When I was growing up, my parents were pretty strict. The thing they were most strict about was music. Until I was 16, I wasn’t allowed to buy music, and I wasn’t allowed to watch MuchMusic. The summer I turned 16 I had a job. I had my own money. And I was living away from home. In my infinite wisdom, I went to the only record shop in the city town community I was in, and bought Evil Empire. I had managed to sneak in some music video time while my parents were out one night and heard Bulls on Parade. My little mind was blown. I listened to it non-stop for a long time. I love all of the Rage albums, but Evil Empire was the biggest impact for me. It was heavy, and funky, and it was the album with the most rap as far as I remember. I listened to it so much, certain phrases will trigger a song on repeat for hours.

Revisit this. Do yourself a favour. The Bulls are on Parade.

There’s something about getting to see a band live. Some bands can win you over with the live show. Some bands can cement a relationship with their live show. Still others can lose a lot of fans with their live show.

A recent purge of my inbox brought me to an email about The Sheepdogs. I was feeling a little more frisky than usual, so I downloaded the free mp3 included and read through their upcoming tour dates. The Sheepdogs are 4 men of various stages of facial hair from ‘Toon town, in Saskatchewan. They specialize in a very well done brand of 70’s style rock and roll. To be truthful, it’s nothing you’ve never heard before. If you heard The Sheepdogs on local classic rock radio in between The Doobie Brothers and The Guess Who, you’d never realize they were young whippersnappers. It’s a good record, clean and polished, and tight as all get out.

Their live show is where the get you. They were making a swing through Moncton Rock City so I made a trek to the old Plan B lounge. What I found were four dudes who while remaining true to the structure of their songs, made it just dirty enough to stand out. Professional through and through these guys put on a seriously gritty show despite only 3 people there to see them, the rest being there because the venue sold beer and had no cover charge.

I hope these guys decide to make their way to these parts again, and I hope next time they can have a local opener to draw some fans out for them! Check out the Sheepdogs and come see them with me next time they come to Moncton.

myspace

The Dojo Workhorse – Weapons Grade Romantic

Whether you’re a big music person or not, music engrains itself into your life. Songs you hear in passing, on tv, or at the mall, remind you of someplace, or something, or most often someone. If you’re a big music person, some albums, or songs become part of daily or weekly routine. I know if I’m having a bad day, a quick run through “Bombs Over Baghdad” by Outkast sets me straight in no time. Daily listens to “O” by Damien Rice, and Cursive’s “Domestica” both got me through my big heartbreak.

Now, as a (very) amateur critic, I listen to a lot of music, and there are some records come through that, while they’re great, don’t become part of that routine, or part of my life. Two records lately have. First, was the new The Dudes record. I reviewed it a while back. It’s fantastic. I still listen to it at least 5 times a week. But Dan Vacon has put out a side project record. The Dojo Workhorse is the exact opposite of a Dudes record. It’s not as heavy. It’s not as boisterous. One person described the gap as the Dudes being the party record, and the Dojo Workhorse being the hangover record.

Vacon touches on some things on Weapon’s Grade Romantic that everybody goes through, but talks about it with some wit, and some excellent wordplay. “Ohio” is my favourite example of that where he opens the song with;

My sweet Angel
If you’re near me
Spread your wings
and get us the F out of here

He’s a clever man with razor sharp words, and a voice that’s more R&B than R&R, but he’s managed to make it work. This record sits in my car. If I’m not listening to Fisher Price Little People, I’m listening to Weapon’s Grade Romantic. While I drive to the grocery store to get diapers.

myspace