Entertainment
New Zealand rock legend Jon Toogood is coming south next week to perform two special shows in Invercargill - one at Tillermans and the other instore at JB Hi-Fi.
UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances the JB HI-FI show is cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date. The show at Tillermans will still go ahead on Saturday November 2 at 5pm. Buy tickets here to the Tillermans gig here
Promoting his debut solo album ‘Last of the Lonely Gods,’ Jon is touring New Zealand and making his way south, before then heading to Australia and the United Kingdom.
Making his mark on New Zealand music for the past 35 years, as part of both Shihad and The Adults, Jon is looking forward to coming back for some southern hospitality.
He remembers performing at a private show for group of Bluff fishermen many years ago, and being treated to kaimoana.
“It was one of my most memorable times in the south. I have a real soft spot for Southland,” he said.
He’s also performed at street parties in Invercargill over the years and was looking forward to sharing his new music - inspired by tough times during Covid-19 and losing his mother.
“This is a whole new way of communicating with my audience. I have nothing to hide behind and initially that was quite frightening,” he said when deciding to make his new album.
Currently living in Auckland with his wife and two young children, Jon had long Covid and struggled with tinnitus - something that had troubled him since he was 20.
Wearing ear plugs just wasn’t going to cut it in a world dominated by music, “because I wanted to be able to experience what the crowd is feeling,” he said.
Knowing that playing music was the best mindfulness technique he could find, and had been since he first picked up a guitar at just seven, Jon found therapy through his songs.
“It’s about finding the right melody to tell my story. And I think the songs are stronger for it.”
Kiss and Prince were his first rock heroes but the first album he purchased was ‘Legend’ by Bob Marley.
“As a kid I was into all sorts of music.”
The last time I saw Jon Toogood perform he arrived at Coronet Peak in Queenstown after the first Covid-19 lockdown, after being stuck in quarantine for days.
He said it was pretty memorable playing on a mountain “and the only time I’d worn a jersey on stage.”
The show at Tillermans will still go ahead on Saturday November 2 at 5pm at, buy tickets here to the Tillermans gig here
Invercargill JB Hi-Fi marketing manager Jon Kirman said they always look forward to having Jon play in their stores, "he always brings good vibes and his iconic songs get the crowd excited and singing along."
JB Hi-Fi has been collaborating with him for several years, and one of the biggest events was a few years ago at the Party in Wairau Park where they set up a gig in the carpark, with food trucks, fun and games, and Jon providing the sounds.