‘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<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Bassist Ryan Gullen said most of his extended family calls the Sault area home, and it\u2019s somewhere he\u2019s returned throughout his life \u2013 well before his band went on to record multiple platinum albums.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would play there back in the day to a handful of people, and I’d stay with my cousins,\u201d he told SooToday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve been coming to the Sault for almost 20 years at this point, and way back in the day we\u2019d come and play at a venue called Loplops.\u201d<\/p>\n
This Tuesday, the rock band will return to the city, where they\u2019re set to hit the stage at The Machine Shop\u00a0for the final stop on their Out All Night Tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’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,\u201d Gullen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Sault has always been really good to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The current tour comes on the heels of the band\u2019s new album, Keep Out Of The Storm, a straight rock record released this winter \u2013 the group\u2019s first in four years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d Gullen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Founded in 2004, Gullen said the band\u2019s passion for music continues to shine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just love doing what we do. It’s not really something that we have to dig too deep for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s always just been rooted in trying to make the music that we like and that we think people will like.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Tuesday\u2019s show will include a \u201cgood mix\u201d from the band\u2019s newest album and the hits they\u2019ve recorded over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cA 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n