 Deeply personal and moving, melodic and uplifting and lyrically rich - these are the songs that will tear your heart out, one note at a time. In this case brilliant Canadian singer-songwriter Gordie Tentrees offers the perfect example with his sixth album, Less is More. The former boxer (three-time Golden Glove champion), youth worker and mentor presents an incredible soundtrack to a storied past with songs of triumph, heartache and redemption. Produced by Juno award winner Bob Hamilton who also contributes textured beauty with tasteful tones, the album features Tentrees blend of folk, roots and blues sounds on 11 tracks including "Camelot Hotel", written by Mary Gauthier. Tentrees plays dobro, guitar, harmonica, porchboard bass with stellar accompaniment from Aiden Tentrees on upright bass & Fabian Brook on guitar and fiddle. The album also includes guest appearances by Patrick Hamilton, Annie Avery, Lonnie Powell and the voice of east coast darling 2015 Juno winner Catherine MacLellan. In the three years since his last release North Country Heart, Tentrees wrote more than 30 songs for his new album, mercifully letting most of them die before hitting the tape. Says Tentrees, "I was selective. I wanted to make an album I knew I could make, if I invested all my time and energy." New album keepers include "Somebody's Child", written after watching the bombs go off at the Boston Marathon, all while wondering if his wife had crossed the finish line, and "Tired of Time", the heartbreaking story of a man who dies of brain cancer years before his prime, while watching his family grow. Themes of despair turn to courage in "Wheel Girl", an ode to northern hero Jessica Frotten who went from accident victim to wheelchair athlete. Tentrees’ attraction with the downtrodden human continues in "Broken Hero", a collection of vivid shots of everyday heroes, and the story-driven hit "Love in Ink", co-written with childhood friend Oliver Greer. Love rings true in 'Keno City" and "Wrong Town", and album highlight "Dead Beat Dad" may be the first recorded confession of a struggling father urging on his male mates to make a difference. Most of Tentrees’ past three years were spent on the road, with concert dates from Spain to Texas, which keeps through in the title track "Less is More", written in Holland after sleeping in the same bed as Townes Van Zandt on his last European tour before he passed. Dancing outside the music industry box against all odds, Tentrees’ boasts multiple award nominations, hundreds of concerts, thousands of road miles and multiple tours with the likes of Steve Poltz, Fred Eaglesmith, and Kelly Joe Phelps. There is no end in sight for Tentrees with upcoming 2015 performance dates in Australia, UK, Europe, Canada and the USA. www.tentrees.ca Track List: 1. Love in Ink - 4:03 2. Wrong Town - 3:21 3. Wheel Girl - 4:05 4. Lost Guitar - 4:15 5. Deadbeat Dad - 4:08 6. Less is More - 3:18 7. Somebody’s Child - 3:22 8. Keno City - 3:22 9. Broken Hero - 3:23 10. Camelot Hotel - 4:35 11. Tired of Time - 3:31 Upcoming Tour Dates April April 23 - The General Store, Twin Butte, AB April 24 - The Slice, Lethbridge, AB April 25 - Ye Olde Jar Bar, Medicine Hat, AB April 26 - Gallery House Concerts, Calgary, AB April 27 - T. Rex Discovery Theater, Eastend, SK April 28 - Grassroots Concerts, Regina, SK April 29 - Golden Prairie Arts Council, Carmen, MB April 30 - WECC, Winnipeg, MB May May 2 - Bon Temps Creole Concerts, Saskatoon, SK May 3 - Rouse Concerts, Strathcona, AB May 4 - Olive Concerts, Jasper, AB May 5 - Ratzalf Concerts, Golden, BC May 6 - Fratters Speakeasy, Red Deer, AB May 7 - The Root, Lloydminster, AB May 8 - Mercury Room, Edmonton, AB May 9 - Barnyard Concerts, Millarville, AB May 10 - Legacy Guitars, Cochrane, AB May 11 - Ironwood, Calgary AB Media Tools: Click here to download hi-res photo and album artwork Click here to listen to Wrong Town on Soundcloud
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |