I was fortunate enough to travel around India with Sheppard back in 2012 (you can look back at the interview I conducted with them HERE) and by the end of that trip, having seen them live a good 5 or 6 times, I never wanted to hear their catchy single “Let Me Down Easy” again. In my books, that’s the sign of a great pop single. Indeed, the band have skyrocketed in the pop world since then – everything starting with that track no less – breaking ARIA chart records and selling out shows around the world. All this without coming from the X-Factor or Idol factory, which in many ways has dulled any sense of enthusiasm about the local pop scene.
Shows like these had, after all, exposed pop music for what it really was at its most basic level: corporate, calculated, commercial and formulaic. Who would actually want to form a pop band now? Well, back when Savage Garden, Frente!, the Minogues, Madison Avenue and even Silverchair were all the rage in the 90s, I actually remember there being pop enthusiasm in Australia. After all, if N*Sync taught us anything, “Pop” can be fun. As much as the most “popular” of the genre is the most formulaic, at its heart it had always been about making FUN, catchy music. Music to forget about your troubles and put a smile on your face. It might seem like a long time since the days that the enthusiasm was there, but if that’s the case, Sheppard never got the memo. They are the first new Australian band in a long time to have recaptured the concept of unapologetic, radio friendly pop songs – and it’s infectious.
Returning from their time in the UK, Microwave Jenny opened up proceedings, while the all ages (heavily weighted to the under 18s) crowd started to fill up Sydney’s Enmore Theatre. The husband/wife duo, originally based on the Central Coast, accompanied by Riley on cajon and an electronic drum pad, kept things simple as they played a few of their older songs like “Mellow” (which turns into an impressive medley of music from Kanye to 1D) alongside material off their next EP, such as “How To Make a Girl Cry”. “Shine Like New” closed out to energetic set, which entertained all in the room. Will be very interested to hear how it sounds on record – very promising stuff indeed.
Bright and bubbly, the six piece from Brisbane known as Sheppard – named after the surname of the three siblings (George, Emma and Amy) who lead the group – hit the stage, launching into their single “Hold My Tongue”, which had the room dancing. Their just announced single “Smile”, followed, which saw Amy take on lead vocals from George – a back-and-forth which continued throughout the show. With different approaches to their music, it kept things interesting. But it was most impressive when brought together, such as for “Lingering”, which had George and Amy share vocals, stripping things back and accompanied solely by Jay on the acoustic guitar.
“Something’s Missing” same a little earlier and was a crowd favourite and a highlight of the night, with Amy adding to the drums from the front of the stage. Her vocals on “This Electric Feeling” brought with it some excellent lighting (cue disco ball) and one of Amy’s best vocal performances, seemingly channeling her inner Gwen Stefani with some No Doubt inspired vibes. Indeed it seems the group have brought with them a wealth of influences from the world of pop, going as far back as Supertramp, which comes through on “Shine”, with George taking on a bit of Roger Hodgson as Amy hit the harmonica, while the rest of the band dutifully filled up the track.
Amy gave it her all for “A Grade Playa”, which she called her “therapy song” and has a bit of a Destiny’s Child “Survivor” feel to it. The f-bomb laden “Find Someone” seemed a bit inappropriate given how many small children there are in the room – but probably a reminder to parents to listen to an album before they bring their kids to a show. Just because they make a cute video with a cardboard creature doesn’t mean they’re a band for children. Still the kids were dancing from start to finish, and “Geronimo” – which has replaced “Let Me Down Easy” as the song we’re all sick of – got the biggest reception of all. Thanks no less to Geronimo joining them on stage.
The group returned for a two song encore, kicking off with an obscure cover from a Canadian group called Magic! with “Rude” and closing off the night with “Halfway To Hell” – less an AC/DC inspired track, and more something that might belong in a Hollywood Western – and seeing most of the band jump onto the drums in a track that may have been the highlight of the night.
I’m not making an argument that Sheppard are here to change the face of music, or reinvent the wheel. But they are playing the pop game better than any band I’ve seen in Australia for many, many years. They came to make catchy, radio friendly music, and while this may warrant them as much hate as it does love (which can be said for any pop act), they are finding success, achieving legions of fans thanks to capturing the enthusiasm that the worlds of Idol and X-Factor seem to have removed from the pop world. And getting tonnes of songs stuck in our heads in the process. Which, love it of hate it, is the sign of a great pop act. Here’s hoping we keep getting sick of Sheppard songs for years to come (and look out for a statement at a later date along the lines of “be careful what you wish for…”).
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SETLIST
Hold My Tongue
Smile
These People
Something’s Missing
Let Me Down Easy
Free
The Best Is Yet To Come
Lingering
This Electric Feeling
Shine My Way
A Grade Playa
Find Someone
Geronimo
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Rude (Magic! Cover)
Halfway To Hell
