Artist:     Bywater Call

Album:     Bywater Call

Label:     Gypsy Soul Records

Release Date:     11.22.19

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The name comes from frequent trips that co-founders guitarist Dave Barnes and vocalist Meghan Parnell have made to the quiet Bywater section of New Orleans, near the French Quarter, a setting which seems to call them back often. Their sound of this seven-piece R&B, rock and soul outfit from Toronto comes from many places, all of them mighty friendly to my ear and is anything but quiet, except when they want it to be. Their seven-minute centerpiece, “Bring Me Down,” is sequenced perfectly to let you catch a breath after three barrelhouse openers.

You can hear them tipping their hats to those who came before them—Delany & Bonnie, Janis, The Band—all through their ten original songs, many that share familiar titles like “Walk On By,” but are totally original. All of the six fine players on bass, drums, guitar, organ, sax and trumpet contribute a strong musical bed for Parnell to jump on, and she has the pipes to jump on it hard. I have one small suggestion for their second outing— which I certainly hope they will do. I know they are recent additions, but they could turn up the horns a wee bit more in mix, as they are blasting away beautifully in perfect synch with what Bywater Call are all putting down.

—Ken Spooner