Bywater Call – Live – Oran Mor

Review By Darren McIntyre Images By Scott Anderson

Bywater Call are a 7 piece blues / rock / americana band from Toronto, Canada who originally formed in 2017 when Meghan Parnell formed this epic outfit with Dave Barnes. The band have gone from strength to strength since stepping onto their first stage in 2020 and have built their unique sound into the juggernaut that we see and hear before us today, they brought us their debut album Bywater Call in 2019, Remain in 2022 and they have just dropped their stunning new album Shepherd upon us. These 3 albums have given them the opportunity to tour 10 countries, 89 cities, 19 US States, 3 Canadian Provinces culminating in in 96 shows that have thrilled audiences far and wide.

The band have just kicked off their UK Tour and tonight they stop off for their first headline show in Glasgow @ Oran Mor, I was fortunate to catch up with Meghan before the show to chat all things music, life on the road and future plans and you can watch the video soon, the place is packed and the excitement is building as we await the arrival of this 7 piece ensemble to bring joy to a rather dreary, wet night in Glasgow. The house light dim as we await the band and you can feel the excitement build as Meghan & co get a real warm reception from this swelling crowd, Meghan bellows out Hello Glasgow as the crowd show their appreciation before we roll into –

Sweet Maria – The track kicks off with a smooth magnetic horn section as Stephen & Julian bring the Lousiana feel to this real blues assault of the senses as Meghan steps up to the mic and lets her vocals bring all kinds of hell to the fine folk of Glasgow tonight. The cool rhythm section is commanding the room with a cool punchy snare drum groove that brings a deep bass kick that just lets this track open and soar. Keys are littered throught the arrangement and bring a real honky tonk blues feel to this colossal piece as we feel the energy rising as Meghan gets us involved with a chorus that just brings us all together let me tell you, Dave is sliding away on guitar and really letting us all know what this colossal outfit are all about as he shreds away and really delivers a slick, clean groove that is wrapped in the mesmerising vocals of Meghan Parnell as she just allows us in to feel the blues tones that are just incredible, the place erupts with applause as we make this band welcome and just don’t want the groove to stop, next up is the awesome –

Bring It Back / Ties That Bind – A full on bass / snare drum beat let this track open as Meghan lets her vocals bring Glasgow alive with a real fist pumping tone that welcomes the horn section as the boys unleash their groove on us all tonight. The deep funking bassline is wrapping itself around this groover as we are watching something special tonight unfold as the boys just merge together and let us feel the intense tone, fluidity coming at us right now. The track changes direction as the band flow into the cool funking groove that just keeps giving and giving as Meghan lets her smooth, blues filled vocals wash over us and let this track take us to somewhere new, Dave is miles away as he strums on the chords and just lets us feel the fantastic tones that are pulsing right through the heart of Glasgow tonight as he sets about bringing a real blues infused solo that stops us in our tracks. The whole band are tight and gel together so well as they bounce off each other and let their musicianship do the talking as the place gets in the party mood with many of the crowd throwing some shapes and letting themselves cut loose as they feel the groove take over, as we try to recover from a real going over Meghan thanks us for coming out on a real dark, miserable, wet night in Glasgow as she says she has worn her most sparkly dress to brighten our night which get a huge cheer, we are treated to a sweet cool cover in the form of –

Love The One You’re With(Stephen Stills) – The track comes at us with a real meaty funk bassline as the slick guitar riffs wander freely throughb the intro as the band just bring it. Meghan thrills us with her flawless mesmerising vocals as this cover gets a real sweet makeover and we just settle into the funk groove that is flowing effortlessly through this epic track, the track changes pace as the rhythm section brings the groove and welcomes the trumpet & sax as they wrap their blues infused tones around us. The keys are coming through as they leave their stamp on this well thought out cover track as the sax just builds and builds as Meghan wanders around the stage and lets the tone unfold, the whole place is rocking as we just lose our shit and feel the warmth, intensity, and sheer groove grab us and just shake us free as Dve steps forward and lets his fingers do the talking as he unleashes a sweet, mellow solo that just leaves us cold with the sheer depth of the whole track as it builds and builds until the roof comes clean off of Oran Mor tonight, simply stunning, up next is the stunning –

For All We Know – Meghan steps forward and is really blown away by the reception herself & the boys are getting tonight so decides to drop the tempo a little as we step into a ballad of sorts. Bass kicks are filling the air as Meghan brings her epic tones to us tonight as the keys wrap themselves around this incredible track and let Dave loose with some mindbending licks that just allow this track to breathe, the tempo is incredible as the place is still and just watching the magic unfold in front of us. The tempo changes pace as snare drum punches come at us as the keys build and really let this blues assault grab us with both hands as Bywater Call turn up the heat and really bring the groove to us tonight, the place is sweating with sheer joy as Meghan & the boys shift through the gears and really deliver a slick, clean set that has us eating out of the palm of her hand, next up is –

