The Sheepdogs 

Live-Bewertungen

• The Sheepdogs

  The Sheepdogs - The Garage, London- 19/06/19

  I first saw these guys when they supported Rival Sons earlier this year. They were certainly not going to go unnoticed on that occasion as they were all dressed as fairly camp cowboys. I was certainly impressed enough to catch a full set from them upon their return to London.

  They all hail from Saskatoon, Canada but you could be forgiven for assuming they were born and bred in the southern states of the USA. Ewan Currie is a formidable front man on vocals and guitar, whilst Ewan is calm and controlled, Jimmy Bowskill counters this and gives the impression he is fighting with his guitar. Ryan Gullen is an extremely animated bass man and is a blur for much of the gig behind his lengthly locks with his partner in crime, Sam Corbett complimenting him well on on Drums. Shamus Currie, Ewan’s brother, completes the line up on Keyboards, trombone and guitar.

  The band was welcomed to the stage, no flamboyant costumes this time around, and they settle straight into a Black Crowes style riff for the opener ‘Who?’, and this sets the tone for the next 105 minutes. This is followed by the up tempo sad song ‘I’ve Got A Hole Where My Heart Should Be’. The tempo lowers ever so slightly for ‘Bad Lieutenant’ from the ‘Future Nostalgia’ album before ‘Downtown’ from the same album takes us back to nostalgic Height Asbury in the early 70s. ‘Right On’ has a ‘Mr. Big’ bass line running through it and Ewan Currie’s vocal manages to blend homage to The Doors, Steppenwolf, Lynyrd Skynyrd and even the Beatles. ‘Southern Dreaming’ on the other hand is laid back and could well have been written by the Allman Brothers.

  ‘Cool Down’ is a great band number with Shamus Currie’s soulful keyboards throughout, his brother Ewan duelling with the impressive Jimmy Bowskill on guitar and the bass and drums of Ryan Gullen and Sam Corbett respectively bouncing off each other. This was one of those numbers you never tire of hearing and would be happy were it to continue ad-infinitum but instead segues into the instrumental ‘Kiss The Brass Ring’. Sounds a bit rude but in the absence of a lyric who knows?

  Three songs about their Canadian homeland, ’The Bailieboro Turnaround’, ‘Up In Canada’ and ‘H.M.S. Buffalo’ slowed things down a notch before ramping things up again for ’I’m Gonna Be Myself’. A pedal steel guitar was brought on stage and Jimmy Bowskill sat behind it and the band gave us the very country sound of ‘Let It Roll’. The pedal steel had Jimmy’s moniker etched into it so no mistaking who was going to take his position behind it. Another new instrument was introduced to the proceedings when Ewan and Shamus switched positions with Ewan on keyboard duty whilst Shamus showed he could certainly multi task and picked up the trombone for ‘I Ain’t Cool’ and ’Help Us All’.

  This band has obviously had a similar education to many of us old hippies and unashamedly draws on the early seventies southern rock influences for much of its self penned material and no more so than ‘How Late, How Long’ and ‘Feeling Good’. ’I Don’t Know’ brings the main set to a close but there is no way these guys were going to be allowed to leave the building without indulging the very appreciative audience with an encore or two. ‘Nobody’ from their latest 2018 release ‘Changing Colours’, was a popular choice. The official video of this release is well worth checking out on YouTube as it is a take on The Blues Brothers playing the seedy joint behind a wire mesh. No need for protection on this night as the entire audience was in tune with the band and they followed this and brought this excellent gig to a close with what they referred to as a homage song, ‘Ramblin’ Man’, if you closed your eyes you were transported back to the Fillmore East in 1971, it really was that good.

  The Sheepdogs only played one cover all night and although they may not yet be on everyone’s radar they are worthy of serious attention as they have the ability to take you back to the 70s with the many references to that golden era throughout their set.

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  von philhonley

• Wednesday 11h April. The Lexington, London, The Sheepdogs, Hailing from Saskatoon, yes that really is a place, it’s in Canada, the five piece seventies country rockers come up on stage, full nudie suits with Jimmy Bowskill bedecked in a canary yellow assemble with red tassels leading the way with leader of the band Ewan Currie in a slightly more sombre number.

  Over here in support of their new album ‘Changing Colours’ they band straight into ‘I’ve got a hole where my heart should be’ track 2 of said album. There follows a blistering twenty odd song set of perfect 3 minute country rockin tunes. Nothing outstays its welcome as they rattle through most of the new album and assorted oldies from their back catalogue.

