Gordie Tentrees

Artist Information

Biography

"This is the fifth album by a man who really should be a household name thanks to the excellence of his vocal and writing skills and his ability to create atmospheres and arrangements perfectly suited to his writing, something not all great singer songwriters are able to master" AMERICANA ROOTS UK

"Tentrees has created a cohesive collection of images and sounds that hits emotional marks without resorting to manipulation. Heard without advance warning, one could be convinced that this is the new Corb Lund or Hayes Carll album and not be a bit disappointed"
FERVOR COULEE PRESS

"With North Country Heart, Gordie Tentrees has joined an increasingly long list of Canadians who are, somewhat strangely, making some of the most honest Americana music today" POP MATTERS

"Tentrees delivery is so relaxed and unpretentious its impossible to not get drawn into his world, sounding like a young John Prine "NO DEPRESSION

“In the rough cut vein of Kelly Joe Phelps or Fred Eaglesmith, Tentrees is gifted” GLOBE & MAIL

"These songs are as real and dusty as any unpaved roads I’ve ever been on. I’m thinkin’ the Yukon might have a lot in common with Texas.” GURF MORLIX

North Country Heart is twelve swampy country folk blues songs layered with the storied delivery of a Texas word slinger. From the north filled with thematic tales of life in the Yukon. Produced by Juno Award-winning Bob Hamilton and featuring Ken Hermanson (banjo, lapsteel, guitar), Bob Hamilton (upright bass, pedal steel), Patrick Hamilton (drums) and Annie Avery (piano, organ) the Canadian road warrior’s fifth full length album is his boldest effort yet.

“I played 220 dates in 8 countries in 2011. Things happen, relationships change. You lose yourself out there, and lose a lot of the safety you once had. I stopped expecting anything, or asking anyone to understand. Your personal life is dead. Most of the dreams I ever had before are gone. You just hold onto different ones. It has taken me a while to accept this and realize how lucky I am.” Livelier than the Tentrees WCMA nominated last album “Mercy or Sin” (2009) the Yukon songwriter feels like he is just getting started.

While humble about the road he has taken to arrive here, Gordie recently signed a publishing deal with Nashville’s Bluewater Music, released his new album on Continental Records (Europe), and capped off 2012 with an 8 country, 140 date, world tour in Europe, UK, CAN, US which also featured concerts with Fred Eaglesmith, Mary Gauthier, Jon Dee Graham, Audrey Auld, Roger Marin, Jon Langford, Danny Michel, Fred Penner, and Jonathon Byrd.

Since the release of North Country Heart, songs have been featured in CBC mini-series “Arctic Air” and Space Channel series “Ring of Fire”. It was also in the top 20 Albums in Canada for 2012 on Ear Shot Colllege Radio Charts, as well as the Top 50 most played albums in Canada in 2012 on the CBC Galaxie Folk/Roots Charts. Incredible for an album released during the last 5 months of 2012 with no label behind it.

He also released a live album "Naked in Scandinavia' in 2011 recorded at Livegraphy Studios, in Helsinki,Finland, his first solo live recording with porchboard bass, dobro, guitar, harmonica, and highlighting songs & stories with a collection of tunes new and old.

Gordie’s 2010 studio release Mercy or Sin (produced by Juno-winner Bob Hamilton), was nominated for a 2010 Western Canadian Music Award for Roots Solo Album of the Year. The title track was also a finalist in the 2010 International Songwriting Competition, where judges included Tom Waits, Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis. He performed at the New Songs New Voices concert during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, was selected by CBC Radio’s 2009 Song Quest as one of Canada’s top songwriters, and hosted the prestigious SOCAN songwriters circle at the 2009 WCMAs. His earlier studio albums " Bottleneck to Wire" in 2007 and "29 Loads of Freight" in 2004 also garnered rave reviews and international success.

The former school teacher, break dancer and golden gloves boxer is sure to be coming to a town near you this year.

