Sunday evening gigs; you either love them or dread them because the weekend is over and work is Monday (sigh). Well Adelaide is in “love” catagory, because every ticket was sold for the joint Gyroscope/*Shihad* show at HQ. First off the blocks was youngsters Sugar Army. A fair crowd had already gathered close to the stage for this young Perth four-piece. Whether it was shyness or because they don’t have the songs in their repertoire, Sugar Army were dull and lifeless. Their version of what seemed like part stoner rock, part indie rock received only a polite clap. I don’t think even being mates of Gyroscope could save these guys tonight.
9:30pm strikes. Time for adopted Australians Shihad (formally Pacifier, now Shihad again). Of course fronted by the excitement bag that he is, Johnny Toogood. For something different he rips into the first song from the halfway point of the venue while the other three members assume the usual positions on-stage. Interesting ploy, but your neck started to hurt having to look left then right. Much like watching a tennis match, just a lot less grunting! But that’s Shihad in a nutshell, in particular Toogood; always doing it for the crowd. Shihad always puts in 110% and they do it for every person in the crowd. The only problem with Shihad tonight is they relied too much on their back catalogue rather than their current album. Its great hearing the old stuff, in fact the crowd reacted highly towards it; singing along and pumping their fists. Its just that their current album Beautiful Machine was only released this year and its only their second tour for the album. Only three new songs got an airing. But you can’t argue when your back catalogue includes live greats like General Electric, Comfort Me, Run and Pacifier. But in saying that the title track, Beautiful Machine, sent the crowd into a frenzy and is destined to be a live favouite. As I said, Shihad always put on a brilliant live show; one of the best live acts out there today. Toogood spent more time crawling around the fringes of HQ than he spent on stage, much to the crowds delight. They really have to stop him getting into the red cordial before a show.
What was witnessed tonight was four mates who have earnt their stripes after about 5 or 6 years of putting in the hard yards and miles. Gyroscope would have to be the biggest band in Australia right now. They were the tightest they have ever been. While their latest album, Breed Obsession, displays a more mature songwriting ability and showcases slower tracks as well as the in-your-face rock numbers Gyroscope are known for; the Perth four-piece decided a rock show was what Adelaide needed tonight. They burst straight into All In On One first before any introductions. Doctor Doctor was second up and lead singer Daniel Sanders didnt waste much time getting involved with the sell-out crowd by performing the last half of the song in the crowd. All three of their albums received a decent airing including Driving For The Storm, Safe Forever, Weapon Enemy Friend, 1981, Take This for Granted, Beware Wolf and Dream Vs Scream, with latest single and Nova FM’s most thrashed song currently, Australia, receiving the sing-a-long treatment. The crowd was in a state of delirium with the band delivering hit after hit. Not content with playing their own songs, two covers received the Gyroscope treatment. A surprise was Nirvana’s Territorial Pissings. The other was Midnight Oil’s Beds Are Burning which came half way through Fast Girl. Encore time comes, only two songs Don’t Look Now But I Think I’m Sweating Blood clocking in at the 1:30 mark and of course Snakeskin finished this brilliant show. Gyroscope keep going from strength to strength.
rodismdotcom
said on the 17th Sep, 2008