‘Killjoy’ by Shihad? Performed live?

Okay, trivia time folks. Once upon a time there was (and still is) an orthodox rock band called Shihad. Originally from our very own city, with the release of their second album Killjoy (back in 1995), they sprung from the streets of Wellington to the stages of the world, along the way winning accolades from the esteemed likes of Iggy Pop, Metallica and Dave Grohl and their peers. Killjoy went on to exceed Gold sales in New Zealand, was even released in Japan and in short – set Shihad up for a career which has to date, lasted over two decades.

Nowadays based in Melbourne, Australia, Shihad are, as one would expect (given the above facts and so forth) regular return performance attendees in New Zealand. And on Saturday the 31^st of July, fifteen years after the fact, they’re going to do something pretty special at Cuba Street’s San Francisco Bath House – a full, song by song performance of Killjoy – the whole album reinterpreted live, front to back and side to side. So, if you’re a Shihad fan, you have to go to this show, and I don’t need to explain why. And if you aren’t a Shihad fan, you should really go as well, because Killjoy is the seminal Shihad record.

Additionally, Shihad are bringing along one of my favourite new local bands to open for them – Christchurch’s Cairo Knife Fight. A two-piece collaborative work between singer/drummer/keyboardist Nick Gaffaney (yes, he really plays drums and keyboard at once!) and guitarist/backing vocalist Aaron Tokona (this guy is such a crazy guitarist, with so many pedals), Cairo Knife Fight blends poetic rock, falsetto soul and modern beat music in the most psychedelic freakout manner going, without compromising on groove or accessibility! Eureka!

This is going to be a really good show.

Breaking News: Shihad will perform an additional show at San Francisco Bath House on Thursday the 5th of August. At this show, as opposed to performing Killjoy, they will perform their forth full-length album, The General Electric – once again, from front to back and side to side!!!