Gig 20030416 Journal

Source: Shihad.com (circa 03)

Date Published: Unsure

Who: Shihad.

Where: 	 Beta Bar 	- Tallahassee, FL

When: 16 April 2003

Reviewed by: Shihad (Jon Toogood)

Been playing my guitar heaps recently, off-stage as well as on-stage, and I just cannot imagine what the fuck I'd do without it. Live, it's a weapon (that creates rather than destroys) and when there's nothing to do in between shows it comforts because it constantly surprises with each new idea it gives up and keeps life vital and refreshing. I just hate fucking tuning the damn thing. so when I found out I was going to lose Jules our guitar tech next month and that I'd be responsible for looking after myself for a while - I was bummed. I had to go out and find a pedal tuner and today in Tallahassee was all about that. luckily, The Beta Bar had a runner take me down to the street with 4 guitar stores in a row (how the fuck they all make a living is beyond me. they are literally all next door to each other. must be a hell of a lot of guitar players in town) where I got what I needed. we then proceeded to the Greyhound Bus station to pick up Jed, Trust Company's lighting guy, who got left behind last night in Jacksonville. He looked pretty shitty. Showtime, Memento started the night off with an amazing set full of high drama to a crowd of about 4 people and the rest of the bands. I am starting to really dig those lads. they never fail to give it everything no matter who's there. by the time we played there were a few more heads in the crowd but that didn't stop us from bringing back Steve Dibble and the Kiwis, our AC/DC tribute act where we play 'Riff Raff' and get the Trust Company merch guy (you guessed it - Steve Dibble) out from behind his desk to become Bon Scott (and, man, can he wail!) the rest of the show is a blur of sweat, a broken microphone, swinging from the lighting rig and landing badly on Tom's drum kit. a good one in other words. Revolution Smile (who played after us) have songs that stick in my head and big, fat guitar sounds that play mean, 2 note riffs and remind me of a cross between early Soundgarden and the Unsane. I am starting to really like them also. the guitar was the winner on the day.

-Jon.X