New Album Reflects First Responders’ Experience
A group of first responders has set the lessons they’ve learned on the job to music.
The Shorelines is a band made up of three paramedics and a pair of volunteer firefighters based in Liverpool and Bridgewater.
After playing shows up and down the South Shore for the past few years the band is ready to release their first album.
Guitarist and vocalist Andrew Dixon says the theme of the recording echoes what they see on the job everyday.
“Positivity and perseverance and, being paramedics, we always say, you never really know somebody until you see what they’ve been through, where they’ve come from.”
In fact, the band first came together as a result of a fellow paramedic’s battle with cancer.
Some of their co-workers had organized a barbeque to support Jody Cook, a paramedic based out of Bridgewater, and asked if the guys could put a band together for the event.
“We just kind of strung some instruments together and played some music and it worked out okay. So we started playing together and writing some songs and the rest is, kind of like, three years later, we’ve got a record.”
Unfortunately, Cook died from her cancer but her struggle inspired the group to write the song “We Will Fight On”.
They’ve taken inspiration from other aspects of their work, penning the tune, “I’ve Got Your Back” which discusses the importance of PTSD awareness for first responders.
A portion of the CD sales will be donated to programs that help support first responders and military personnel living with the disorder.
Dixon says music introduces you to a different spectrum of people and can be a great outlet for whatever is weighing on your shoulders.
“We have stressful jobs so sometimes it’s nice just to get together and jam and not think about work, and not think about stressors that pop up in your head. So this is a really good stress reliever for a lot of paramedics.”
The Shorelines Album
The band has seen some change in members, but the line-up now consists of Andrew Dixon, Jordan Porter, Jordan Richards, Joel Hurtubise and Kirk Comstock.
The album was recorded by Rick Boutilier at Flat Hill studios in Broad Cove and contains eight blues and rock-inspired original songs.
It will be available Saturday June 27 as a physical cd or on most sites where you buy online music.
A full list is available on the Shorelines Facebook page.
Dixon says they’re looking forward to bringing the music to a live audience once the restrictions around COVID-19 are lifted.
Reported by Ed Halverson
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson