Rock and roll may have been created in the United States, but Canada has been steadily holding down the fort for decades. One of my favourite all-time bands, who sound both new and old and have been consistently releasing fantastic music for the past 20 years, is The Sheepdogs. While other bands were canceling shows due to inclement weather, the boys from Saskatoon braved our Canadian winter and hit the road to promote their eighth studio album Keep Out of the Storm (well played). The Sheepdogs brought their Out All Night tour to the MTELUS on Thursday March 20th, bringing some feel-good rock ‘n’ roll to lift our spirits and warm our souls. As I told Ryan Gullen (bassist) last week during our interview, they have a formula that simply works, so why mess with it?
I knew it would be a good show because The Sheepdogs never disappoint, what I didn’t know was how much I was going to love the supporting band. I knew nothing about them, and their name didn’t invoke any excitement, so when Surf Hat sauntered onto the stage around 8 o’clock, I was hoping their set would be short. And then, as soon as they started performing, I was hoping it would never end. The indie/surf rock band based in Squamish, BC, blends all my favourite groovy styles from psychedelic, folk, and classic rock, creating a unique sound that they describe as “psychedelic surf rock.”
Their sound was enhanced by their jubilant stage presence as lead guitar/vocalist Jon Allan twirled around the stage, grinning and pointing his guitar at bassist Mathew Burnham. Riley Voth on keys and Evan Camm on drums were also in fine spirits. Their positive energy was infectious, and although I didn’t know any of the songs, it wasn’t hard to get into them real quick. And if the random Talking Heads verse from Once in a Lifetime woven into their set wasn’t enough, the nod to The Tragically Hip’s Ahead by a Century definitely sealed the deal. They’re coming back to Montreal in the fall, and I will definitely go see them.
The Sheepdogs appeared a little after 9:00, with instruments in one hand and beer bottles in the other, giving a few waves and casual nods, and then got right down to it. They belted out hit after hit, and I was having such a good time that I didn’t take any notes. (I did take photos though.)
The vibe was so laid-back it felt like a party. I met up with a few friends who I hadn’t seen in a while, and we even danced (merci Diane). There were a lot of sing-along moments, which really got the crowd going (Take Me for a Ride, I Don’t Know, Nobody, How Late How Long). Like Surf Hat, the bandmates clearly enjoyed playing together and would often get real close to one another and have these special jam sessions. Each one had their spotlight moment.
Ryan worked the entire stage, striking rockstar poses, bending and twisting, climbing up the risers to jam with the drummer. Ricky Paquette’s intense energy kept building throughout the night, and his guitar solos were off the charts. Ewan Currie’s vocals were as strong as ever, and I loved his guitar work on Southern Dreaming.
My favourite moment of the night was when they did Owl from the new album. I had no idea that it was written by Shamus Currie (keys/guitar/trombone/backing vocals), nor did I know that he sang so well. The trippy keyboards and Pink Floyd bluesy guitars sounded even better live. Then, in the spirit of great Canadian rock, they did a totally unexpected CSNY mashup of Almost Cut My Hair with Ewan on vocals, and it was magnificent.
As we were leaving the MTELUS, my friend asked if this was the best Sheepdogs performance I had ever seen, and I immediately said yes. It was also my fourth, and in all honesty, they just seem to be getting better and better. So if they do come back to Montreal, even in the winter, even if there’s a storm, I will definitely go.
Review & photos – Annette Aghazarian
Share this :
