Gig Review: Shihad @ Spark Arena, Auckland – 14/03/2025

Shihad, the reigning kings of Aotearoa rock and roll, made history as the first heavy Kiwi band to sell out Spark Arena in Auckland. A sea of black shirts and beers is their tribe and no doubt many in attendance have seen the lads several times over their extraordinary 37-year career & tonight we see them out at a historic Auckland show before they take their final bow at Homegrown tomorrow night. The crowd spans so many generations, eager to catch once last epic performance of a band who have given us all so much.

Mim Jensen was the opener of the night, starting the night with an ethereal number, huge booming tom sounds with mallet sticks, solid backing vocals and clean chorus driven guitars with Pink Floyd esq guitar solos. The band displayed an enthusiastic showmanship that fits their vibe. Anti love song Pause Money began with a rim shot beat, an upbeat melancholic feel and trippy atmosphere that surrounds it. The songs have strong pop sensibility’s but also have 80’s and 90’s alternative rock vibes and some country. The army of black Shihad shirts are slowing ascending into the massive spark arena. A great band to warm the ears and deliver an alternate sound to a diverse rock package to come.

Mim has a new EP coming out and played new tracks from it. She was sick and hoped her voice would hold out and it did! Throughout the set, I enjoyed how the lead guitar had these complimentary swells and licks over the simplistic compositions, adding extra depth. Mim’s voice is the key element backed by a talented band. The band really grooved out mid set, vibing while the audience slowly builds. Germaphobe, kicked it up a notch, the main lights dimmed, and the band rocked out with their most intense song of the night.

My first time seeing Dick Move live, Up the wahs!! Now we are on a totally different level. Dick Move have a real 70’s punk and Motörhead vibe with a weapon of a drummer and all his glorious hair. There’s some The Bronx riff action thrown in there too. Two songs and only two minutes in! There is a massive confidence and punk attitude. Their live energy is next level to their recordings, so much attack and power. Run For Your Money, a protest song, is relentless and the hits keep coming. Their songs are short, not sweet and they are just having a great time, looking right at home on the big stage.

The crowd has filled spark by half, really engaged and the band are doing a great job warming up the ears, legs and lungs. Vocalist Lucy Suttor has the most iconic Kiwi accent, it’s just so refreshing. “My bodies mine!! I wanna make your dick move!” Oh no, she spilt her beer, just before the fast one, wait there’s an ever faster one! We are then introduced to the song Comedown. Raw, uncompromising songs, real, inspired lyrics about life, politics, social injustices and culture. Pretty sure they have played about two albums worth of songs by now. Before closing out their set, we get the song Bludger, a tale about our prime minister Christopher Luxon, for those there, you know.

The D4 is back for another round of beers and rock and roll. Do the D4 take the Guinness world record for largest banner displaying Rock and Roll Motherf#####?. Always entertaining, rowdy and bringing the party, they were on top form, having been on tour this summer around the country. It’s 8pm, Friday and the punters keep rolling in, the lights go out. Jimmy Xmas and the boys launch right into Sake Bomb, sounding as massive as ever, tight and the crowd is loving it. And here we go, it’s going to be a night of bangers as they deliver the classic Come On. Beaver’s beast mode drumming and Dion’s slick moves and guitar licks are all the rage. The crowd is already eating out of their hands a few songs in. “We are the DMF4”, Xmas spits as the boys are slamming through hit after hit, the mix is big and the venue is maxing to cap. The banter is minimal, but the songs say it all and the guitar solo showmanship is in fine form. Saturday Night (On A Friday Night), Hey now, hey now!, Let’s Party they really did write perfect weekend music! Such a solid rhythmic foundation and incredible vocal interplay between Jimmy and Dion. We are not Running On Empty yet, Jimmy thanks Shihad, loud forever!, “so much that has been said and will be said”, it’s so true! With a few tracks left we get up, Get Out, Get Up, Get Loose, always a fav, such a jam!. Lead guitarist Dion then using the mic stand as a guitar slide was a riot.

By this point, Spark is at max and awaiting their hero’s. The crowd roars in anticipation, the lights drop, and the cinematic intro music begins with the light show creeping in. Shihad takes the stage with Take Down Those Names, Phil and Karl roam the stage taking in their audience, the hands are in the air and it’s just the beginning. Jon Toogood has always commanded a crowd and with the pounding floor toms of Tom Larkin behind him we all listen in one heavy congregation. The production is EPIC, the light display in next level! Shout out to their production team, this is international and phenomenal work on display.

We are going on a journey through Shihad’s timeless catalogue, they are sounding huge, polished and dominating as ever, we are feeling the fire! As Johnny tells us, “this is going to be a good one, 37 years” They are playing at least two songs off every album. Think You’re So Free is next from FVYES and man that riff is heavy. When that kick and floor Tom hit, it rumbles the old gods underneath the arena and the feet are moving in unison. Karl’s driving bass, that tone! Oh and we have pyro! All Fists in the air. Next up we get some tracks from Ignite, Sleepeater, is a bouncer, more of that massive bass from Karl & big chunky guitar riffs ending with a sea of claps. Phil hits the synths for Ignite, this song giving everyone a bit of breather. Then we move into one of my favourites, One Will Hear The Other from Beautiful Machine, I love the feel and drive of this track and the epic drum fills. As Jon says, “we are all about joy tonight”. Next up, Love Is The New Hate and some story time about the infamous Aotea square gig. Alive! This song is hard! Goes hard, heavy and so groovy with a huge sing along chorus. Defo a big highlight, the lights are intense, fitting for the mood, a sea of colour and intensity. All The Young Fascists, peak Shihad! The red and black lights add to the atmosphere. After a slight guitar issue but we hit right into Comfort Me from the infamous Pacifier album. Another big boy riff and a huge hitter. The crowd knows every word. The lighting is a piece of art. The guitars do sound loud enough out here, we all agree with Jon! But we could have more please.

Okay here we go, those famous synths from The General Electric begin, we know My Minds Sedate is coming. The album that really launched Shihad onto the global stage and such a staple album for us rockers and musicians discovering music in the late 90’s & the 00’s. The crowd goes ape, the guitars got louder! Wouldn’t be complete without The General Electric, what a song! It has everything l! It does feel good to be alive, Jon. We know what coming next, the staple, the classic, Pacifier. Jon requests all phones to be in the air, stage lights go down, it’s a spectacle to be seen with all arms swinging in motion. An Incredible moment. But it wouldn’t be a Shihad gig without more groovy bass lines, we get a 4th GE track with Wait and See! Now we are down to the early days, Self-Titled is here as Jon sings out “Pray for the rain to wash you far away”. We then move onto Killjoy with the timeless You Again riff and then Factory (first time hearing this live) from Churn. Now its encore time, SO YOU RUN! Woohoo, their cover of Split Enz’s I Got You and then the only song they could end the show with, Home Again – our NZ Rock Anthem, facts#

What a set! Two hours plus of history, classics, hits, favourites and game changers. Thank you Phil, Karl, Jon and Tom for the music and memories. Love Forever, Loud Forever.

Photo Credit: Andy Russell for Muzic.NZ

Shihad Gallery
The D4 Gallery
Dick Move Gallery
Mim Jensen Gallery