These past few weeks have been filled with emotion, for the fans, but most importantly for The Shams, who have been working incredibly hard on their set in order to honour the day of the Irish, all whilst balancing rigorous academics. If you are unfamiliar with this band, make sure to read the recently published article titled “Stockholm’s New Teenage Rock Band: The Shams”, to find out who they are and how they came to become the highlight and headliners of the Swedish-Irish Society’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in central Stockholm. Their 40-minute set starting at 16:20 was an ideal way to close off the event on a joyful note by playing Ireland’s most iconic hits from both the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Even before their appearance, a lively crowd had formed in front of the stage, featuring many ecstatic fans holding up signs, two of them holding up the line “Shams with the Shams”. Upon the band’s arrival, cheering and thrilled yells were heard around the entire stage, all impatiently waiting for the show to commence. A short introduction speech was delivered by the lead guitarist and bassist/vocalist, Eva C. and Livia J., to present the members to new listeners and fans who hadn’t heard of them prior to the event.
Opening the gig with Teenage Kicks set them up for success; the vibes were high, everyone was clapping and singing along to every line. Everyone is not an exaggeration, from toddlers to the elderly, and not a single frown could be seen within the green crowd. The show progressively got better, during Favourite by Fontaines DC, the audience danced in circles and attempted Irish dancing. Intrigued individuals even appeared on various balconies surrounding the park to listen to the wonderful Irish music. The transition between Linger by The Cranberries and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2 was extremely humorous and started many laughs. After Livia J. confessed that she adored Irish people and was “a fool for them” quoting the previous song Linger, Eva C. comedically added “Oh, you too?”, a clear homophone of the band, U2.
Additionally, the set featured Mandinka by Sinéad O’Connor and Disco 2000 by the British rock band Pulp. However, the crowd wasn’t pleased with and accepting of the fact that the set had come to an end, and therefore demanded an encore by shouting “En gång till” in Swedish and “One more time” in English as if the band members hadn’t understood it the first time. The request was finally granted and the final song was played, a favourite of the lead singer, Livia J., Last Nite by The Strokes. Although it was hard to say farewell, The Shams waved their last goodbye before disappearing from the spotlight, causing a bittersweet feeling within the people. Sad as it couldn’t last forever, yet incredibly satisfied and proud of the musicians who put a tremendous amount of work into the creation of this set.
When reflecting on the gig with the drummer, Seb H., he described the experience as “Amazing, ethereal, green, but intimidating at first.” The Shams member confessed that it was surreal to play live music on that stage, which is something that he truly loves. He added that a crucial part of the show is the relationship and connection with the crowd, he shared that “when you’re playing you have to keep an eye on the crowd and match their energy.” This mindset was definitely seen in his demeanour on stage, his enthusiastic attitude was extremely contagious and appreciated by all fans. When asked if he would be willing to perform next year too, he immediately and without thinking answered “Of course!”
Overall The Shams were an amazing addition to the celebration of Ireland by honouring its talented artists and their incredible artistry. They set the bar high for their upcoming gigs. If that was just their first, who knows what they are capable of accomplishing in the future? One thing is for sure, and that is that they are destined to go far. In order to remain updated regarding all future The Shams events and shows, make sure to follow their Instagram @the.shams.band!