Instrumentation

Aiden Tentrees - Upright Bass, Harmony Vocals
Gordie Tentrees - Guitar, Harmonica, Lead Vocals, Dobro
Fabian Brook - Guitar, Fiddle, Harmony Vocals

Discography

2012-North Country Heart 5th CD
2011- Naked in Scandinavia (Live Solo Album) 4th CD
2009- "Mercy or Sin" 3rd CD
2007- "Bottleneck to Wire" 2nd CD
2007 Yukon Music Sampler CD
2006- The Song of the Yukon: Beautiful & Deranged (DVD Documentary www.topoftheworldfilms.com)
2004 - 29 Loads of Freight- Debut Album (CD)
2004 - Yukon Music Sampler (CD)
2003 - The Elvis Project Soundtrack
(DVD Documentary www.theelvisproject.com)
2003 - "Live at Frostbite" - EP
2001 - Gordie Tentrees- EP

Official Website

http://www.tentrees.ca

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Youtube Page

Audio

• GYPSY WIND
  Listen  
• NORTH COUNTRY HEART
  Listen  
• HOLY MOLY
  Listen  
• BLACK SEEDS
  Listen  
• HILL COUNTRY NEWS
  Listen  
• LITTLE GUY
  Listen  
• LAST WORD
  Listen  
• SKINNY TREES
  Listen  
• LONE SPARROW
  Listen  
• SIDEMAN BLUES
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Holy Moly
• Holy Moly
• Black Seeds
• North Country Heart
• Sideman Blues
• Hill Country News
• Wheel & Wrench
• Skinny Trees
• Little Guy

Video

North Country Heart Promo.mov

Holy Moly - Gordie Tentrees2.mov

Photo Gallery

Press

• North Country Heart (UK) 2012 Review [+ Show ]
  

  This is the fifth album by a man who really should be a household name thanks to the excellence of h...This is the fifth album by a man who really should be a household name thanks to the excellence of his vocal and writing skills and his ability to create atmospheres and arrangements perfectly suited to his writing, something not all great singer songwriters are able to master.

• North Country Heart (CAN) 2012 Review [+ Show ]
  

  Tentrees has created a cohesive collection of images and sounds that hits emotional marks without re...Tentrees has created a cohesive collection of images and sounds that hits emotional marks without resorting to manipulation. Heard without advance warning, one could be convinced that this is the new Corb Lund or Hayes Carll album and not be a bit disappointed…

• North Country Heart (CAN) 2012 Review [+ Show ]
  

  The Whitehorse-based musician has been at it for a while now, and continues to demonstrate his skill...The Whitehorse-based musician has been at it for a while now, and continues to demonstrate his skill as a storyteller.

• No Depression (US)- Mercy or Sin 2009 Review [+ Show ]
  

  Tentrees delivery is so relaxed and unpretentious its impossible to not get drawn into his world. Th...Tentrees delivery is so relaxed and unpretentious its impossible to not get drawn into his world. The title track "Mercy or Sin" with Jennie Sosnowski would not sound out of place on John Prines wonderful "In spite of ourselves" album" NO DEPRESSION

• Gurf Morlix (US)- Mercy or Sin 2009 Review [+ Show ]
  

  These songs are as real and dusty as any unpaved roads I've ever been on. I'm thinkin' the Yukon mig...These songs are as real and dusty as any unpaved roads I've ever been on. I'm thinkin' the Yukon might have a lot in common with Texas."

• Round Up- (UK) Mercy or Sin 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  Coming from the singer songwriter tradition with his roots in country blues and sounding like a youn...Coming from the singer songwriter tradition with his roots in country blues and sounding like a young John Prine, Tentrees and his band play seductively with guitars licking and curling around his lyrics. At times they play dirty as on “Devil Talks” with ferocious guitar and stinging dobro but again the best is in the quieter moments where Tentrees and the band swing with a lazy nonchalance with a hint of menace in the tale.
  

