Shihad, Battlesnake @ The Gov, Adelaide 13/2/2025
It is hard to fathom that this is it for Shihad as they work their way around Australia one last time. Shihad is one of those bands for many like myself who have followed right from the beginning seeing them play Big Day Out’s and supporting many other well known Australian bands such as You Am I, Cog and Gyroscope not forget the smaller venues they have played around town. One thing for sure is that regardless where Shihad play they leave everything on table with nothing to spare giving everything and more. There is a touch of sadness writing this review but also acknowledgement of a fantastic career and a job well done. This show was fantastic putting the full stop firmly in place on their time here.
Battlesnake are a band on the rise and it won’t be long before we are seeing these guys play much bigger venues as they take on the world. Awesome production with the outfits, light show and indoor pyros with a big rock sound. They really have to be seen to be believed. Set highlights include I Am The Vomit, The Battlesnake, I Am The Plough and Nightmare King.
Despite the sentiment of the occasion being the last time there was a really awesome vibe at The Gov with this sold out Friday night crowd intent on sending Shihad out in a blaze of glory. The set list was very much a career retrospective leaving no stone unturned playing something from all the albums in their esteemed back catalogue.
With a heroes like reception was the band consisting of Jon Toogood, Karl Kippenberger, Phil Knight and Tom Larkin took the stage it was a rocking opening with Tear Down Those Names, Feel The Fire and So You Think You Are Free. Toogood was up and about thanking everyone for turning up saying that the format of the show was after thirty years they’ll play something off everything working their way from now backwards. What was great was that the obvious songs were there but some others that fans may not have heard had been slotted in. One of those songs was Cheap As to which Toogood acknowledged was as relevant now “given Elon Musk is the president of the USA”.
Toogood acknowledged support act Pelvis, asking why they didn’t come up with a cool name like that and for the crowd to get jumping on Sleepeater. Absolutely loved One Will Hear The Other and Beautiful Machine. With the crowd asking them to turn the guitars up Toogood asked the crowd who had or had not seen Shihad before suggesting those who hadn’t were a bit late to the party. Reflecting on the angry record Love Is The New Hate and touring with Cog it was Empty Shell and Alive that featured. Comfort Me and Everything were big moments in the set going in to more familiar territory with the likes of My Mind’s Sedate and The General Electric.
Wanting to turn The Gov in to an arena Toogood asked fans to turn their mobile phone lights on for the anthemic Pacifier. Each two hour show on this tour is unique swapping out some songs and tonight we got to hear one rarely played in Ghost From The Past. You Again was epic finishing the main set on Bitter and Factory.
The encore was a bit emotional and reflective mentioning the history they have with Adelaide and their first tour with The Mark Of Cain. Run was a golden moment and the crowd singing along was huge. Split Enz cover I Got You was fantastic and as Toogood put it “you can be from New Zealand and still take on the world”. First single I Only Said was well received with Toogood asking the crowd to go ballistic one last time on Home Again. This show had everything and acknowledgement of a career well done. To Shihad, thanks for shows, the songs and best of luck with where life takes you next.
Live Review By Rob Lyon