Review: Bywater Call – Shepherd

Self-release (August 9^th, 2024)

Reviewer: Peter Scallan

Despite the Southern soul/rock roots sound from Bywater Call, they actually hail from Toronto Canada. I have been hearing a lot about this band but not actually heard anything, so looking forward to this album, which is their third. The band are a seven piece, with a five-piece rock set up with guitar keys and a small horn section with sax and trumpet. So let’s see what they

They album opens with ‘Everybody Knows‘ with some neat bottleneck guitar and instantly geta Black Crowes vibe. However, when the vocals of Meghan Parnell kick that changes the complexion of the song completely. Giving off a serious country rock feel, she has superb voice, sounding like muscly Dolly Parton. Essentially a bluesy rocker, from the get-go everything is going on with guitar, keys, the horns and that voice! I am hooked right off the bat! Next up is ‘Colours‘ opening with acoustic guitar and what sounds like a lap steel guitar and vocal edge closer to the country feel and Parnell really flexes that muscle. With a half-time beat the song builds to a simple but very effective chorus with those horns providing some great counter melodies and texture. A real nice slow burner with a red-hot vocal. ‘Sweet Maria‘ opens with real funky keys and then builds into a soulful chorus with those horns and some tasteful guitar licks. There is also acapella section with backing vocals and Parnell scatting over the top and then thunders to the end. ‘Holler‘ opens with some country style steel guitar picking and country honk of a vocal before the drums coming hammering in with electric guitar and the vocal toughens up before the stomping chorus kicks in with the melody carried in full by that luscious lead vocal. The country feel continues with ‘For All We Know‘ with an opening of vocals, organ and acoustic guitar. Having an gospel/soul feel to it, with piano joining the ensemble the vocal continues to climb until a short lead guitar. A clever arrangement with a subtle chorus as such, the song breaks into a canter in the last verse to finish.

‘Roll‘ opens the second half of what has so far been a very entertaining first half. This is slow to mid-paced number in which the horn section provides some lovely emphasis and layers in the arrangement. The pace picks for the chorus and then drops into what is almost a shuffle. Opening with a riff that Billy Gibbons would be proud of, ‘Turn It Around‘ shuffles along nicely with a top-notch vocal performance and jogs through the chorus with a little pace before breaking back down in that grooving shuffle. Again the horns provide some delightful counter melodies and colour and texture in other parts and before you know it the song has come and gone in a flash with the horns duelling out the end. Next up is ‘Now and Forever‘ which moves back into a funky groove again as Parnell scats across the beat before a stellar chorus kicks in and lifts the song up before settling back into that groove. There is also a great middle eight section before the heading back to the chorus where it starts kick off with lead vocals, backing vocals and horns. As If maintains the funk, but more like a Zeppelinish hard-edged funky feel driven by bass and guitar a la James Brown. The vocals also have a slight off-the-wall feel in the verses but the chorus moves temporarily to a stomp but the funk returns. The song seems to end too soon so it is no surprise that is the shortest song on the album at 3 mins and 45 secs. We have reached the last song of the album and this is clearly signalled as we move into a horn-driven ‘Sign of Peace‘ which is more New Orleans than it is Southern rock. The melancholic opening with the horns belies the jiving jazz that transpires. You might think, it’s the obligatory number where the horn section gets to shine to keep them happy but this number is befitting of closing what is an outstanding album. Breaking into a more bluesy middle section with some great piano playing before charging into a rattling pacey end which for some reason reminded me of the Blues Brothers movie. Superb!

I have got to say, I am well impressed with this album. The variety of styles and grooves they incorporate into the album could easily have been eclectic. However, they manage to do it seamlessly. And as for the vocals of Meghan Parnell, I just need to see this lady sing the blues live – she swings, honk-tonks, croons and rocks effortlessly. Magnificent. Quite possibly my favourite album of this year so far and I doubt I will get anything to match it, never in my humble opinion!

They tour the UK from October 16 – 27^th. Album and tickets available from – www.bywatercall.com 

Tracklist:

Everybody Knows (3:53)

Colours (4:54)

Sweet Maria (5:16)

Holler (3:57)

For All We Know (4:05)

Roll (4:33)

Turn It Around (4:02)

Now And Never (4:02)

As If (3:45)

Sign Of Peace (5:07)