Zhain Down Under - Auckland, New Zealand (2/2) By Tony

(1/2), (2/2).

As soon as you walk through the door you feel the atmosphere and history of The Dogs Bollix.

It feels comfortable and worn in, you just feel the magic about the place. Rocky and Dr John check out the bar while the crew arrange equipment. Sound check is quick and easy, the gear works the monitors are fine, Zhain are ready to rock. Everyone is so friendly and genuinely excited about the gig. The support bands actually thank the guys for letting them play on the same bill. Apparently the advance P.R. has done the trick plus Paul Martin ,a local DJ has been pushing the band on his radio shows.

Time to eat and the venue provides a selection of treats including the largest platter of hot wings I've ever seen. Rocky asks for extra hot sauce and starts demolishing the mound of wings. Dr John decides his cognac is too strong and waters it down with Rocky's Stoli. The support bands are really good but Dr John has to lend Theresa one of his Les Pauls as she has problems with her guitar. You can't say the Good Doctor is not all heart.

It's show time and the anticipation is electric. I'm told the last time the atmosphere was this good was when The White Stripes played here several years ago.

The stage is dark, a massive power chord rings out, the lights come up and Hurricane Zhain hits Auckland. The crowd are riveted, all eyes are on the stage, this is how rock'n'roll is meant to be. Raw, passionate, exciting and laced with melodies and hooks you can't get out of your brain. Get Ready segues into High School Teacher at the end of which the crowd goes crazy. New Zealanders certainly know how to have a good time. The band are in awesome form, quite possibly the best I've ever seen them play. The total support of the audience powers them on towards greater heights. Zhain feed off the audience and give back a momentous performance.

Every song is a highlight, the crowd are now punching the air in time with every song. Sweat is running in rivers from both band and audience and it just gets hotter with every song. Streetwalker is, as always, a tour de force that takes the excitement level even higher and then comes Jumping Jack Flash dedicated to the doctors and nurses of New Zealand who looked after Keith when he fell out the tree in Fiji. The whole room moved, this was just a riot of writhing bodies, smiling faces and a band on top form. Members of the support bands came on stage to add vocals in the choruses and at that moment this was the best place to be in the whole world if you love rock'n'roll.

On the last note the lights went down and the band were gone. As always the band do not play encores even though the clamour for more lasted a good 15 minutes. Instead the new single, No Hay Cuchara, was played over the sound system. Zhain had given everything to this performance, there just wasn't any more gas in the tank. Everyone was talking about the show. Paddy, the owner, stated Zhain were the best band he'd ever seen. Not just at The Dogs but anywhere. This audience were never going to forget this show. A new name has been added to the list of rock'n'roll heroes that have played Auckland.

Dare I risk my family's wrath and go with Zhain to Wellington for tomorrows gig? Can my liver stand it? From Tony, fast becoming the biggest Zhain fan ever. I'm already saving up for the shows in Japan during November. www.zhain.co.uk www.dogsbollix.co.nz

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