into one of the greatest bands in the world.” – Blues Matters
“Meghan Parnell’s vocals tear into you from the outset with Everybody Knows. It immediately lets you know why many in the European music media regard her as one the best blues and roots female vocalists.” – At The Barrier
“Shepherd is magnificent. It’s roots rock mixed with everything else, with so much crossover appeal it almost defies description.” – Rock N Load
Canadian roots, rock, and soul band Bywater Call release their highly anticipated third studio album Shepherd on August 9th. The album is available on CD, vinyl, and digital via www.bywatercall.com.
Shepherd features a captivating mix of 10 original songs, showcasing the bands continual exploration, experimentation, and reach beyond the boundaries of their genre, further developing their own unique voice. The new music shows their growth, while still paying tribute to their historical and contemporary influences.
Packed with ripping rock tunes, quirky off-beat numbers, and beautiful ballads, the upcoming album Shepherd is exuberant, rootsy, funky, joyful, and heartbreaking all at once.
At its core, this album celebrates, and reflects the human experience with all its highs and lows: love, passion, regret, patience, resilience, reconciliation, anger, hardship. This album will truly take the listener on a remarkable journey.
Shepherd is the Bywater Call’s first fully self-produced, self-recorded album and self-released with the help of Continental Record Services in Europe.
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.
“Shepherd” has already begun to garner praise in the music community:
“Shepherd features ten track of soulful, powerful blues that
reveals new facets on repeated listens.” – Blues In Britain
“Bywater Call has crafted an auditory masterpiece that sets them shoulder-to-shoulder with the greats in this expansive genre. This Canadian ensemble harmoniously melds the roots of jazz-rock with the depth of the blues, the spirit of soul, and the raw authenticity of Americaine.” – The Classic Rock Podcast
“Shepherd features ten original songs that exemplify the band’s ongoing
musical endeavor. They stretch the confines of their roots-rock ‘n’ soul to further
establish their own distinctive personality.” – Raw Ramp
To celebrate the release of the album, the band is releasing an official video for the powerful ballad “Colours.” Filmed as a single shot in the slow-motion style of Coldplay’s “Yellow” by Zack Murray of Lightning House Media – the video reflects the dreamy raw emotion of the song.
“Colours” tells the story of a lover desperately holding onto an ending relationship. It’s about coming to terms with the inevitable feeling of loss and heartbreak, while remembering the path that brought them to their current state. In solitude, mind racing, she thinks over loss, how such a love consumed her life, and begins bargaining with her unrequited love; “Leave me a liar as long as the truth sets you free, keep me chained in your prison, as long as it holds you to me.”
“The song mixes lush and spacey ambience, alongside explosive hits, as our protagonist wrestles with her inner turmoil” says Bywater Call’s guitarist, Dave Barnes.
Bywater Call were UK Blues Award nominated for International Blues Artist of the year alongside winners Larkin Poe. They have toured extensively in Europe where shows have been praised by media, with references to Meghan as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today.
The band has been busy. In 2023 alone, they played a total of 96 shows in 10 countries, 89 cities, 19 US states and 3 Canadian provinces, including Joe Bonamassa’s third Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean Cruise.
In October 2024, they will headline their second UK tour. Dates and details at www.bywatercall.com
SHEPHERD – ALBUM TRACK LISTING
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)
“Shepherd’s blend of rock’n’roll, blues and Southern soul is infectious.” – R’N’R
“Imagine this: it’s Mardi Gras Night in heaven. The band assembles on stage. There is Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Lowell George, Sly Stone, Dr. John, Robbie Robertson and The Memphis Horns. This is what Bywater Call sounds like on their third album.” – Bluestown Music
“Everything about this album oozes class… It’s the sort of record and the kind of music you don’t think people make anymore, and you miss it … It’s nothing short of superb.”
– Fireworks
ALBUM CREDITS
Bywater Call:
Meghan Parnell – Lead Vocals
Dave Barnes – Guitars
Stephen Dyte – Trumpet and Valve Trombone
John Kervin – Keyboards, Background Vocals
Bruce McCarthy – Drums and Percussion
Mike Meusel – Bass Guitar, Background Vocals
Julian Nalli – Saxophones
Produced by: Bywater Call
