Marc Gelinas

As the rumbling of thunder sounded in the distance, and as the impending storms threatened, Marc Gelinas, my wife and I sat on the grass in the back yard. He pulled out his guitar and played a new song for us. He had just written it while being away from home on a photo shoot for his new CD, while missing his wife.

Like usual, we were blown away.

The song began:

If we're safe, then let somebody know
For, my love, I feel we're losing all control
And it's late, and I've got a couple of things to say
From miles away, but in your heart is where I'm home

I have luckily touched upon greatness on many levels in my life. My late friend Victor Davis's epitaph, "Go Big or Go Home," still resonates in my heart. My fortune has allowed me to know, to an extent, what it takes to be great.

Greatness and the accompanying mindset come at quite a risk. To become great, one has to be willing to risk a great deal.

Marc Gelinas just quit his day job.

This is a risk that most are not willing to take, but that hesitation is behind too many people staying married to jobs or relationships that do nothing beneficial for their spirit.

Marc's mother and his siblings have supported his dream inherently and unconditionally, but his father was far from encouraging. His dad comes from the school of realism and sales. And from his perspective, dreams sure are a hard sell.

This school of thought knows that chasing dreams gets too many lost in the fast-moving streams. This is the school of don't risk it, for the risks are too great. Find a job that is stable and live with it, for dreams are scary things and hope a dangerous mirage.

This school suggests that if one is not in Math 436 and the sciences in school, then all doors to a career of value are closed and that you are somehow "less than" and far from "equal to."

This, however, does not add up to the truth.

The truth is that the school of "hard-knocks" never considers how the hard knocks found in the chase of a dream make it all worthwhile.

Marc, with the independent (this is what makes "indie" music, by the way) release of his first major CD, Waiting at the Red Lights, is stalled no longer. He is taking the jump into his dream and I, for one, want to be there to cheer him all along the way.

I ain't found the hole
In my bottle of time
My hopes have maxed all their credit out
Defaulted on that dotted line
I started off with nothing; broke
And still have most of it to show
My friends have lost a lot of breath
Saying: "When you gonna learn?"
Waiting on the red lights
For my life to turn

I have loved every one of Marc's songs - every one - and I say this with utmost sincerity. Musically, they're magical, and lyrically, they're eloquent. Marc is Paul Simon ringing with Led Zeppelin and feeling Neil Young. On stage, he is a masterful showman, and off stage, a man of integrity and substance.

I have welcomed Marc into my classes a few times as a model for all of the above. As he plays, I have watched my students become captivated. And even more so, I watch my friend. He loves playing his music.

It has been a long, hard road for Marc to get here, but he is humble and sincere in his appreciation of the twists and hills that have been the ride. He holds no regrets, and has taken each misadventure in stride.

Still, I believe that his waiting has gone on long enough.

And I, I get so dizzy watching the world
Wasted away in the running
The atrophy of kindness limps toward the line

As we sat on the grass, watching the storms pass on by to the south of us, Marc then told my wife and me another great story. He reminded us about his father's lack of enthusiasm for his musical endeavours, then sat back and smiled a little.

He said: "My mom just told me the other day that my dad has the CD in the car and has been listening to it a lot alongside his beloved Elton John and Eagles greatest hits."

She told me, quietly, he said, "It's good."
I plan on doing nothing much
My big ambition for the day
I'll watch the sun chased down by the moon
In an ordinary way ...
Waiting on the red lights
For my life to turn

Marc Gelinas is a wonderful, homegrown West Island talent whose time has come, and we, his grassroots, are the foundation he needs to move from storm to sun.

Go online to marc-gelinas.com and take a listen, or better yet, email him at info@marc-gelinas.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

After all, according to one of the harshest critics, he's "good."

Huntley Addie is an English and journalism teacher at John Rennie High School.
Kathunt@videotron.ca - The Montreal Gazette

In continuing with our West-Island of Montreal thematic episode, Marc Gelinas, who grew up with Sam Roberts - only referred to as another West Island reference, shares songs from his new CD "Waiting at the Red Lights" with IndieCan listeners first. If you're like me, you'll love Marc's matter-of-fact attitude to music career swirves in the road and how he keeps focus on the music.

To hear the interview/live performances in their entirety, please go to:

http://marc-gelinas.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=34 - IndieCan Radio

BY ALBERT KRAMBERGER
The Chronicle, October 3rd, 2007

Indie acoustic-rocker Marc Gelinas will be promoting his first CD at Cunnigham’s Pub in Ste. Anne de Bellevue this Sunday night.
Gelinas, a West Islander, released his 12-track CD ‘Waiting at the Red Lights’ this summer. Key tracks include ‘Smolder Me’ and ‘Call Me Vegas,’ the latter inspired by friends who named their baby Vegas.

‘Call Me Vegas’ has become fan favourite, Gelinas said, adding it explores how a person’s fate may be influenced by what their name is. He describes his music as acoustic rock-pop and his influences range from Paul Simon to Led Zeppelin.

