The Sheepdogs: classic rock in modern time
Rock and roll is still alive and well in Canada.
The Sheepdogs’ lead Ewan Currie stated at Club One on March 15 that he wasn’t sure that rock and roll would be so well received in 2018 — there was no need to doubt it, as evidenced by the enthusiasm of the gathered crowd.
Local rockers The Novaks set the mood for the Canadian giants, delivering a hard rockin’ set to the thirsty rock and roll fans.
The Novaks were given little space on the big stage, drummer Elliott Dicks’ kit crammed in in front of the headliner’s drums. The tight quarters weren’t unfamiliar to this rock band, who have played much smaller St. John’s stages over the years and have played this same stage before.
The local band launched into their opening track, “I’ll Give You A Ring,” a number from their 2005 self-titled album. The Novaks jumped around their discography, while focusing on their 2016 album, “Eager Power Gentle Fury.”
Halfway through the set, I was thankful for my ear plugs. Club One is a consistently loud venue, and The Novaks short but punchy rock songs reverberated throughout the place.
Headliners The Sheepdogs hit the stage at 10:15, after a crew of sound techs checked the many instruments the five-piece band would incorporate into their lengthy set.
Playing under a giant marquee sign displaying the band’s name, The Sheepdogs rode a wave of applause onto the stage.
Having never seen The Sheepdogs before, and only having heard their radio hits, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I witnessed was nothing short of awesome — and I don’t use this powerful word lightly in print.
Decked out in ’70s-esque era clothing, the band appeared to have travelled not from their homeland of Saskatoon, Sask., but from another decade. This look, paired with their vintage rock sound, not only appealed to me, but was deeply interesting, as the majority of the crowd were young enough to consider all of the band’s probable influences as “classic rock.”
This sound works for The Sheepdogs, who channel the vocal power of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, the keyboard skills of Deep Purple’s Jon Lord, with sizzling-hot guitar solos that show off the band’s truly remarkable musicianship.
This is all filtered through a deep appreciation of Southern rock and blues rock, rounded out with a dash of country folk.
The marquee sign incorporated into the well-planned light show, The Sheepdogs blew through a 19-song set, the opening licks of nearly every track met with an intense outpouring of support from the fans.
The boys switched instruments throughout, this constant rotation, adding an element of surprise to the show. At one point, Ewan Currie took a seat at the keyboard, his brother Shamus Currie picking up a trombone. Jimmy Bowskill traded his guitar for a violin for “Waiting for the Morning to Come,” later swapping that out for a pedal lap steel for “Let It Roll.”
After a intense and sweaty set, the band returned for a three song encore. For their final track, The Sheepdogs were joined by Arkells’ frontman Max Kerman for a cover of Allman Brothers Band’s “Ramblin’ Man” — a very happy surprise for all in attendance, including me.
I went into the venue unfamiliar with The Sheepdogs, and after last night’s show, I definitely plan to familiarize myself with more material.