Written by: Alexander Hutt

Gordie Tentrees hails from the Yukon with his dinstinct brand of roots coloured by his life in the northern Canadian territory. His music contains elements of country, blues, rock and each song has its own clear, complicated story that is to be told. Joining Tentrees are long time bandmates Ken Hermanson (lapsteel, guitar), and Matt King (upright bass) who are also part of the Gordie Tentrees Band.

As such, he has named his latest release “Mercy or Sin”.  “It was a theme that kept coming up in a couple of songs, as well as the duet with Jennie Sosnowski [titled 'Mercy or Sin']. We kept referring to it as different characters in different songs, like in the opening track 'Alfred'.” For the singer-songwriter, this is no new practice. “I like to pick songs as title tracks; I’ve done it on the last two albums.”

Having toured extensively already in his career, Tentrees, Hermanson and Sosnowski are embarking on a CD release tour that includes 55 shows in 53 days. “I’m excited to go to the States in January and February, and through Canada in March. I can’t wait for the Yukon because one of the warmer responses the album has been getting comes from there.” The tour has several spotlight-worthy spots like two shows at the Vancouver Olympics, the North America Folk Alliance Festival, and select shows with fellow roots artist Carolyn Mark.

“I like both festivals and mini-concerts, the atmosphere is just great. The people you get to meet and the musicians you hang out with during the three days, as well as not having to move or drive anywhere is a real treat. Not having to go to a new town and face everyday is an added bonus.”

A Canadian musician who is working with Juno winning producer Bob Hamilton, identifies as a Yukon musician himself. “Lots of the music from the Yukon is roots, country, folk or blues. It is not necessarily how is goes across Canada, but in the Yukon that’s how it is. My music is also similar to the Southern roots and singer-songwriter stuff in the US. I didn’t hear that music until I toured through the US, but I knew that it was like the music that I was playing, but most of the music I play is from the Yukon. There are songs that I would play amongst my friends in the community of the north.”

That doesn’t mean that Tentrees does not engage with his identity as a Canadian. “When you tour through the US, UK and Europe and you are Canadian, it is exotic. We’ve spent a lot of time in the US the last two years, where we tell people in off-stage conversations about 40 below and eating grizzly bear for breakfast. They are quite shocked. (laughs) We live in the North which is cold and miserable sometimes, but we also feel like real ambassadors for Canada and the Yukon.”

Tentrees is proud of the complete album that is “Mercy or Sin”, which has received airplay on CBC. “The strength of the songs and the production shows in the album. A lot of these songs were played live so we captured the songs on the tour. [Musical] acts that I follow and enjoy...that is what you hear on the album and at the show. Production went up because Bob [Hamilton] has had a lot of experience with roots music and how to place the instruments.”

Coming from roots usually puts a different point of view on the commercial component of the music industry. “Roots isn’t a mainstream pop machine, that’s not behind it. It’s changing a lot as far as becoming more commercial. Look at artists in country music you have more mainstream artists lie Paul Brandt and Kerry Clark, on the other hand you have Corb Lund, Ridley Bent, people that they didn’t allow in the mainstream. The public has sort of accepted it the last 10 years, so someone like Corb Lund has broken though some serious barriers. A lot of roots music is appreciated by the underground by being grassroots and not mainstream. Artists like Fred Eaglesmith appreciate that nobody knew who we are except for the underground.” Tentrees has also toured with Eaglesmith, opening for many of his shows.

“He was really nice to us. When I was hearing him as a teen, he was the first musician that I saw in concert at a folk festival. He was someone who broke all the rules and did what he wanted, and that was attractive for a teen. I never forget about him and when I picked up a guitar and wrote songs, I also learned his songs. Opening for him was a treat for me.  He told us to join him in Europe, Texas and Ontario. Whatever happens now I don’t care, it was a success and honour to play with him for sure.”

For Tentrees, roots is a genre that is an amalgam of other genres, and that is precisely why he is drawn to its beat. “I like that it is not too specific. Contemporary roots music can easily be interpreted as jazz, country, folk, blues, or singer-songwriter stuff. You are allowed to have your own version of roots. Branding seems to work if you are going to label yourself. First we were country, then were [a] blues band. Now we lean more towards country as far as instrumentation goes.”

But most of all, roots and his music reminds Gordie Tentrees of the north. “When we were touring through Europe with Fred [Eaglesmith], he told people that we are northern roots music. We get that reference a lot and it fits because that’s where we live and it’s where we are from.”

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alessandro

 

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