Shane Murphy is a mammoth. His sound is full, thick, powerful and tumbling. He sings his tunes from the gut about living on the scene with husky, gravely voice while stabbing the song with driven guitar stabs and chanks. He’s just real and he harkens a sound that is more akin to the picture of the back alley shuffle than the slick stage, though I know he is comfortable on either. Settle in for the night as the Montreal roots rocker plays some acoustic based sets next Thursday, November 7 from 7-10 pm as he plays The Cove Inn stage. Details here: web link

Seamus Cowan: My brother and I used to sit awestruck at the powerful, thick, bluesy funk that came from your stage. We always loved how it physically moved us. What moved you to create this kind of sound?

Shane Murphy: My first connection with blues was John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Elmore James, then it lead to Jimi Hendrix and the 70s funk like Sly & the Family Stone and Parliament Funkadelic. So my sound is a combination of those influences. In many ways, I was just trying to reinvent what I heard and played it in my own way.

Q: I noticed you have employed my friend Jason Kent from time to time for live performances. I’m sure it is fun adding great musicians to your stage to create your sound. What is your favourite part about performing live? It’s clear you have had some shoulder rubbing with some of music’s greats. Can you tell us about a really cool experience either sharing the stage or creating?

Shane: Jason Kent is a world-class musician. I always try to play with musicians better than myself, Jason being a prime example. The overall level of the playing raises all levels, so the more I can play with great musicians the better it is for me in terms of my musical development. In some part, this has also led to the length of my career in music. It doesn’t feel very long, but I realize it’s going on 35 years. There have been so many great experiences like opening for Adele, sharing the stage with Sam Roberts, playing at the Apollo Theatre in New York City and the Vancouver Olympics!

Q: Another record is in the books for you with your newest album “Easy Street”. What grand plans do you have for this one? Some touring?

Shane: The response for ‘Easy Street’ has been really inspiring. So much that while I’m still touring in support of it, I’ve already started pre-production on my next album! Posted: Nov 6, 2024 Originally Published: Nov 2, 2024