Ishtar
About Ishtar from Auckland
Genre: Hard Rock
Members:
Lou Theobald - Vocals
Simone Whitlow - Guitar, Mandolin, Backing Vocals.
Jamie Denton - Bass
Description: NZ Hard Rock group fusing modern sound & sensibility with classic heavy rock & metal influences. Think Muse & Dream Theater meets Queen & Led Zeppelin.
Active 2000 - 2008 & reformed in 2010 ISHTAR are an Auckland, NZ-based hard rock group. Known for their cinematic musical vision, stadium-esque riffs, prodigous musical talents & love of the great Dinosaur rockers of the 70's Ishtar sonically occupied a space somewhere between Led Zeppelin and Dream Theater. Ishtar had a reputation, over several waves of Auckland rock bands as one of Auckland’s best live rock acts. Progressive, Epic, Gothic, Classic and, at times, Unplugged, Ishtar were also unique to the Auckland scene for their eight years previously active.
Ishtar had numerous highlights in their previous incarnations including playing to a packed out Aotea Square during a New Years gig & releasing 2 EPs (South of Sanity (2006) and the internet only release Ambigram (2007). Ishtar scored airplay on numerous indie and student Rock stations across NZ, featured on a Tsunami charity CD 'Reconstruction' & filmed a yet to be released Video for their song 'South Of Sanity'
Ishtar went on Hiatus in 2008, Vocalist Mel Wright needing to put more time into her studies, Drummer Dave Cannon heading off to the UK & Bassist Jamie Denton taking off for Canada, and Simone- well Simone had a little reinventing and renovating to do. Ishtar ran till Dave's plane to the UK arrived pretty much, the vocals being handled by Naquadah vocalist Lou Theobald & bass by young virtuoso Matthew Farley.
Prior to calling it a day they laid down a dozen tracks live in a single day, something that has come to be known as the Cardenio Sessions.
At this point in time Ishtar is dividing its time between an unplugged set with Simone, Lou & Jamie, & working on getting a full band lineup. Ishtar hopes to launch the full band in April and release some new material in 2011.
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