Bywater Call

Bywater Call’s show at the Guildhall, Gloucester, was a flawless night of soul, blues, musicianship, and heart; a triumphant night from a band on top of their game.

Toronto’s seven-piece powerhouse, returned to the UK for an eight-show tour. Joining them as a special guest was Dan Patlansky, the acclaimed South African singer-songwriter and guitarist, who brought his electrifying blues guitar playing to the stage.

Bywater Call’s growing list of accolades includes nominations for Entertainer of the Year and Best Female Vocalist at the Independent Blues and Maple Blues Awards. They’ve also received back-to-back nominations for International Artist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards.

Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.

The Southern soul, roots rock outfit is comprised of Meghan Parnell (vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums), Mike Meusel (bass), newest member, John Kervin (keys), Stephen Dyte (trumpet) and Julian Nalli (tenor sax).

The band’s music is an exploration of life’s highs and lows. From intimate ballads that lay bare the complexities of human emotion to electrifying anthems that demand to be played at full volume. Their back catalogue is a journey through the human experience.

From the moment they walked on stage, everyone knew they were in for something special and the Canadian rockers well and truly delivered with a dynamic fusion of roots rock and southern soul.

The night had started well with Dan Patlanky performing a wonderful 30-minute blues set that had got everyone in the mood. The critically acclaimed South African blues-rock guitarist put on a breathtaking live performance; an innovative one-man show packed with energy, musical dynamics, and jaw-dropping creativity.

Born in Johannesburg in 1981 Dan was nurtured on the medley of rock, blues, funk, soul, and jazz that he found in his parents record collection. He discovered the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan and decided that blues-rock was for him.

His latest album, ‘Movin’ On’ was ranked #3 Blues Rock Album of the Year by Blues Rock Review and showcases his continued evolution as an artist. It built on the success of his previous album ‘Shelter of Bones’.

The very respectful and attentive audience showed their appreciation of a wonderful set as Dan thanked the crowd and left the stage. I look forward to seeing more of this singer-songwriter and guitarist in the not-too-distant future. A special support act, Dan promised to bring his full band back next year. That is going to be a real treat.

Formed in 2017 and already decorated with Independent Blues and Maple Blues Award nominations, Bywater Call have built a reputation for soul-drenched blues, scorching musicianship, and songs written and sung with emotional weight.

Fronted by the commanding vocals of Meghan Parnell and driven by the fiery guitar work of Dave Barnes, they have been making waves in the global blues scene for a while.

The band launched into their openers ‘Talking Backwards’ and ‘As If ‘with tight, soulful precision, and it was instantly clear why Meghan is recognised as one of the finest blues and roots vocalists on the circuit.

Drummer Bruce McCarthy brings in the opening track with a rock-steady beat, joined in turn by bassist Meusel and keyboardist Kervin. Barnes faces off to trumpeter Stephen Dyte in a memorable jam. Then into ‘Sweet Maria’, with Barnes’ slide guitar wailing Southern comparisons whilst Kervin’s keys reverberate in honky-tonk.

Meghan’s vocals and lead guitarist Barnes’ playing were nothing short of breathtaking. Her voice soared and roared, a masterclass in emotional storytelling wrapped in blues grit and gospel fire. Everyone was rooted to the spot, spellbound by her gritty soul vocal.

There’s some rare alchemy going on here. It is not just about Meghan’s towering vocals and Dave Barnes’ significant dynamic guitar parts . They are part of a road-tested band with a vibrant horn section. They created a rich tapestry of sound that filled the room from wall to wall. The guitar lines were fiery but tasteful, the keys shimmering with vintage soul, and the rhythm section tight but bursting with groove. The horn section - trumpet and saxophone - brought swagger, warmth, and explosive energy.

The Gloucester faithful were impressed by a string of sparkling standout songs like “Hold Me Down, ‘‘Colours’, ‘Bring Me Down’ and the Stephen Stills’ cover ‘Love the One You’re With’ . Stills wrote the song after being inspired by the tag line — "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with" which was a frequent remark by musician Billy Preston.

‘Left Behind’ is offset with the brass section of Dyte and saxophonist Julian Nalli alternatively overlapping with the percussion secton.

The band continue with ‘Way to Go’, and ‘Ain’t No Friend of Mine’ which again showcases the quality of the musicianship.

‘Bring Me Down’ ends the main part of the show with Kervin’s keyboard notes wrapping around Parnell’s vocals before the swampy foot stomper ‘Everybody Knows’ starts the encore. This would have proven an emphatic set closer, but at the end of the show they perform ‘Holler’ and Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ in a frenetic, blistering finale.

Lyrically and musically, ‘Holler’ embraces uninhibited passion and embodies seedy motel rooms, dirty little secrets, and a woman who knows what she wants, unashamedly and without apology. This song is an infectious blend of catchy melodies, pulsating beats, and powerful, soaring vocals.

And with ‘Kashmir’ they display a gift of taking another band’s song and melding it into one of their own, such is the talent abounding.

They lit the fuse for what promises to be one of the most talked about bands at the moment; and a performance that Gloucester won’t forget anytime soon. Bywater Call is a hit band waiting to happen.