Left Behind – The band break out and all come together at once as we get an infusion of brass, keys, rhythm, guitar and topped off with the colossal vocals that let this monster raise it’s head. This is a real mellow blues track that has all the right ingerients that sooth your soul with the gospel keys that just allow this track to tell it’s own story as the tempo changes pace a little and lets Mike step up and bring the colossal bassline wandering right through Glasgow tonight, the place is silent as Mike builds and builds with a soaring tempo laden groove that welcomes a cool meaty bass kick to really get the juices flowing. Dave steps forward and unleashes a real slick, crisp solo that is a real colossal tempo as he works the fretboard with ease as the boys come in with smatterings of Sax, Trumpet and the rhythm section that is commanding the room from the back wall, Meghan lets her soulful blues soaked vocals take this track to somewhere new as the place just settles into the groove that is being laid out forn us tonight as we just watch and don’t want tonight to end and that is a fact, as we gather ourselves Meghan says she wants to bring a little something to us tonight and by that she means –

Sunshine – This is a real funky groover that welcomes the brass section as it blows the doors off and lets the funky groove hit us full on as Dave shreds away and lets his fingers do the talking. There is a real soulful groove to this track as we get cowbell, cymbal taps and funk laden basslines that really let us feel the tone wander freely through the venue tonight, Dave steps up and volleys off sweet clean licks that are wrapped in the killer keys that follow. The whole place is just rocking as Meghan & the boys switch up another gear and really bring the funk that really shines through as the place dances along and really feels the energy oozing from the stage as the place is just building and building as we head towards the business end of the show which has been nothing short of spectacular, we are heading back in time as Meghan wants to let us witness what they were like in the beginning as we roll into –

Fortune – Dave steps forward and lets us feel a calm oozing guitar lick that ripples through Oran Mor as a pounding bass kick lets the rhythm section come to life as we feel the blues hit us. Meghan’s incredible vocals are hitting each and every person in the venue tonight and we are struck by the power, depth and direction that she posesses in her musical prowess, the horn section is coming through as trumpet tones linger through the arrangement as the keys are sprinkling their magic in this real thought provoking monster track that is just building and building as the band deliver a colossal composition that instantly directs you to another place as we just feel the pure musicality that has been delivered here tonight. The slick guitar licks are leading this track as we get epic keys that are wrapping themselves around this punchy blues filled masterpiece that is just incredible as the crowd shows their appreciation as we move onto –

Holler / Kashmir – Dave brings the track to life with a sweet clean guitar pick that allows Meghan to bring her booming blues soaked vocals to this incredible track as the pounding bass kicks let us feel the rhythm section in all it’s glory. The track bursts into life with a real killer snare drum beat as Dave slides away on the guitar to let this soaring beast leave it’s mark as we get down and dirty with this incredible band as they really show us what they are made of, the crowd are clapping with Meghan as we groove along with her and the boys as sweet brass tones drop in and really give this track depth and bags of attitude as the tone changes pace a little as the track morphs into the iconic Kashmir which is a real smart change indirection. The gritty rocking groove is hitting us with a slick clean guitar riff that is being accompanied by a pounding rhythm section that is kicking in the doors with it’s intense tone that is equally matched by the soaring vocals that Meghan is bringing to the party tonight, the sweet clean guitar licks are filling every corner of this iconic venue as we roll back the years and let the classy keys work their magic as Meghan & the boys go rogue with this killer rendition that just pops, next up comes –

Everybody Knows – We come into full on rocking blues mode as Meghan lets off the fireworks as her colossal vocals punch us straight in the face as this foot stomping rock blues track leaves it’s mark. The rhythm section is coming at us with a punchy snare drum beat as the bass kicks deliver a real grooving tone that just builds and builds as the horn section leans in and brings a crisp, uptempo feel that just lets us watch this incredible outfit deliver a potential show of the year for me( I know I have not been to many this year but still) but this band are something special as they have a real blues, americana blend that just works. The piano tones are lingering as the whole band beefs up the tone with a real healthy groove that just allows us to throw some shapes and really feel the energy, attitude and rawness from this killer outfit that has been nothing short of extrordinary let me tell you, Meghan gets us involved as we clap along and really let the musicality take us to the next level as the band just deliver, we roll into the last track of the evening as Meghan thanks us for coming out and watching them do their thing –

As If – The band rocks up with a real funky groove laden tone as we feel the energy pouring from the stage as the final track is laid before us and boy is is a doozie. The brass section is coming at us with all it has as we feel the funk hit us and the rhythm section brings the heat with snare drum punches, bass kicks and cymbal crashes that really let this track breathe, Meghan lets her incredible vocals bring to gig to a real high point as she struts around the stage and watches the crowd follow her every move as the boys add their own personal touches to tonight’s shenanigan’s. Dave comes in with a sweet clean guitar riff that works so well in this blues eruption that is just incredible as we are witnessing something special tonight and for those who missed it shame on you, the place is rocking with everyone feeling the love oozing from each musician as they just leave their heart on the stage as we finish with a flourish as the place hollers loudly and does not want tonight’s show to finish and I am one of those.

So about last night.

Bywater Call –

Meghan Parnell – Vocals

Dave Barnes – Guitar

Mike Meusel – Bass

John Kervin – Keys

Stephen Dyte – Trumpet

Julian Nalli – Tenor Sax

Bruce McCarthy – Drums

Setlist –

Sweet Maria

Bring It Back / Ties That Bind