Gig Review: Shihad @ Meow Nui, Wellington – 16/03/2025

Review by Kerry MB // 18 March 2025

For those of us that missed Homegrown 2025 and had just started coming to the realisation that the chance to see Shihad one last time was no more, well the music gods pulled a fast one.

With the announcement made on the morning of Homegrown, that yes, one more show will actually be their final show to be held at Meow Nui Sunday night, you better believe we dropped everything we were doing to get tickets.

Now, Shihad really don’t need any introduction, so unless you’ve just crawled out from under a log, chances are you’ve heard at least one Shihad song somewhere in the last thirty-seven years. Also, we might only be two small islands, but we’re a proud nation who have produced and produces some of the best rock, metal and everything in between, and that’s pretty cool I reckon.

Weta, Tadpole, Six60, Alien Weaponry, Devilskin, The Checks, The Feelers, Stellar, Hello Sailor, Split Enz, the list is ongoing, past and present, Kiwis really know what they’re doing.

And like all great things that eventually come to an end, the final curtain call arrived, and far out what a special night it was.

Meow Nui was a great choice for a send off with the added bonus of being Wellington’s newest music venue. Built in 1990, it was formally a Salvation Army office and Citadel church hall. She sure has good bones, and thanks to owners, Damian Jones and Rahine O’Rielly, who also own Meow on Edward Street, it now has its new musical purpose.

Opening with The Boondocks, and compared to a few weeks ago seeing them at Meow, they sounded bigger, brighter and were in full charge of that stage like they owned it. There was no nervous energy this time around from Scott Parker and Branden Pritchard, respectively. They commanded that stage which is never easy when you are still playing as people arrive. Nevertheless, they rocked it, and can I just say, their presence was top notch and so fun to see again. Awesome to hear their confidence growing, and the fact they are having a blast doing it, is even better.

Following The Boondocks was Shepherds Reign, who straight off the bat from playing their own slot at Homegrown, and of course their tour alongside Alien Weaponry, they must have felt pretty honoured to share the stage with even more great talent.

A Polynesian metal fusion. Imagine if Gojira and Avenged Sevenfold started a supergroup, and Frédéric Chopin asked to join and it became a reality.

Hailing from South Auckland made up of members, Filiva’a James (vocals and keytar), Gideon Voon (guitar), Oliver Leupolu (guitar/production), Shaymen Rameka (drums) and Joseph Oti-George (bass) respectively, Shepherds Reign played like their life depended on it. No pressure right? Well when you create sounds that is both heavy and majestic, with a heavy helping of ancestral grounding, it’s a pretty good formula that is bound to blow a few minds.

For those of us who hadn’t seen them perform before, it seemed otherworldly. Absolutely one of my new favourite bands now, thanks guys!

Finally, the moment we were all waiting for, although excited sadness is a strange emotion to have at a gig. It was worth ignoring the pain in our knees and backs, because it felt like seeing Shihad again for the very first time.

Gracing us with the entirety of Churn and Killjoy, what an absolute treat to witness Jon, Karl, Phil and Tom have the best time ever, for the last hurrah. Those 3 hours and 15 minutes were over in a snap and you could see it on everyone’s faces. Nobody was ready to say goodbye.

But being the consummate professionals that they are, Shihad reminded us of the powerhouse they have remained for thirty seven years. After Churn and Killjoy, they played whatever they wanted, plus a few fan requests. Run, Pacifier, The Thin White Line, My Mind’s Sedate, Sports and Religion, they all made the list and it was all perfection. We were also entertained with so many stories and hilarious anecdotes from their career over the years and as if we couldn’t love them anymore, they bought the house down with the final number, of course it had to be Home Again. I swear it wasn’t just sweat dripping from people’s faces.

And just like that, the end of many eras really had ended. It was a fitting and bittersweet moment to be there for, and not one any of us is likely to forget anytime soon.