The Sheepdogs stop in Montreal for their Keep Out of the Storm Tour

The Sheepdogs are bringing back the 70s. The Saskatoon group brought the Keep Out of the Storm tour to Montreal's MTelus on their first return to the city since their previous tour in 2022.

Opening the show was Surf Hat, a denim-sporting psych-surf rock band from Squamish, B.C. Propped with a harmonica, lead singer Jon Allan enamoured the growing crowd with a strong vocal performance, while keys player Riley Voth spun on his seat and balanced a tambourine on his head. More experience will undoubtedly refine their presence, but Surf Hat’s unique sound and whimsical choreo certainly warmed up the audience and lifted spirits for the main act.

The floor was packed by 9 p.m., and Gatineau-raised Ricky Paquette was the star of the evening. “Ricky!” was shouted by fans throughout the performance as he swapped between a Gibson 335 Red, a Les Paul that was heavier than himself, an Explorer and finally an electrifying Firebird. Signing his first record deal at 12 years old, this “guitar-ripping kid” has been making waves in the blues scene since his days with Montréal artist Angel Forrest all the way to last night with The Sheepdogs, where he brought all of his love and talent to the stage.

With a Saskatchewan flag (curated generously from Shamus Currie’s basement) proudly hanging at the corner of the stage, the Sheepdogs opened strongly with "I’m Gonna’ Be Myself" from their 2015 album Future Nostalgia.

It’s not surprising that The Sheepdogs were the first unsigned band to grace the cover of The Rolling Stone back in 2011 and have since won four Juno awards. Each song has its own personality, and the band’s experience and maturity packed into a cohesive performance that kept the momentum going and the crowd stomping their feet. Their rock can be heard in their memorable guitar riffs that transport you back in time, while their blues can be found in Ewan Currie’s deep, raw vocals that invite you to listen to their stories. In what appeared to be a quintessential Allman Brother’s tribute, Ewan and Paquette took the centrestage for a crowd-pleasing double guitar duet during "Bad Lieutenant."

Halfway through their set and after several enthralling solos by Paquette, organ player Shamus Currie took the spotlight when performing his self-written song The Owl from their new album. Under blue lights, the crowd swayed to Currie's dreamy and psychedelic melody, which provided both a breather between energetic hits and the glue to their overall performance.

"Take Me for a Ride" from their 2024 EP brought the audience back to life with a roar, while Ewan expertly commanded the crowd to sing along.

The crowd itself was diverse, with older folks enjoying music that sounded like it was from the good ol’ days and young music lovers appreciating the excellence that Canadian bands like The Sheepdogs have to offer.

As the show picked back up, The Sheepdogs performed what everybody had been waiting for: "Feeling Good" (“Who’s feeling GOOOOD?” Ewan asked the excited audience) and "I Don’t Know."

The Sheepdogs have a way of holding your hand and guiding you through their well-designed set, leaving you with admiration for both their professionalism and personal touch.

By the time the group raised their glasses and the lights dimmed at the end of the set, Montreal made sure The Sheepdogs got the love and cheer they deserved.