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Review: The Sheepdogs, Thekla
Yay – they’re finally here. And only seven months late. “Last time we were here, we all tested positive for covid out in the parking lot,” offers bassist Ryan Gullen of that last-minute cancellation back in March. The suitably shaggy Sheepdogs from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, promised they’d make it up to us and they’ve been as good as their word, making Bristol the first date on their latest UK jaunt. At one point, a bunch of their fellow countrymen in the audience strike up a hearty rendition of O Canada, clearly delighted to see these multiple award-winning national heroes playing in such a small venue thousands of miles from home. “Thanks guys, but we’ve only been out of the country for 40 hours,” remarks frontman and principal songwriter Ewan Currie.
Tonight The Sheepdogs seem to be in the mood to celebrate the heavier end of their repertoire, with a set that doesn’t deviate too far from the tracklisting of their splendidly titled recent Live at Lee’s album. They’re on great form, but most striking thing about them this time is that talented young blues guitar hotshot Ricky Paquette, who’s standing in for the absent Jimmy Bowskill, has really put the work in to learn the set and gives the band a more fiery, hard-rockin’ feel. No pedal steel or acoustic guitar interludes this time. He even gets a Jimmy Page-quoting solo spot.
Old favourites Who and I’ve Got a Hole Where My Heart Should Be are dispatched in short order, while Downtown now rocks so hard that it could be a Bad Company composition. But songs from current Sheepdogs album Outta Sight are equally impressive – notably the rock monster that is Scarborough Street Fight and I Wanna Know You, which whisks us from hard rock to yacht rock and back again in three-and-a-half blissful minutes.
is needed now More than ever
Sheepdogs Influence Bingo is always a fun game to play, with The Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd being obvious reference points, plus CSN and The Eagles for those gorgeous vocal harmonies. But the name you keep coming back to is the Allman Brothers Band, especially as they’re not above dropping in a few bars of Jessica on occasion. Indeed, one half expects Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts to step forward and take a bow at any moment.
Multi-tasking on keyboards, guitar, luxuriant moustache and various percussion, Ewan’s brother Shamus eventually gets to take the lead vocal on his own composition Are You a Good Man? The final straight brings plenty of audience singalong favourites, including Nobody and the Sweet Home Alabama-flavoured I Don’t Know. They’re not going to be permitted to leave it there, of course, despite the curfew that has ‘jungle’ enthusiasts queuing up outside for the club night. A two-song encore concludes by whisking us right back to the epic Learn & Burn, during which a roadie hands Shamus his trusty trombone for the parping section without which no Sheepdogs show is complete.
Read more: Metal & Prog Picks: October 2022
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