‘The Sault has always been really good to us,’ said Ryan Gullen, bassist with The Sheepdogs, ahead of Tuesday’s show at The Machine Shop
Although a variety of successful bands pass through town on cross-country tours, playing in Sault Ste. Marie is more of a homecoming for one member of The Sheepdogs.
Bassist Ryan Gullen said most of his extended family calls the Sault area home, and it’s somewhere he’s returned throughout his life – well before his band went on to record multiple platinum albums.
“We would play there back in the day to a handful of people, and I’d stay with my cousins,” he told SooToday.
“We’ve been coming to the Sault for almost 20 years at this point, and way back in the day we’d come and play at a venue called Loplops.”
This Tuesday, the rock band will return to the city, where they’re set to hit the stage at The Machine Shop for the final stop on their Out All Night Tour.
“I’m just excited to be back in the Sault. This is the last show of the tour, so we’re going to be leaving it all on the stage there,” Gullen said.
“The Sault has always been really good to us.”
The current tour comes on the heels of the band’s new album, Keep Out Of The Storm, a straight rock record released this winter – the group’s first in four years.
“It was the first album that we made after our founding drummer Sam (Corbett) left the band, so it was sort of an interesting one to tackle,” Gullen said.
“The approach of the record was just a collection of songs and more of a straight-ahead rock record that we put together over the course of numerous studio sessions last summer.”
Founded in 2004, Gullen said the band’s passion for music continues to shine.
“We just love doing what we do. It’s not really something that we have to dig too deep for,” he said.
“It’s always just been rooted in trying to make the music that we like and that we think people will like.”
Beyond making the music, Gullen said The Sheepdogs also love putting on a good show, and they go the extra mile to make it a memorable experience for fans.
Tuesday’s show will include a “good mix” from the band’s newest album and the hits they’ve recorded over the years.
“A concert can be a great place to go and just sort of forget what’s going on in the rest of the world or in your life or whatever,” he said.
“We love the escape of being on stage and performing for people, so we really focus on trying to make a concert an experience, and something that people can look forward to.”
Tickets for the upcoming concert are available here.