The Shivas - Live 2019.05.29 8mm Bar, Berlin, Germany

Four years ago, I saw The Shivas play in a small venue during South by Southwest, and I was immediately taken in. When I heard they'd be playing at a bar in my neighborhood, the same place I just saw Love'n'Joy, I couldn't resist.

Artist: The Shivas

Venue: 8mm Bar

Location: Berlin, Germany

Date: 29 May 2019

The Shivas wasted no time in kicking off their dance party. Every song they played was high-energy, upbeat, and instantly danceable. Most of their songs could be broadly described as garage rock, but there bits of surf, rockabilly, psychobilly, instrumental guitar grooves à la The Ventures, 50s/60s pop rave-ups, and brief psych jams. Their songs were short and didn't stay in one place too long; they employed tempo shifts, copious harmonies, and driving beats to keep things interesting. They appeared as a four-piece this time around, and for several songs in the middle, the second guitarist took over on drums to let the drummer stand up and sing lead on a few songs. They only played for an hour, but that was easy to forgive in consideration of how impressive it was to watch them keep up such a level of energy.

Score: A-

[Edit 2019.08.04:] P.S. I've worked out most of the setlist:

01. Stalking Legs
02. You Know What to Do
03. Do the Crocodile
04. I Hear You Screaming
05. Playing on the Radio Over and Over
06. Whiteout
07. So Far Out of Control
08. [Unknown]
09. Off Axis
10. I've Had Enough
11. If You See Me
12. Let's Dance [Chris Montez cover]
13. Ride On
14. [Unknown]
15. [Unknown]
16. So It Goes
17. Turn Me On
18. You Make Me Wanna Die
19. Manson Girls
20. Goo Goo Muck [Ronnie Cook & the Gaylads cover]