• Americana Music TImes (US) Mercy or Sin 2009 Review [+ Show ]
  

  -I sure wish I'd discovered Canadian GordieTentrees sooner, but, as they say, better late than never...-I sure wish I'd discovered Canadian GordieTentrees sooner, but, as they say, better late than never. Tentrees hits another home run with his new record, Mercy or Sin. Tentrees has a way of writing and performing that just oozes, as Stephen Colbert may say, truthiness. Maybe it's the banjo and dobro, maybe it's the gristly vocal style. I think it's all that, plus Tentrees's ability to capture the human condition in his songwriting. With songs like "No Integrity Man" and "Traveling Song Man" there it is -- beautifully composed and performed songs, no metaphors needed -- and the cover of Bert Jansch's "Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me," complete with wailing strings on the chorus, knocks me flat out. Dig deep and you will dig deeply, or just grab a cool one, sit back, relax, and enjoy.
  
  

• Net Rythmns (UK) Mercy or Sin 2009 Review [+ Show ]
  

  Apparently his third album, I have to confess I’ve never previously encountered the Canadian singer-...Apparently his third album, I have to confess I’ve never previously encountered the Canadian singer-songwriter before, but this leaves me wanting to know more. Working with an assortment of musicians, including longtime band, multi-instrumentalist Ken Hermanson and double bassist Matt King, it’s a 12 track stripped down excursion into the darker side of the roots landscape and themes of death, mental illness, loss and despair, moving between bluegrass, folk, blues, and country. He’s been likened to Fred Eaglesmith and Kelly Joe Phelps, but you’ll also hear John Prine on the talk-sing opener Alfred and the side to side swaying Carpenter Girl while the hard rockabilly Same Old Blues shoots off Johnny Cash sparks.
  
  The blues loom large throughout, cranked up again on slide guitar stomper Devil Talks, while, slide again making its presence felt, Travelling Song Man takes a steady striding swampy tempo and Blue Motel Room walks a spare but purposeful repetitive rhythm as its dusty delivery suggests a filtering of Chris Isaak and Townes Van Zandt.
  
  A strings and harmonica lashed cover of Bert Jansch’s folk blues Rambling’s Gonna Be The Death Of Me proves a highlight and banjo picking bluegrass blooms robustly on No Integrity Man and the title track’s duet with Jennie Sosnowski. He lets a few flat notes slip past on Ross River, a wistful observation about the relationship between the Canadian government and the First Nation communities, but even so it’s these wearied reflective echoes of the 60s folk movement that see him playing to his very considerable strengths.
  
  

• Penguin Eggs (CAN)-Mercy or Sin 2009 Review [+ Show ]
  

  "I first saw Gordie Tentrees 6 years ago and in the intervening time he's put a lot of miles on the ..."I first saw Gordie Tentrees 6 years ago and in the intervening time he's put a lot of miles on the odometer, solidified his bond with sidemen Ken Hermanson and Matt King, and started staking out his own musical turf. Mercy or Sin produced by Bob Hamilton marks a milestone in Tentree's growth but does not err by polishing the rough edges that are so much of the music's charm.
  The title track, a duet with co-writer and "live" bass player Jennie Sosnowski, exemplifies the record's strengths-unaffected lyrical musings, heartfelt performances, and the subtly driving accompaniment from the background players pointing to a hard-earned assurance and maturity" PENGUIN EGGS

• Globe & Mail (CAN)- Bottleneck to Wire 2007 Review [+ Show ]
  

  Tipped troubadour Gordie Tentrees emerges from the Yukon, full of strong songwriting, hickish hoots,...Tipped troubadour Gordie Tentrees emerges from the Yukon, full of strong songwriting, hickish hoots, and stir-crazy laments. Tunes, carried by his resonater guitar, and aided by pedal steel, banjo, fiddle and blow harps, are often darker than a Whitehorse winter- yet never remorse, not even close. In the rough- cut vein of Fred Eaglesmith or Kelly Joe Phelps, Tentrees is gifted.
  Brad Wheeler
  Globe & Mail

