Debt to Zep

Saturday night at the High Dive, in support of their album In the Veins, Shim delivered 45 minutes of 70's-style, Led Zeppelin-influenced rock. From the shaggy hair to the tank tops to that nasty guitar crunch, these guys never stray too far from the formula. That can be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your taste; it's certainly worked for Wolfmother. Deep and artsy it's not; beer-swilling, testerone-fueled party music it is. And don't get us wrong: while it's not entirely our thing, these guys seriously deliver. The performance and stage show were definitely a cut above, and the hooks were pleasantly complex, a welcome respite from your average Seattle band that thinks banging on one chord with the amp squealing can replace a good lick.