Meghan Parnell (vocals) and Dave Barnes (guitar) are the founding members of Bywater Call, a powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock band from Toronto, Canada. The band is completed by Bruce McCarthy on drums, Mike Meusel on bass, the newest member, John Kervin on keys, Stephen Dyte on trumpet and Julian Nalli on tenor sax.
Bywater is currently a UK Blues Award nominee for International Blues Artist of the Year. They have toured extensively in Europe, where shows have been praised by Dutch, German and UK media, with references to Meghan as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today.
Our magazine was lucky enough to talk to Meghan around the time of their 2023 UK tour (link below) so we grabbed the chance to check out the new album for you.
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 catalogue is a journey through the human experience, incorporating influences from the likes of The Band, The Wood Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, Sly and the Family Stone, among others.
It is great to see the album arrive, as Meghan told us in 2023, “the idea for us now is to continue to write and continue to experiment with recording. When we have a product we are happy with, we will release it as singles; if we gain enough, we will consider an album if we feel they fit together. The singles serve to keep the name out there and keep people interested. You have to feed the machine. The album is a keepsake, a collector’s album. There is still a place for physical ownership, and there are those who know how important merchandise is to a band. We want that product for them.”
With all this in mind, and as I am feeling fresh after a great family holiday away, here is my review of the new Bywater Call album for 2024.
The album is out on August 9th.
The review:
“Everybody Knows” is a great opener, with a really funky rock vibe and a fist-up chorus. What a cool vibe, and it almost reminded me of The Beatles, “Little Help From My Friends” at one brief moment. I loved the guitar work, the vocals, and the whole package on this one! This was the single, so you may have come across it already.
“Colours” in comparison is quieter, with a touch of country. It’s an acoustic piece with these powerful vocals layered on top. You never quite know with Bywater Call the sound that will come up next, and this is a dramatic and interesting gear shift from the opener. A little touch of the choral in some background singing is a nice touch too.
“Sweet Maria” comes in at 5.16 and is the longest track on the album. It returns to a funky type of strut, with less rock this time. It tells a tale and combines a vocal harmony with some cool instrumentalization. The track is full of confidence, and the band is well and truly in their groove.
“Holler” begins in the simplest of fashions before hitting one of the best grooves you will find outside of Nashville! The whole track builds up in a country rock style combo, you get up and dance around the room with this one. Damn good. I liked it a lot and I would say commercial radio would grab this one. A hit, and I know what I’m talking about!
“For All We Know” is a change of sound. It has a simple melody with some lovely instrument accompaniment, a little touch of piano I liked, along with some background vocals that were almost choral. In the last part of the song, it picks up speed and energy, a well polished track. “For All We Know” was the single released when we last spoke to Meghan in 2023. We noted its closeness to “Sweet Maria,” and she said that the tracks were less distant cousins, “more brother and sister. We are always in search of that sound, and we are always getting closer to it. With these songs, we are capturing a warmth and joy that we really want to embody.”
“Roll” is smooth, opening with a slow beat, as the narrative is of a lost nickel and dime! We have to learn to “let it roll” with those losses in life. It has that touch of the blues in this one—a bit of old Southern style with a nod toward Elvis.
“Turn it Around,” turns toward the wandering eye; it has an infectious groove and the range of instruments making the groove is great. It’s a strong album track that I am sure would play great live, I hope it’s on the setlist.
“Now and Never” opens with a cool drum sound, and the drums stay strong in the mix for this one. It is a track expressing plenty of joy, and those little instrument solos just take the place apart, they rock the joint, to coin a phrase!
“As If” drives the track with those cool, jazz-influenced drums and rhythm. There is plenty to enjoy with this one.
“Sign of Peace” finishes the album with some jazz from the old school. It takes me straight to Harlem and those heady days of the Jazz Age president (that was Harding to save you looking it up!). Who cares about prohibition? Kick your shoes off and dance the night away in a hoochie bar!
Overall: I’ve always liked Bywater Call and I will be out to catch them and review their October tour (details below). This album is an exciting montage of sound, superb vocals and powerful instrumentals, all crafted and blended into a range of musical styles. Very enjoyable or as they say in my part of the world, ‘purely belter!’
Standout tracks: “Everybody Knows,” “Holler,” and “Sign of Peace.”
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You can stream this album and more from Bywater Call here
By Lorraine Foley
