Live Review: Sick Puppies @ The Garage.

by | Apr 25, 2014

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

The LA based Australian band Sick Puppies are used to playing in large arena’s and venues such as the House of Blues, in the USA. So coming along to The Garage at Islington, London might be a little surprise. Not so much for the venue but for the noticeable lack of a crowd especially on the last night of their UK tour.

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

They are an energetic and melodic rock trio who are driving for a harder sound and they achieve this to a certain extent on the new album Connect. It is the songs from this album that dominate the show kicking off with Die To Save You and the US hit There’s No Going Back.

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

It is bassist Emma Anzai who really steals the show and moves around the stage like she is wrestling her bass like a python. Her vocals and playing are pretty awesome and she loves to rock out.

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

The heavier sound really suits their live set up but I would like to see vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore throw himself around a little more and get down low and dirty if he wants to achieve rock god status, although the fans that are there really love him.

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

Sick Puppies. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shim Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin (Simon Jay Price/Rockshot)

Sick Puppies covered the Foo Fighters and Rage Against The Machine. Overall a good but not a great show and ended with 2009’s You’re Going Down. On the other hand I expect the shortage of an audience did not really add to the atmosphere.

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Photography and Review Simon Jay Price, 24th April 2014, The Garage.
Pictures cannot be used without written permission.

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