Australian indie pop group Sheppard played Brisbane's Logan Entertainment Centre on Saturday (31 May).
A quick backstory as to why they have an amazing fan following; peaking at #2 on the ARIA Albums Chart was their first studio album back in 2014, 'Bombs Away', and it was certified gold (in Australia, that's 35,000 copies sold).'Geronimo', their second single, racked up x5 times platinum after spending three weeks at #1 on the Singles Chart. In Australia, platinum is 70,000 copies sold.
Currently touring the globe, Sheppard – Amy, George and Emma – returned from overseas for a one-off hometown show at the weekend.
Image © Michelle Cop
Pop music can be a crowded song market. It always has been. It's showbiz, with everyone busting their chops to get a piece of the action and edge out the competition by being that little bit different. However, it's the ALDI factor in play – Good Different – when it comes to the sibling trio.
Sheppard had run the risk of becoming irrelevant to their original fans, now ten years older and who maybe had moved on, or trying to capture a new market with an old back catalogue – a glorified tribute show.
Something mystical seems to have happened between their October 2024 show at The Princess Theatre in Brisbane and Saturday night's show at the Logan Entertainment Centre.
The band's entire entertainment package seemed much more professional in its delivery. The sound was beefed up, we found out, with additional PA gear brought over from the Kingston Butter Factory – it's another Logan City Council-owned event centre.
Image © Michelle Cop
The dynamics were clear and punchy. Songs like their opener 'Zora', 'Good Time' and 'Learning To Fly' carried through to the upper seats, while fans were on their feet in the front rows, absorbing some great vibes.
AI graphics on the back screen in tandem with great pro-lighting made certain the Centre was aurally and visually a very happy place. The band's presentation was tight, yet relaxed. Their interaction with the fans was genuine. Clearly a decade ago, firm friendships were made, and apparently no one grew old. This is very much a class act.
Clearly, Sheppard know their fans. It's a split audience demographic. Maybe not by specific design – but hey, here we are, and it works a treat. Upstairs were predominantly mums and dads accompanying their pre-teen daughters (and their newly-acquired Sheppard merch).
Read our recent interview with Sheppard.
Downstairs in the bar area, well – everyone who is over 18. All ages, all enjoying some older compositions and new tracks lifted from the latest album 'Zora'. It has an interesting and creative 'meant-to-be' story to its name. The night's performance didn't go too late in respect for the age of the kids, either.
Image © Michelle Cop
Amy Sheppard was on vocals and keys, brother George also supplied vocals and guitar, and his sister Emma on vocals and bass guitar, with Jay Bovino on electric guitar and Dean Gordon on drums.
Amongst them are without question, some remarkable writers and contributors. This is the key to a second success by exposing new stock to their loyal audiences. The acoustic rendition of 'The Best Is Yet To Come' brought a new level of sophistication to the evening – ticked a lot of boxes right there.
By the time 'Geronimo' was served up for the encore, Sheppard had this venue jumping. A seriously good concert.
- written by Stu Robertson
More photos from the concert.