“It’s very competitive out there and very hard with no record label backing,” Gelinas acknowledged, but added being an indie artist has its benefits.

“I’m looking at riding the independent road at the moment,” he said. “Getting signed is almost an impossible dream. It’s truly a game. If they pump money into you, you owe them back.

“I’ve learned to be patient with it,” he added. “I don’t want to keep knocking at doors that don’t open.”

As an indie artist, you have total control over your music and with the Internet and digital recording and sales booming, record companies are becoming more and more obsolete, Gelinas said, adding he spent about $12,000 recording his CD. His costs will be reduced on his next CD since he plans to record at a home studio, following in the footsteps of fellow Montrealers Arcade Fire.

“It’s a more comfortable process recording at home,” Gelinas said. “It’ll actually take less time and you can record when the moment feels right.”

As for his immediate goals, Gelinas hopes to team up with a booking agent so he can do out-of-town shows and land a distribution deal to ensure his CD will be available in stores.

Gelinas, who used to perform under the moniker Vox Crosby and had a track on a CHOM l’Espirit compilation, said he recorded his CD over the course of 2006 as he mustered funds for studio time.

“It was actually about 20 days of studio time but over the course of a year,” he said.

Gelinas is currently playing with drummer Tyson Schallmann, who also played on the CD, as well as Shian Ramjohn on bass. He hopes to start working on a new CD with them over the winter.

“Working with a band changes my sound a bit,” Gelinas said, adding his drummer adds a world beat influence and the bass player some Motown.

Gelinas, 32, said he works part-time to “make ends meet” as he forges ahead with his music career. The Concordia University graduate said his BA in English literature and minor in Music help him “compose music and write some decent lyrics.”

For more information or to purchase the CD, check www.marc-gelinas.com.

The trio performs (free admission) Sunday, Oct 7th @

9:30 p.m. Sunday at Cunnigham’s 75 Ste Anne St, Ste Anne de Bellevue. - The Chronicle

Well, I ventured out to catch this gig on the strength of opening act, Marc Gelinas' sublime song-writing and impasssioned stage-presence - damn, but is this local boy ever a sublime performer!!!...as always, he belted out his uniquely tuneful, and occasionally playful world-view (new tune "Alcohol" elicited smiles all around)...Strumming his acoustic guitar and breaking out the harmonica from time to time, Marc easily won the crowd over - can`t wait until our local troubador plays again. Mind you, it might be a while until we are graced with his presence as the dude is headed down to Vancouver to lay down a couple of tracks - Godspeed Marc and good luck!

Mark St-Pierre - The Hour

As always, hearing Marc Gelinas perform is in intense treat. The man has such wonderful stage presence and coupled with his amazing voice, it makes for a very enjoyable show. Although not an overly large guy, Gelinas appeared to fill the entire bar with his presence. He is best described as a mellow balladeer o­n acoustic guitar who sings about the world as he sees it. There is no shame or regret, o­nly pure musical talent that allows him to share and communicate o­n a higher level. Gelinas occasionally accompanied himself o­n harmonica or created a percussion effect with his guitar, but beyond that there were no props or support systems.

There is a melancholy emotional appeal to Gelinas. These songs are personal, and a soul inspiring experience. For all that Crosby shares o­n stage; it is o­nly the tip of the iceberg. He creates a wonderful intensity and draws people to him without effort. For all the sadness that he sings about, Gelinas looks like he is having a great time in front of an audience. Approachable and charismatic, Gelinas is definitely o­n his way to making Canadian music even better. The magic that Marc emits with his music transcends the usual pop based garbage you normally hear nowadays; watch out for Marc's rising star. - Orcasound

"He calls it ‘melodically infectious folk-rock music’, but I’m not sure that this stripped down description fully encapsulates youthful Montreal singer/songwriter Marc Gelinas. If Gelinas could be characterized by any one thing, I think it would be his unwillingness to be characterized by any one thing. Though rootsy pop-rock is his game in the main, shades of Paul McCartney, Chris Isaak and Rufus Wainwright colour writing that often seems to have a foot in an earlier time, lending it an ageless quality.”

Jamie O'Meara - The Hour

“The very, very intense Marc Gelinas bleeds enthusiasm, and is super-comfortable in his role…beyond that, the songwriting is inarguably interesting… We’ll be keeping an ear out.”

Jamie O'Meara - The Hour

“The West Island seems to be spawning some great singer/songwriters of late. Sam Roberts is quickly becoming an international sensation. The new kid on the block is Marc Gelinas, who is set to release a self-produced album. As for his new songs, bloody amazing! He is well on his way with this.”

Too Tall - CHOM 97.7 FM

"There’s something inspiring about the CHOM L’Esprit battle of the bands…the 2003 team is more consistent but less varied than recent lineups, with Rudebeats and Marc Gelinas standing out thanks to funked-up rock riffs and Lennon/McCartneyisms, respectively.” - The Montreal Gazette