there.

         The memories of world cups, tri-nations and other fierce tussles between the Aussies' and the Kiwis' were replaced by a newly found respect for the boys who may soon be claimed as our own.

By Kate Kachor