  Its high tempo stuff and there is little time to draw breath before we are launched straight back into another storming track. The band are fine musicians with multi instrumentalists within their ranks as we add pedal steel and trombone to the usual backdrop of lead, rhythm, organ, bass and drums.

  I am coming quite late to the Sheepdogs having only been aware of them for a couple of years but clearly word has got round at a sold out Lexington, still the best small venue in London. The stars aligned tonight with a great band, good sound and the audience being up for it. There’s a good bit of banter when each member of the band is name checked and even the roadie, ‘Pooch’, got a mention which led to a lot of terrace chanting for him.

  We blast through the best part of two hours and musically they really are a blackbird of a band collecting riffs and influences throughout with shades of Skynyrd, the Allmans, Gram, even the great Canadian rock band Triumph taking in straight country, southern boogie, Laurel Canyon rock amongst others. But they do it all in their own style and pull it off handsomely.

  Highlights for me include opening track from the new album ‘Nobody’ and ‘Bad Lieutenant’ and ‘Downtown’ from ‘Future Nostalgia’ with the night ending with a great version of the Allman’s ‘Ramblin Man’

  A thoroughly enjoyable evening of great feel good music.Till the next time keep on country rockin’ y’all

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  von garyw66

• I heard The Sheepdogs referred to as a ‘boogie rock’ band, and this encompasses their music entirely. The Canadian quartet won a competition to be on the front of the Rolling Stones magazine, and as the winners, were the first unsigned band to ever appear on the cover. This venture gave them much publicity, and was a great platform from which they were able to push their music to success. Since 2011, the band have won multiple prestigious musical awards, all extremely well deserved.

  I was excited, if a little apprehensive to see The Sheepdogs live. I am such a fan of their recordings, that I was worried that their performance wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! From the moment they came out on stage, I knew that I had made the right decision choosing the gig for my Friday night. The show was brilliant from start to finish. Ewan Currie has the most incredible voice, and his constant dedication to the vocals for the entire 90 minutes didn’t waver once. It is evident from their tight harmonies and instrumental interaction with each other, that they have been playing together for some time, and rather than the sound becoming stale, the ensemble flourish from their years of practice. The whole event was 100% feel good, with the band showing their appreciation to the fans, whilst the crowd got involved singing back their favourite tracks. Notably, when they played The Way it Is, they encouraged us to all sing along, offering out the microphone to the audience. It was great fun, and really makes a difference to the gig experience when you can tell how much the musicians are enjoying pleasing their fans.

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  von yazhow

• Monday 5th November, the Borderline, London, the Sheepdogs. It’s the second time this year for me seeing these Canadian country rockers. There is little more that I can add to my review of them earlier this year in the Lexington found here rocking-wolves-in-sheeps-clothing. The suits were different but just as shiny, the music was just the same and just as good and the venue was just as packed.

  These musical magpies that wear their influences on their sleeves picking the best bits from the great seventies country and rock acts have found the perfect blend and coupled with their superb musicianship, four and sometimes five part harmonies deliver a tour de force of feel good music.

  Thanks you Sheepdogs for another great time and until the next time keep on southern fried country rockin y’all

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  von garyw66

• In a world where all music sounds the same, these guys bring a lot of good old fashioned rock and roll. Original music and unique sound, but keeping within the class of vintage rock. They would fit in perfectly 40 years ago with the likes of CCR or the Allman Brothers. Young and old can appreciate their musical skill. They sound almost identical live to their studio albums which tells me they don't just phone it in with computer enhancement. The Sheepdogs are the real deal.

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  von alec-stubbs

• Excellent performance.Every band member is so talented. Their original music rockin, They captivated the audience which was a packed house. I will continue to follow this Sheepdogs and catch another show next time they come to Denver.

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  von luv2workout777

• Just saw these guys preform at SXSW 2015, and it was an amazing show! they are a really great band with a very "groovy" sound. I can't wait for these guys to come back to Austin and I can't wait for their next album!

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  von reed-kartye

• Amazing even better live then I could have hoped. They are such a tight band and really love their fans. The talents of this band are only beginning

  I think up in Canada should be new national anthem

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  von cive-lucas

• AWESOME!!!! 3 hour show with a good opening act (Beat Cops), house filled to capacity. London Music Hall is my favourite venue to see a concert. Would love to hear them in an accoustic show

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  von JimBits

• Perfect concert.

  The Sheepdogs are amazing.

  This was the 3rd time I've seen them live, they seem to get better every time. Keep it up, the new album is fantastic!

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  von shane-moldrup