Setlist

Gordie can perform 2- 50 minute sets, and also host workshops such as- "Where Country Slides into the Blues", "How to Build a Lapsteel", "Sunday Morning Coming Down Gospel" "Songs from the North Country"
"Bluegrass to Blues", "Instrumental Jazz Surf", and "Harp-Rack Attack"
- The Last Word
- Sideman Blues
- Wheel and the Wrench
- Gypsy Wind
- Carpenter Girl
- Wasted Moments
- Mercy or Sin
- Ross River
- Devil Talk to You
- Integrity Man
- Daylight
- Traveling Songman
- Alfred
- Blue Motel Room
- Hey Mama
- 87 Men
- Plenty to hold
- Death & Dust
- Little Babe
- Honeywood
- 29 Loads of Freight
- Stella
- Pay the Rent
- Lonesome Buckaroo
- Whitewater Jam
- Telephone Blues
- Stretch Marks
- Dawson City
- Your Last Day
- Lucky Lager
- Go Back to the City
- Bush Blues
- Make me Spin
- Truckers Lament
- Greyhound
- Charlie Rose
- Dear Impression Man
- Bottle Fever
- Farm Boy
- Danny
- The Gal I Got
- Dreams
- Two Sons
- Underpaid
- Fishin' Fool

Cover Tunes

- Rivertown (Guy Clark)
- Flowers & Liquor (Hayes Carll)
- Same Ole Blues (Indio Saravanja)
- I like Trains (Fred Eaglesmith)
- Tell Her Lies (The Sadies)
- 49 Tons (Fred Eaglesmith)
- High Roads (Roger Marin)
- Letter from Istanbul (Tom Waits)
- Angel from Montgomery (John Prine)
- Sadie (Jughead)
- Darling Lately (Fred Eaglesmith)
- Ramblin be the death of me ( Bert Jansch)
- Yesterday"s News (Fred Eaglesmith)
- Cakewalk to Town (Taj Mahal)
- Bring it Back (Sonny Terry)
- Sick, Sorry, Sober (Jughead)
- Seven Shells ( Fred Eaglesmith)
- Walk Away (Ben Harper)
- Safe and Sound (Hawksley Workman)
- I Get Drunk (John Prine)
- In Spite of Ourselves (John Prine)
- The Weight (The Band)
- Mighty Big Car (Fred Eaglesmith)
- Satan gave me a Taco (Beck)
- Roll in my Sweet Baby's Arms (Country Trad.)
- Tom Thumb's Blues (Bob Dylan)
- Bench Seat Baby (Fred Eaglesmith)
- A Town this Size (John Prine)
- West Virginia (Bluegrass Trad.)
- Piss up a Rope (Weezer)
- ToothBrush (Weezer)
- Nobody's Fault But Mine (Gospel Trad.)
- St. James Infirmery Blues (Blues Trad.)
- Sixteen Tons (Tenessee Ernie Ford)
- Every Morning (Keb Mo)
- Old Man (Neil Young)
- Tangled up in Blue (Bob Dylan)
- 105 (Fred Eaglesmith)
- Other Side of Nowhere (Kris Kristofferson)
- Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash)
- Trouble in Mind (Blues Trad.)
- Jumbalaya (Hank Williams)
- Long Black Veil (Hank Williams)
- She belongs to me (Bob Dylan)
- Ride on the mail train (Bob Dylan)
- My girl ( Leadbelly)
- That's all right mama (Elvis)
- Go back home (Neil Young)
- I'll Fly Away (Folk Trad.)
- I shall be released (Bob Dylan)
- Clouds so Swift (Bob Dylan)
- Tomorrow is along Time (Bob Dylan)
- Angel is the Devil (Steve Earle)
- Losing (Country/Blues Trad.)

Basic Requirements

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