It had been a while since I found a band that I could really jive with, one that fit my criteria dead on. In a music world of trending trans, Dubstep, pop I am always on the search for a modern band with that old school rock feel. I’m looking for a little jam, some sliding guitar solos, a good dose of blues, and a touch of psychedelic. Tunes good to dance to, good to sit in the sun to, good to travel to. The Sheepdogs do deliver.
Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, The Sheepdogs themselves funded their first three albums and all their touring. On their bio they chalk their success up to “hard work and determination.”
They made the cover of Rolling Stone August 18, 2011 beating 15 other groups in the the magazine’s “Choose the Cover” competition. They are the first unsigned band to make the cover. In 2012 they met Patrick Carney from the Black Keys who produced their self titled album in 2012 and introduced them to the U.S. and the world.
I bought their third album today, Learn and Burn, released in 2010 and have been listening to it for the better part of the day. A few of their songs have really great cinema quality. Every since I started listening to them a few years ago, I’ve wanted to put them to a short film. Songs like “The One You Belong To,” “I Don’t Get By,” and “Learn and Burn” I envision would go perfectly to someone walking through NYC smoking passing the world by, or someone laying in the sun at the beach with intro credits rolling. It’s the kind of music that can make a simple visual look stunning, like Quentin Tarantino does surf music and gangsters.
They have a few videos out themselves: “I Don’t Know,” “The Way It Is,” and “Feeling Good” are all up the web. They’re sporting their grizzly beards, Ray Band shades, and rock and roll vest. “Feeling Good” is a stop animation video of the band. The four members are all action figures carting machine guns, knives, a chainsaw, and swords kicking some ninja ass in the jungle to save four damsels in distress with bundles of dynamite in their laps, also action figures. It’s nomimate for a JUNO award for Video of the Year.
Pandora pairs the band with The Black Keys, Jimi Hendrix, The White Stripes, and CAKE for some reason (that may have been an added variety). Regardless it’s a phenomenal station if you’re looking for rock and blues. They play some of the best festivals including Coachella, SXSW, and Banaroo.
They sound great on radio and on the album and they take a lot of pride in their live shows. Lead singer and guitarist Ewan Currie is quoted on their sites bio saying, “‘We want to make killer albums that people really want to listen to, but we also want to have a really reputable live show. When we come through town we want to be the hottest ticket there. Those two elements are what make a truly great rock and roll band.'”
Check them out, they have a great sound, a great vibe, and their real cool. They were in NYC last year for a night and they are touring through Canada for now; I’m hoping they’ll be back. In the meantime I’ll keep their album on to keep the mellow on and the good times rolling.The Sheepdogs:
Southern rock, rock and roll, boogie rock, blues rockEwan Currie- vocals and guitar
Leot Hanset- guitar
Ryan Gullen- bass
Sam Corbett- drums/percussion
Ewan Currie(started touring with them 2013- keyboards and tromboneDiscography
Trying to Grow (2007)
The Sheepdogs’ Big Stand (2008)
Learn and Burn (2010)
The Sheepdogs (2012)
Videography
“I Don’t Know”
“The Way It Is”
“Feeling Good”
Related Artists
The Black Keys
Alabama Shakes
Three Leggend Fox
Patrick Sweaney
Buffalo Killers
The Stone Foxes
Jimi Hendrix
