Bywater Call: Shepherd Review

Bywater Call is a seven-member band that hails from Toronto, Canada, and combines blues rock with roots rock and Southern soul. Meghan Parnell’s stellar vocals are showcased by the tight performances of Dave Barnes on slide guitar, bassist Mike Meusel, drummer Bruce McCarthy, John Kervin on keys, Stephen Dyte on trumpet, and Julian Nalli on tenor sax. Their music explores the undulations of life using everything from intimate ballads to electrifying anthems. Their music has been influenced by everyone from The Band and Otis Redding to Little Feat and the Tedeschi Trucks Band

Shepherd is Bywater Call’s third studio album, which comprises ten songs available worldwide on August 9, 2024. The album is a collection of ten original songs that explores the band’s musical roots through their own unique interpretation of a combination of genres. The band earned its chops playing nearly a hundred shows a year in Europe, the USA and Canada in 2023. Their Southern hard rocking sound could be compared to Tedeschi & Trucks, the Allman Brothers or Delaney & Bonnie and Friends.

Shepherd opens with “Everybody Knows” featuring Dave Barnes’ driving guitar intro setting the pace for an infectious rhythm that Meghan Parnell explodes out of with her stellar vocals singing “everybody knows the bed they sleep in.” Parnell’s vocals are a cross between Aretha Franklin and Lydia Pense of Cold Blood with the swagger of Tina Turner. Bywater Call’s drummer Bruce McCarthy recorded and mixed “Everybody Knows” at the “Beat Farm” in Toronto, Canada as the band’s fourth single of the year released ahead of Shepherd’s release. “Colours” is an ethereal sounding ballad once again featuring Parnell’s spellbinding vocals that are reminiscent of Patsy Cline embedded with an amazing blend of harmonizing instruments. Barnes’s dexterous performance on guitar combined with Parnell’s vocals and John Kervin’s keyboards drive the songs emotional development.

“Sweet Maria” is a mesmerizing upbeat New Orleans inspired tune with a honky tonk sound. The song features a strong rhythm section that sets the tone along with gritty guitar textures and a steady drumbeat. Once again Meghan’s standout lead vocals carry the song with her raw emotion and passionate delivery that draws the listener in.

“Where you been Sweet Maria?

Come on in where you been Sweet Maria?”

“Holler” is a haunting tune that was the band’s first single released in March 2024 from Shepherd. It opens with a haunting resonator guitar followed by Parnell’s ethereal sounding warble. The sound is pure foot stomping delta blues with Bruce McCarthy’s driving drums propelling Parnell’s ascending vocals. “For All We Know” opens with Barne’s gentle guitar intro along with Kervin’s keyboards reminiscent of Nicky Hopkins creating an inviting atmosphere while maintaining a moderate tempo. McCarthy’s drums and Meusel’s bass guitar provide the rhythm section’s steady beat while Meghan conveys the contemplative lyrics with emotionally intimate vulnerability.

“Sinking just beyond the doorway

We’ve got nothing to show

For all we know”

“Roll” was Bywater Call’s second single released in 2024 as a preview of their upcoming album release. It begins with a loping divergent beat that blossoms into a pull out all the stops passionate soul showdown. The cut fully utilizes its horn section along with Barnes’ blazing guitar accompanying Parnell’s stratospheric vocals. “Turn It Around” is a combination of a few genres including Dixieland jazz, country and roots rock with ample opportunity for Dyte and Nalli to make their musical contributions. McCarthy drives the beat with Barnes providing fills between Parnell’s driving vocals that belt out a lesson on love.

“More than that’s all I’m a-lookin’ at

Won’t you tie me up, hold me down”

“Now and Never” is a powerful and impacting song that bridges the gap between classic blues rock influences and modern musical sensibilities. The subject matter is about dysfunctional romantic relationships and once again opens with the driving rhythm section of McCarthy’s drums and Meusel’s bass guitar. Guitar embellishments are interspersed by Barnes while Parnell passionately delivered vocals capture the listener’s attention with their sense of urgency and determination. Driven by soulful funk, “As If” was Bywater Call’s third single released in 2024. The cut opens with Mike Meusel’s thumping bass guitar leading into Bruce McCarthy’s rhythmic drumming and Dave Barnes’ guitar peals accompanying Meghan Parnell’s stratosphere pummeling vocals.

The final cut on Shepherd is “Sign of Peace,” a New Orleans brass band tribute that features Christian Overton on trombone and Jay Burr on tuba. Once Parnell began singing about the sign of peace John Kervin’s driving honky tonk keyboards picked up the pace and led into a pull out all the stops explosive finale.

The Review 8.5/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Everybody Knows
– Colours
– Holler
– For All We Know
– Turn It Around

The Big Hit

– Everybody Knows