Chris Goertzen
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Chris Goertzen

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | SELF

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | SELF
Band Americana Singer/Songwriter

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Devil's Rawking Chair Review"

Chris Goertzen and his musical cohorts meld the country roots of Steve Earle, the bluesy rock 'n' roll of the Rolling Stones and the raw power of Big Sugar with authority and passion, but are much rougher around the edges. Goertzen's barbed-wire vocal conspires with Ryan Maier's wailing guitar as they ride the Devil's Rawking Chair all the way to the Crossroads. It's the witching hour, the moon is full and the hounds of hell are howling like their lives depend upon it, than along comes the angelic voice of Valerie Paton providing the yang to Goertzen's Yin much like the pretty mandolin and acoustic guitar compliment the thrashing drums, thundering bass and electric lead and slide guitars.

The Hazy Pilgrims throw caution to the wind and let it all hang out sounding urgent and real. This recording isn't perfect and that's why it's, well, damn near perfect! (4 stars)

-- Bruce Leperre
(http://www.whatsonwinnipeg.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45544) - Winnipeg Free Press


"Devil's Rawking Chair Review"

Chris Goertzen & The Hazy Pilgrims
Devil's Rawking Chair
Roots-Rock
Sun Rating: 4 stars

Listening to Chris Goertzen makes you want to drink bourbon and smoke unfiltered Camels. Maybe it's because he sounds like he's been doing a lot of that himself. The singer-guitarist has a voice that toggles between a dusty drawl and a rusty wail, depending on whether he's belting out a gritty roots-rock twanger or powering down with some fingerpicked folk. Either way, his backing trio has him covered with solid backbeats and moaning slide guitars. Sure, he sounds a lot like Steve Earle. But hey, he could do a lot worse.

www.hazypilgrims.com
- Winnipeg Sun


"Twang Trust with Stu Reid"

"Winnipeg's only rock and roll band... if you're looking to get your ass kicked, go check them out." - CKUW (http://www.twangtrust.ca/april5-1.mp3)


Discography

Currently recording the follow up to the critically acclaimed:

Devil's Rawking Chair (2008)
1) The Oath
2) Lungs
3) Lonesome, Wild and Blue
4) Killdeer
5) Indian Head
6) Highway 59
7) High and Angry
8) F-5 Tornado
9) Dark Eyed Dana
10) Crowsfeet

Photos

Bio

Chris Goertzen spent more than a decade fumbling and stumbling from factory to factory, construction site to construction site, bar to bar and town to town, looking for something he couldn't quite name or find. During this time he began writing songs and honing his craft to a point where it became obvious to those who heard his songs that there was something very real going on. As is so often the case though, bands were formed and disintegrated, songs were written and abandoned, cigarettes and bottles were remorselessly murdered, hearts were broken , faces slapped, a mother cried, and a puppy disappeared, possibly the victim of extraterrestrial abduction.

In 2005 Chris walked into a bar after a Steve Earle concert and lo and behold his old guitar playing fiend of a lost friend, Ryan Maier, was sitting and plumbing the dig down deep depths of ancient histories. Somewhere between Constantinople becoming Istanbul (uhhhhmn....), the beast that is Chris Goertzen and the Hazy Pilgrims was born.

Showcasing a voice Darryl Sterdan of the Winnipeg Sun describes as "toggling between a dusty drawl and a rusty wail," and that "makes you want to drink bourbon and smoke unfiltered Camels," Goertzen's songs weave together narratives that not only take you into vivid landscapes, but also squeeze out your most closely guarded emotions. Rounding out the songs, the Hazy Pilgrims enhance the soundscapes through Ryan Maier's soul searing "I’m going to make you cry or hit something" slide guitar moanings, Steve Silver's "fatter than your Grandmother's frying pan" bass guitar, and Juno award winner Anthony Giancola's "I just read your mind while bending spoons with mine" drum musings.

The music blends together of a variety of roots music influences. Their live show is TRULY something to see.

Some of the highlights since the release of their critically acclaimed debut recording “Devil Rawking Chair” in April of 2008 include: Garnering regular airplay on college radio and CKDM in Dauphin, raising the roof as a showcase artist at the 2008 CCMA's, blowing the doors off the Watson Arts Centre in Dauphin, and continuing to win over audiences in and around Winnipeg with their fearless, heartfelt Rawk and Roll. The boys are currently recording their follow up CD and looking forward to their first Western tour.

“Winnipeg's only Rock n' Roll band. If your looking to get your ass kicked, go check them out!”

- Stu Reid of CKUW Radio's “Twangtrust”

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