We’ve mentioned on several occasions about our strong desire to reconnect with many of our favorite Canadian artists/bands here in the post-lockdown era – having a lengthy list of names to cross off once the opportunity rolls around to catch a live show. We were fortunate to scratch Saskatoon, SK rockers The Sheepdogs from that list back in October 2022, when the band rolled into PA to perform a gig as part of their “Live and Outta Sight” tour – but nowhere in the rule book does it state that this is to be a one-and-done kind of thing…
Two years later and The Sheepdogs are touring the US once more – this time to coincide with the release of their latest EP, “Paradise Alone.” It is also worth noting that this EP marks the first official release to feature new full-time lead guitarist Ricky Paquette, who joined the band back in 2022 following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Bowskill. Once again, the band would make a tour stop here in PA, returning to Ardmore Music Hall in the Philadelphia suburbs – the very same venue we caught them two years ago – and the house was as packed as on that occasion too.
With a quick toggle of a flashlight from the stage crew to signal that everything was good to go, the opening of the venue’s rear doors resulted in a raucous response from the rock and roll loving crowd as the five band members made their way to the stage area: Ewan Currie (guitars/percussion/vocals), Ricky Paquette (guitars/vocals), Shamus Currie (keys/guitar/percussion/vocals), Ryan Gullen (bass/vocals), and Sam Corbett (drums/vocals).
Launching immediately into an uninterrupted one-two punch of “Find The Truth” and the popular hit “Downtown” (always love seeing Ryan’s extravagant front and center bass-work to kick of this tune), Ewan would address the room following this electrifying start to the show. “What’s up Ardmore, how’re you doing,” he asked. “It’s good to be back in Philly. It’s Friday night! It’s time to rock!” And ever a man of his word, Ewan and his bandmates would take the Ardmore faithful on an all-out tour across the band’s lengthy back catalogue of hits. From the breezy dueling guitar riffs on “Southern Dreaming” to the all-out vocal assault that is “How Late, How Long,” the band kept their collective feet firmly on the gas pedal all evening. Oh, and it’s always pleasurable when Ricky and Ewan offer their nod to Jessica via their extended guitar workouts during “I’m Gonna Be Myself” – ever respectful of those Allman Brothers influences that helped define their own sound.
Having performed “Let Me In,” one of the new EP tracks very early into the set, the band would naturally make some of their fresh pieces a focal point heading down the stretch. “We’re just out on the tail end of this tour, we call it the autumnal voyage tour, and we’re touring in support of our new record,” Ewan announced. “It’s called ‘Paradise Alone,’ and we’re gonna play a few songs from that record right now; we’re gonna take each and every one of your here for a ride…” Offering a trifecta of EP cuts – “Take Me For A Ride” (complete with classic 4/4-time rock riffs and a call-and-response moment), “My Baby,” and “Darlin’ Baby” – the second of these including an extended keyboard solo from Shamus and guitar moment from Ricky, turning a four-minute studio tune into a nine-minute epic jam-fest.
This is exactly what you sign up for when you choose to attend a Sheepdogs concert – discovering jams and re-imagined versions of their own tunes that you’ll never hear elsewhere. And it’s not just the music, it’s the visual elements too. Just how many drummers do you see stand up on their tom and stool to add hand percussion at times? Sam Corbett does (and he shone as always during his solo to close “I Don’t Know”). Or a keyboard player that switches with ease between keys, percussion, and rhythm guitar throughout a tune? Shamus Currie, anyone? Oh, and not only was this the first show we had been privy to a performance of “Roughrider ‘89” from their “Outta Sight” album, this was the also our first time witnessing Shamus rocking a mean ‘keytar’ solo center-stage (shame there was no opportunity to include his trombone on this given night).
And lest we forget the on-stage presence and super-70s persona that bassist Ryan Gullen brings – apart from Eli Abrams, can you name another with so much personality and and glam rock swagger that never falters? Maybe, but unlikely. What about the skills, showmanship, and bluesy riffs that lead guitarist Ricky Paquette brings? Yes, there are a ton of great guitarists out there, but this well-travelled French-Canadian rounds out the band’s sound with a certain degree of je ne sais quoi (his solo during “Scarborough Street Fight” in particular). And finally, how about the era-appropriate vocal style and wailing guitar skills that Ewan Currie always brings – his fret hand never straying too far from where the guitar body and neck meet, and always ready to duel with Paquette for that one-two electric twang assault – yet simultaneously the uneccentric frontman, happy to simply let his voice and lyrics shine in the spotlight in lieu of a typical brash rockstar ego.
Call them ‘retro’ or a ‘throwback’ band, there is no denying that The Sheepdogs have earned their reputation as a solid rock and roll outfit. And even with the slight directional shift found on this latest EP (most notably on “Darlin’ Baby,” where I sense some progression from their southern boogie roots towards more of a ‘The Eagles’ pop-country territory), this is a band that still delivers, that caters to the cravings of classic rock and roll purists everywhere. Another outstanding evening of music in Philly from a band that always exceed our expectations – come back soon, we insist! We’ve added the tour poster at the head of this paragraph – be sure to look and see if The Sheepdogs are passing through a town near you with their few remaining dates… No excuses, if so…
Set List:
- Find The Truth
- Downtown
- Let Me In
- Bad Lieutenant
- Southern Dreaming
- How Late, How Long
- I’ve Got A Hole Where My Heart Should Be
- HMS Buffalo
- I’m Gonna Be Myself
- Take Me For A Ride
- My Baby
- Darlin’ Baby
- Scarborough Street Fight
- I Don’t Know
- Nobody
Encore:
- Roughrider ‘89
- Feeling Good
Photo Credit: Tour Poster / Artist Website
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
