Yukon roots music songwriter Gordie Tentrees has released his 3rd album, Mercy or Sin, produced by Juno Award-winning producer Bob Hamilton.
Joining Gordie (dobro, guitar, harmonica) on the "Mercy or Sin" CD release tour is legendary multi-instrumentalist
Ken Hermanson (banjo, lapsteel, guitar) and singing sensation Jennie Sosnowski (upright bass).
Gordie Tentrees is from the cold and rustic Yukon Territory and writes like a doppelganger of the preeminent Texas storytellers on his third album, Mercy or Sin. “Alfred” leads off the record, a darkly poignant acoustic tale that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Guy Clark album. (“Walks with a hitch, right side hip, reads a dirt palm, right before he spits, thinks on the rain, hollers for the end, Alfred is old his blood ain't thin.”) But don’t settle in for a languid country/folk songwriter album, because he brings on resophonic guitar and stomp board on a roaring “No Integrity Man.”
This is the much-anticipated follow up to critically-acclaimed Bottleneck to Wire (2007) and 29 Loads of Freight (2004). This album finally captures the bands dynamic live show and unique growth of songwriter Gordie Tentrees. There are 12 tracks delivering story-driven songs, edgy foot-stompers and heart-worn odes that can only be cultivated by a road warrior.
Gordie has toured relentlessly in North America, Europe and the UK, building an international buzz in the roots music world. He has opened for Fred Eaglesmith and Kelly Joe Phelps, shared stages with the D-Rangers, Rick Fines, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, performed a CBC Saturday Night Blues concert, and showcased at North American Folk Alliance, Western Canadian Music Awards and South by Southwest.
Gordie will be performing 200 CD release shows in support of Mercy or Sin all across Canada, US, Europe and the UK.
Visit www.youtube.com/tentrees74 for live video
"The concert kicked off with a strong set by Gordie Tentrees, who has been opening for the band (Fred Eaglesmith) on recent dates, and it is apparent to this listener that Tentrees has been working hard in the couple of years since he opened the same venue for Kelly Joe Phelps. His ease and ability on resophonic slide guitar and rack mount harmonica suggest some serious time spent honing his craft; and the inclusion of an electrified stomp board lends authority to his steady tapping left foot. Good tunes with strong vocals and deft fingerpicking make for an enjoyable presentation and the addition of Eaglesmith's sidemen, Mattie Simpson on electric guitar and Luke Stackhouse on string bass, to finish off Tentrees portion of the show was an added treat. Tentrees is a talent on the move, and moving in good company"
Peterborough Examiner
Over the last two years he has performed at: North Country Fair, Peterborough Folk Festival, South by Southwest Festival, Dauphin Countryfest, Alaska State Fair, Trout Forest Music Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Blue Feather Music Festival, Prince George Folk Festival, Dawson City Music Festival, Canada Music Week, South Country Fair, Alsek Music Festival, Edge of the World Music Festival, Folk on the Rocks Festival, Fred Eaglesmith Picnic, Atlin Arts & Music Festival, North By Northeast Festival, Central Music Festival, Frostbite Music Festival and Winterfolk Roots & Blues Festival
Mercy or Sin Reviews
NO DEPRESSION (US)
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"
ROUND UP REVIEW (UK)
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.
PENGUIN EGGS(CAN)
"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"
AMERICANA MUSIC TIMES (US)
-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.
VUE WEEKLY (CAN)
There's no question that he means-and understands-every word that he sings and every note that he plays throughout his latest record. He's got a clear eye on the themes that run through southern roots music-death and desperation and damaged hearts abound-but Tentrees delivers everything he does with conviction. As far as deep roots go, it's hard to ask for much more than this"
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