The Sheepdogs – Cabaret Mile-End – 29.11.11
When the lights went low, the night opened with a macabre, scratchy sea-shanty known as “Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest.” Enter Hamilton, Ontario’s own Monster Truck, who stormed the stage and drove through their set with power – the kind of power and strength one associates with a steel-town like Hamilton. The dirty, bluesy-riff laden four-piece rockers wear their working class roots on their well worn sleeves and were full of piss and vinegar. Bassist and singer Jon Harvey demonstrated the kind of attitude you would expect to see from a hairy beast of bass player, right down to the tool box he taps his feet on. Guitarist Jeremy Widerman displayed some Angus Young-esque moves on the stage while ripping some deadly riffs for the melted faces in the crowd. Drummer Steve Kiely had great timing and looks like nothing would ever faze him. And keyboardist Brandon Bliss could have used some extra volume, but by the fourth track his presence was nonetheless felt and appreciated. A tight, cohesive unit who has recently joined arms as a band came, saw, and kicked ass. Just what you want out of a hard working rock n’ roll band.
Once the guys from Monster Truck removed their own gear (sigh, the life of working musicians), The Sheepdogs’ crew, tasseled leather jackets and all, set up the bands gear while the speakers pumped a healthy dose of the Band, the Beatles and some well appreciated soul music. After slogging it out for years on the Western circuit, the band recently won a contest earning themselves a deal with Atlantic Records and a Rolling Stone cover shot. As I stood stage left, my colleague Radu snapped some shots, and the aforementioned fan girls got their drink and dance on, somewhat to the dismay of the security guys. Their 70′s retro style and eagerness for the main act reverberated with the crowd who seemed to be pretty familiar with The Sheepdogs. After a stylish intro of one of my favourite Isaac Hayes tracks, the band was welcomed by an adoring crowd. First the checklist: Rickenbacker bass, check. Thunderbird and SG guitars, check. Long and shaggy hair, check – we got a revival on our hands people!
As the band harmoniously jammed through some of their songs like “Southern Dreaming” and “Who Do You Belong To?,” I started to wonder about these underdogs from Saskatoon. When it comes to rock n’ roll, my bread and butter is exactly the kind of music these guys live, write and play. The Allman Brothers, Humble Pie, The Stones, and even the more contemporary Black Crowes. But there didn’t seem to be any of the showy, macho, 70′s style individualism typical of their musical predecessors. The Sheepdogs stem from a small town on the Canadian plains and their attitude is exactly that – modest, slightly introverted but nonetheless personable. Instead of trying to be something they’re not, they focus on what’s important: the tunes. Their well crafted songs are delivered in a no-nonsense style and is the perfect antithesis for our trying times. Less flash, more substance. Their harmonies are tight, the rhythms are solid (but somewhat understated), and their personalities shine through when they’re working together rather than on individual parts. And what could be more Canadian than that? - Tim O’Connor
The Sheepdogs
Monster Truck
Photography by Radu Diaconu
