bywater call teatro leal la laguna concert

Bywater Call to bring Canadian rock-soul fusion to La Laguna

Canadian collective brings rock, blues and soul to Tenerife

Teatro Leal in La Laguna will welcome Bywater Call this Tuesday, 16 June — a seven-piece Canadian collective blending rock, blues, funk, R&B and soul. Fronted by the powerhouse vocals of Meghan Parnell and the guitar work of Dave Barnes, the band will take to the stage at 8pm to showcase their latest tracks alongside a few previews of new material.

A sound that feels both vintage and fresh

“Lately we’ve been trying to lean a little more into modern influences like Black Pumas, Alabama Shakes, Amy Winehouse and Shakey Graves,” explains Parnell. “The goal is to create something that sounds vintage and atmospheric, but also feels new and innovative. At the end of the day, we just want to make music that makes people feel good — or at least helps them feel connected to the songs and to the band.”

While those influences are clear, the band’s musical palette stretches far wider. “We’re definitely aware of it, but the band’s range of influences is much broader. That’s mainly because we love so many different kinds of music. Plus, the musicians in the group have jazz training but come from very different backgrounds. I come from musical theatre, while Dave the guitarist used to play classic rock, and Mike the bassist comes from funk. All of that helps keep things interesting when we’re writing.”

Inspiration from the greats — past and present

“Tedeschi Trucks was a huge influence for us when we started the band. Their sound really inspired us to begin writing songs. We still follow them closely and try to catch them live whenever we can. Black Pumas, Alabama Shakes and Amy Winehouse have also shaped the way we write and perform. And classic musicians like Sly Stone, Al Green and Bill Withers are always in our minds when we get down to work.”

The magic of live performance

For Parnell, the stage is where the band truly comes alive. “On stage, you can really experience the interaction between the musicians, which is a huge part of our show. The guys in the band are incredible players, and watching them shine and feed off each other’s energy is something really special. And as a singer, I love connecting with the audience through my performance — that can only truly be experienced live.”

Does that chemistry come from years of playing together? “It must have an effect, though it’s sometimes hard to notice when you’re in the middle of it. But we’re so used to playing together that it creates an incredible level of comfort. Maybe it allows everyone to relax on stage in a way that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. And because we play so much, we like to change the setlist quite frequently — that keeps things interesting for both the band and the loyal fans who make the effort to come to multiple shows on our tours.”

Creative partnership at the heart of the band

“Dave and I live and breathe this band, but I think Dave is the main creative force. 99% of the time, he brings me an idea and then we work on it together, shaping the structure, lyrics and melody. We try to be really honest with each other. Sometimes shaping the skeleton of a song takes a few hours; other times, weeks. Once we feel we’ve got something good to work with, we take it to the band, who help mould it into the final product that reaches the audience.”

New album ‘Broken Souvenirs’ — their most personal work yet

“I think we put much more of ourselves into this record, which is why it feels like the most personal one. I believe our new album, Broken Souvenirs, due for release in July, has even more of that. We’re really excited to share it with our audience. We were able to explore new musical ideas without the pressure of studio time or external influences. Having our drummer Bruce work as sound engineer made the whole process easy and comfortable.”

“On this new album we’re aiming for a more soulful sound, with some roots and folk elements. Songs like Only and Hold Me Down, which have already been released, reflect exactly that sound. We can’t wait to bring these new soundscapes to the stage.”

How a Bywater Call song comes together

“The building process at Bywater Call has always been the same. Dave and I start working on the skeleton of the song, and then the skills of the other five members come in during the rehearsal process. Usually, it starts with a central chord progression or the main theme of the song, then bass and drums are added. After that, keyboards, saxophone and trumpet gradually come in, along with percussion, sometimes a string section or backing vocals.”

A long-awaited return to the Canary Islands

“We had an incredible time playing in the Canary Islands last time we were there, in 2020, and we’ve been desperate to come back ever since. The audience was wonderful and treated us so well, and of course the beautiful surroundings helped improve the experience and made the memories last. So our expectations are pretty high for this new trip.”

“People can expect a musical journey. We like to structure the concert in a way that really takes the audience on an emotional ride, with various highs and lows. There will be moments of release and growth, epic instrumental interactions, dynamic solos from every instrument — including some beautiful slide guitar moments, raw and emotive vocals, and plenty of audience participation.”

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