Scarborough Street Fight

The Zoo Crew is spinning the gritty, riff-driven track Scarborough Street Fight by The Sheepdogs from their 2022 album Outta Sight, and the Zoo Freaks are surely digging its retro rock vibe. This song’s origin story is as raw as its sound. Lead singer Ewan Currie revealed in a 2022 interview with The Star that the song’s infectious riff was born during the pandemic when their sound tech, Mark, brought a custom-built amp to the studio. Currie plugged in, and the riff for Scarborough Street Fight poured out instantly, evoking the muscular, Faces-inspired energy of Ronnie Wood. He grabbed his phone to record it, knowing it was a keeper. The song’s title and lyrics paint a vivid picture of streetwise chaos, with lines like “Lock your doors and stay in bed / Tonight’s the night, the street turns red,” capturing a hard-living, rebellious spirit.

The track’s live energy is another highlight. Captured on 16mm film over four nights at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, as shared in a 2022 Loudersound article, the band performed Scarborough Street Fight just as COVID restrictions lifted, feeding off the crowd’s pent-up excitement. These were their first full-capacity shows in Toronto in over two years, and the band noted the “palpable energy” that made the song an instant fan favorite, even before its official release. The video, exclusively premiered on Classic Rock’s Facebook page, showcases the band’s ability to stretch the song into a jam-heavy live experience, blending Allman Brothers-esque grooves with a Lynyrd Skynyrd edge, as noted in a Blues Rock Review.

The Sheepdogs, hailing from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, started in 2004 when Ewan Currie, Ryan Gullen, and Sam Corbett began jamming together, driven by a shared love for classic rock like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones. As detailed on their Last.fm bio, the band was later joined by Jimmy Bowskill and Shamus Currie, Ewan’s brother, rounding out their lineup with a mix of guitar prowess, harmonies, and multi-instrumental flair. Their big break came in 2011 when they became the first unsigned band to grace the cover of Rolling Stone, winning a contest that skyrocketed their profile. This milestone, coupled with their relentless touring and three Juno Awards, cemented their status as Canadian rock stalwarts, blending ’70s rock nostalgia with a fresh, unpretentious edge.

The band’s journey began humbly, playing local gigs in Saskatoon’s prairie scene, as they shared in a 2022 Psychedelic Baby Magazine interview. At just 19, they were fueled by a desire to create the kind of music they loved—raw, riff-heavy rock untainted by trends. Their DIY ethos and chemistry carried them from garage jams to international stages, with Outta Sight marking a return to their roots after the psychedelic detours of earlier albums like Changing Colours. Fans can connect with the band on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. For Zoo Freaks looking to join the pack, check out fan communities like the Sheepdogs Fan Group on Facebook, where devotees share tour updates, vinyl hauls, and love for the band’s timeless sound.