Two hours before I found out I was going to interview Shihad bass player Karl Kippenberger I had opted to wear the t-shirt I bought at one of their Homeland Security Tour gigs.

The initial attraction to said shirt was the naughty word – starting with C, ending in T – printed on the back. I thought it would be splendid to parade around in it, devil-may-care style. That was until an old lady queued behind me in the milkbar, forcing me to back up to the magazine rack like a criminal under a spotlight. Now it never leaves the house. ‘Oh yeah!’ laughs Karl, when I bemoan to him about it, ‘the old biddies – freaking out!’

On this Melbourne morning, Karl sounds like he needs a doona and some Codrals as opposed to the offensive t-shirt I’m sporting.

‘I don’t know what to do with this flu!’ he sniffles. ‘[But] everything goes to shit, and comes together again. Then I’ll be ready for more.’ Just as well, cause there’s the small matter of their tour to promote the new single, One Will Hear The Other.

As a warm up Phil (Knight – guitar), Karl and Tom (Larkin – drums) left sunny Melbourne to meet Jonny (Toogood – guitar and vocals) and rock the fuck out at Auckland’s Big Day Out. Incidentally, Jonny and his partner are still house hunting for a pad so that all four guys can be within jamming distance again. A wry Karl says, ‘It’s taken him seven or eight years to admit that it’s better we’re all in Melbourne…’

As reported by my good self a few months ago, HERE, Shihad’s fears of preceding Rage Against The Machine were unfounded. ‘It was fantastic. We had the seven PM slot on the main stage in Auckland…the prime spot.’

Of course, we bang on about the apocalyptic Rage set and I boast about my vantage point in the lighting tower. ‘Perfect view. That’s where we watched them from,’ says Karl – who is the only person I have been able to chat with about that view, without provoking a jealous tanty.

This is how we rolled:
Mel: ‘How scary was the mosh? I’m looking down going shit, man, I’m too old for that. It looks like suicide.’
Karl: (laughs) ‘I think that was part of our job in Auckland was to take up a bit of that energy. Try and tire them [the punters, not Rage] out as much as possible.’

Ahhhh, good times.

Righty-o, back to Shihad.

Album. Tour. Discuss.
Beautiful Machine was, for the most part, recorded in Tom’s home studio, which Karl reckons was, er, choice [my word not his]. ‘We had Tom’s studio for most of last year, using it as a rehearsal room and demoing songs there. Apart from needing a good-sized room for the drums—at *Sing Sing*—it just made sense. It felt like our place.’

As for touring buddies, *Horsell Common*’s inclusion needs little explanation (‘We liked them,’) but The Galvatrons story is more involved. Years ago, a bemused Karl tells me, ‘Galvatrons’ lead singer Johnny wagged school to be in our Run video. Also, I did an album with Jimmy Christmas from The D4 and Manny Manny from the Galvatrons ended up playing drums.’ Small world. They’ve done alright for themselves then. ‘Well,’ explains Karl, ‘we thought we better get them on the bill before we have to support them.’ I laugh. (Read: stroke ego.) ‘You may laugh but it’s happened before!’
Not this time. Shihad are headlining all the way and have loads of shows yet to punch through.

After an absence from touring of over twelve months Karl says, ‘It’s good to start with a tour to regional places and reacquaint ourselves with the people around the country. [We can] save the major city centres for later in the year when the records out.’ Beautiful Machine drops in April, but in the mean time you can get a preview at the following shows:

ONE WILL HEAR THE OTHER TOUR DATES

Wed Feb 6 – The Cambridge Hotel – Newcastle – NSW
Thu Feb 7 – The Beachcomber Hotel – Toukley – NSW
Fri Feb 8 – The Factory Theatre – Sydney – NSW
Sat Feb 9 – Woonona Bulli Rsl – Woonona – NSW
Sun Feb 10 – Sodens Hotel – Albury – NSW
Wed Feb 13 – The Pub – Bendigo, VIC
Thu Feb 14 – Karova Lounge – Ballarat – VIC
Fri Feb 15 – The Corner Hotel – Richmond – VIC
Sat Feb 16 – Barwon Heads Hotel – Barwon Heads – VIC
Sun Feb 17 – Ruby’s Lounge – Belgrave – VIC
Thu Feb 21 – ANU Bar – Canberra – ACT +
Fri Feb 22 – The Mona Vale Hotel – Mona Vale – NSW
Sat Feb 23 – Caringbah Bizzo’s – Caringbah – NSW
Tue Feb 26 – Orange Ex-Services Club – Orange – NSW
Wed Feb 27 – The Oxford – Bathurst – NSW
Thu Feb 28 – Capital Saloon – Wagga Wagga – NSW
Fri Feb 29 – Edge Hotel – Buronga – NSW
Sat Mar 1 – Pretoria Hotel – Mannum – SA
Sun Mar 2 – Fowlers Live – Adelaide – SA
Wed Mar 5 – Hallam Hotel – Hallam – VIC **
Thu Mar 6 – Hotel Shoppingtown – Doncaster – VIC **
Fri Mar 7 – 21st Century – Frankston – VIC **
Sat Mar 8 – Ferntree Gully Hotel – Ferntree Gully – VIC **
Sun Mar 9 – Westernport Hotel – San Remo – VIC
Mon Mar 10 – Push Over Festival – Abbotsford – VIC
Wed Mar 12 – The Hoey Moey – Coffs Harbour – NSW
Thu Mar 13 – Hotel Great Northern – Byron Bay – NSW
Fri Mar 14 – The Zoo – Brisbane – QLD
Sat Mar 15 – Coolangatta Hotel – Gold Coast – QLD
Sun Mar 16 – Sands Tavern – Maroochydore – QLD

+ ANU bar show with Gyroscope & Dead Letter Circus

• The Galvatrons not appearing on these shows