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Shihad founder and frontman Jon Toogood is toning things down for two local solo shows at the Mangawhai Tavern on Saturday, February 2 and Leigh’s Sawmill Café on Sunday, February 3.
Tagged as “unplugged, unaccompanied and unmasked”, Toogood will be playing an acoustic set of songs and stories from his three decades in the rock business. His solo tour of smaller venues comes on the back of a busy year, which saw the release of an acclaimed album, HAJA, under his alter ego project, The Adults, and a 30th anniversary tour of New Zealand and Australia with Shihad. He spent the Christmas holidays in the Sudan, home of his wife Dana, where there was an uprising going on, and returned home to Melbourne in the middle of a serious heatwave, so he said he was looking forward to a quieter spell in New Zealand.
“I’ve been to Leigh with The Adults – it’s a beautiful room and a beautiful part of the country at a nice time of the year,” he said.
“I’m doing a solo tour because it’s different, exciting, challenging and something I’ve never done before.
It’s so alien to me after spending 30 years in an extremely loud rock and roll band, where everything is larger than life.”
He said he enjoys the challenge of a more intimate show and being able to talk with the audience between songs.
“In Shihad, I’m more like a PT instructor or master of ceremonies, which I love doing, it’s second nature, but this is stuff where I really have to think about what I’m doing and find a new way of doing things.”
Next on the cards for Toogood is a new Shihad album, followed by a new season of his Radio Hauraki weekend show, Planet of Sound.
The Mangawhai show starts at 7pm, doors open at Leigh on Sunday at 4.30pm, and tickets for both R18 gigs cost $42.50.
Info and tickets: jontoogood.live
