Shoemaker Levee is back, and they’re not pulling any punches. Their new single “Resistance” —leading the charge for their third studio album Between the Lines— is a furious anthem for the unheard, the unbroken, and the beautifully noncompliant.
“This is no time to have your own mind / Get back into line…”
But Shoemaker Levee never got in line. They weathered every storm and came back louder and sharper. When they laid down tracks for Resistance at Orange Lounge on Queen Street in Toronto, a Free Tibet rally marched by. Something clicked. “We weren’t originally going to release it as a single,” the band said. “But world events took a turn, and we knew the time was right.”
The song has since landed airplay on Rock 95, Max FM, TotalRock (UK), and Radio WigWam (UK), and it’s racked up over 5,000 Spotify streams. But its resonance goes far beyond numbers. It’s a declaration of autonomy, powered by roaring guitars and a chorus that punches through the noise:
“Be free people if you want to / See, breathe, believe like you want to / It’s alright if you wonder / Be much more than they expect you’ll be.”
Shoemaker Levee — Kevin Rogers Cobus (vocals/guitar), Dave Broadhead (lead guitar/vocals), Matt Brown (bass), and Dwayne Cardoso (drums) — built this track with the same stripped-down, live-first mentality that defines their sound. “We don’t add layers we can’t pull off live,” they say. “Two guitars, bass, drums. That’s the truth.”
The band is no stranger to chaos — an outdoor gig promoting the album ended with a misfiring generator frying all their gear. One week later, they were back on stage, soldering old parts and keeping the show alive. The spirit of Resistance isn’t just in the lyrics — it’s in the wiring.
Lyrics like “Dream of ways to make a change / Breathe, don’t keep your thoughts detained” feels more urgent now than ever. The band reworked the instrumentation, harnessed their lived experience, and gave these songs the fire they were always meant to carry.
Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/7a54nnFM3ycoBVt4CsPOpy?si=Q_xVSSR9Q8Gnjw1jODOrgg&nd=1&dlsi=ae97b8a2cafc4844
Shoemaker Levee’s eclectic sound draws inspiration from classic rock, progressive, alt, folk — and the furious pulse of protest. Their music has powered through venues across Toronto — The Opera House, Lee’s Palace, The Horseshoe Tavern — and festivals like Gussapolooza and Tall Pines, where they’ve landed top three spots in back-to-back years.
This summer and fall, they’ll bring “Resistance” to life on stages across Ontario, including The Atria (Oshawa), Harmony Hall (Gormley), and The Queens (Barrie). Expect no gimmicks. Just truth, grit, and a rallying cry:
“Tonight / We gotta make it right.”
https://shoemakerlevee.bandcamp.com/album/between-the-lines