Gordie Tentrees writes from a personal perspective but aims to make his experiences as universal as possible. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario and coming from a broken home meant he spent time in the social service system.
He became a schoolteacher and youth worker and is now a foster parent to an indigenous child in the Yukon. Family and friendship are a key feature of his human-centred songs.
His recollections include his days as a five-time Golden Glove boxer in b>Ring Speed.
On a more serious note, Train is Gone was written after caring for a friend dying of cancer.
There are influences of country music and the blues but it is the social element of folk storytelling comes most naturally to him.
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Bottleneck dobro, fiddle saw and pedal steel guitar gives the mainly acoustic arrangements an extra kick.
The tunes on his 8th solo album are brisk and full of energy but, as the title suggests, he is aware that life is no bed of roses.
On the title track, he sings of “Trying to keep it straight on a train less track” and, while it is laudable that he approaches this challenging task with good humour, a little more meanness wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Gordie Tentrees’ website
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