The Sheepdogs and The Good Water, Actress and Bishop, Birmingham - review

That's what Birmingham-based The Good Water and Canadian stars The Sheepdogs treated the audience to at the Actress & Bishop.

The place was heaving but it was one of those nights where no-one really noticed because the music and stage craft was that good.

The bands have been touring the UK, with The Good Water supporting The Sheepdogs, and there was plenty of mutual respect towards each other in Birmingham for their penultimate gig. Both bands took time to pay homage to their fellow musicians.

After playing Dublin, Leeds, Cardiff and Bristol, Birmingham was their fifth gig in a week but neither showed any rustiness.

Having seen The Good Water play on numerous occasions, Friday night was one of the most special – and it was great to see plenty of new faces nodding in appreciation as they listened to their psychedelic-pop infused rock for the first time.

Opening with The Sun, it immediately grabbed everyone’s attention, which was followed by Colours. Both are being recorded as we speak and it seems the audience really enjoyed both tracks,

The band has recently released Tell Me as a single with a supporting video, which has received praise far and wide.

The simple, opening riff, complemented by a standard drum beat and rock organ sound sets it up nicely for a very catchy chorus.

As the song progresses, it gets more and more intricate, which is how and why their songs just work.

The band is so tight, they make very difficult time signatures look very easy – but it’s not.

After lead vocalist and guitarist, Rob Clements, from Redditch, and drummer and backing singer Tom Fisher, from Yardley Wood, added Great Barr-based keyboard player Stuart Webb last year, it has given their music another dimension.

Man Said, another previously released single, followed. It contains another catchy chorus, lovely harmonies and a seriously-heavy and driving riff.

One of the highlights of the set, however, was Breadcrumbs, again another track currently being recorded.

With next to no lyrics, it's just the music that takes the audience's breath away.

All three band members take it in turns to take centre stage – but it’s not any of those pretentious solos that go on for an hour, this is just simply three top musicians having a serious jam.

See Your Light, which has also been released as a single and video, followed and then Love, which saw the audience chanting back at the band the chorus, ‘Oh, love is coming’.

There was plenty of love in the room for The Good Water as the end of their set neared but there was still time for Everything Is, which will also be released soon. They left the stage to cheers and roars.

If you fancy catching The Good Water, they are back in Brum supporting Les Big Byrd at the Dark Horse, in Moseley, on November 15. Doors open 8pm and entry is free.

It appeared The Sheepdogs would have a tough act to follow but when they took to the stage and they simply blew everyone away.

It was the first time I’d seen the Canadians in action but from the first note their lively, loud and all-out rock ‘n’ roll performance was awesome.

They have their own unique sound but I kept feeling The Eagles were playing in front of my very eyes, probably because the guitar duets really stole the show.

Soloing in harmony, playing on their knees in front of their passionate fan base, the contrast of lead singer’s laid back plucking, to lead guitarist’s wild, full-on guitar slashing, made from a superb live show. All the band members were on top of their game.

I decided to go in blind and not listen to any of their songs online before the show.

With no idea what to expect, it’s safe to say I would highly recommend catching one of their shows when they tour the UK again.

Cool Down was a lovely, mellow, laid back country/bluesy number where the lead singer's voice shone from the opening chord. And the harmonies and solos were also brilliant – especially the keyboard solo.

“I’ve got the dead man’s eyes and I’ve had enough,” go the lyrics. Well, we hadn’t had enough and Southern Dreaming again kicked off with more of that amazing double guitar effect.

It was slightly rawer than Cool Down but the core of it again was all about the solos, guitar picking and harmonies supplied by the entire band.

Up In Canada is a homage, of course, to their homeland. It has a slightly more country-sounding edge to it. I felt we should be paying homage to Canada ourselves for producing such a great band.

I’m Gonna Be Myself was a much more out-and-out rock number. The lyrics are, as you’d expect, about living the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, looking out ‘for your brothers’ and living life your own.

I Ain’t Cool was a show-stealer. As soon as you see the trombone being produced, it immediately sparks your attention.

More of that country-style slide guitar returned but it was the organ/keyboard that won the audience over.

The Sheepdogs have a strong following over here in the UK and it came as no surprise their set was a lengthy one, including their encore, which included Ramblin’ Man, a cover of The Allman Brothers Band. It was a track where they could really let loose.

“Lord, I was born a family man,” boomed the lyrics. It seemed the majority of the crowd had heard The Sheepdogs perform this song before and with fans singing and dancing a jig on the sold out Actress & Bishop, it was the perfect way to end an wonderful night of live rock music.

The Sheepdogs and The Good Water finish their UK tour with another sell out show tonight (NOV 5) at Borderline, in London.