Gordie Tentrees

The Whitehorse-based musician has been at it for a while now, and continues to demonstrate his skill as a storyteller. - Gray Owl Point

This is the fifth album by a man who really should be a household name thanks to the excellence of his vocal and writing skills and his ability to create atmospheres and arrangements perfectly suited to his writing, something not all great singer songwriters are able to master. - American Roots UK

Tentrees has created a cohesive collection of images and sounds that hits emotional marks without resorting to manipulation. Heard without advance warning, one could be convinced that this is the new Corb Lund or Hayes Carll album and not be a bit disappointed… - Fervor Coulee-Word Press

Apparently his third album, I have to confess I’ve never previously encountered the Canadian singer-songwriter before, but this leaves me wanting to know more. Working with an assortment of musicians, including longtime band, multi-instrumentalist Ken Hermanson and double bassist Matt King, it’s a 12 track stripped down excursion into the darker side of the roots landscape and themes of death, mental illness, loss and despair, moving between bluegrass, folk, blues, and country. He’s been likened to Fred Eaglesmith and Kelly Joe Phelps, but you’ll also hear John Prine on the talk-sing opener Alfred and the side to side swaying Carpenter Girl while the hard rockabilly Same Old Blues shoots off Johnny Cash sparks.

The blues loom large throughout, cranked up again on slide guitar stomper Devil Talks, while, slide again making its presence felt, Travelling Song Man takes a steady striding swampy tempo and Blue Motel Room walks a spare but purposeful repetitive rhythm as its dusty delivery suggests a filtering of Chris Isaak and Townes Van Zandt.

A strings and harmonica lashed cover of Bert Jansch’s folk blues Rambling’s Gonna Be The Death Of Me proves a highlight and banjo picking bluegrass blooms robustly on No Integrity Man and the title track’s duet with Jennie Sosnowski. He lets a few flat notes slip past on Ross River, a wistful observation about the relationship between the Canadian government and the First Nation communities, but even so it’s these wearied reflective echoes of the 60s folk movement that see him playing to his very considerable strengths.

- Net Rythmns

Gordie Tentrees new album is a landmark album.If there is justice in this business, years from now we may be looking back and talking about the recording that brought this Canadian singer songwriter to the forefront of his genre.The songs are dark, the melodies haunting,the voice brooding all meshed together with sophisticated instrumentation that marries acoustic guitar,harmonica, cello, steel guitar and an angelic, harmonic chorus. This is not a one listen album, this is an album that reveals new sides at every turn. He paints the characters with broad strokes, yet amazing detail.A true songwriter can bring his subjects to life with minimal expendature of lyrical real estate. Tentrees is a true songwriter.. - Bill Hurley

MAVERICK MAGAZINE (UK Roots Mag)
Bottleneck to Wire
Self-released
5/5 Stars
Another talented Canadian you need to investigate I have discovered a new musical genre: Yukon roots music. And Gordie Tentrees is an�ambassador. I'd never heard of �Yukon Roots music till I listened to his new album, BOTTLENECK TO WIRE. I didn't even know where the Yukon is (to my eternal shame). Having looked at a map I can now tell you that it is a Territory in North West Canada, with a population of about 30,000. His fellow Yukoners describe him as: "The country-rock-a-billy- folk-blues sound mixed with no-nonsense lyrics, harmonies and multi-instrumentation. So you see why I find it hard to see his sound as something only the Yukon could ever produce? However,he is a phenomenon and it's a shame that he has had so little coverage in the UK.
He does create a unique sound that dips in and out of folk and acoustic blues. His use of the Dobro and crafting of songs is wonderful. For instance, the song Farm Boy opens with some bluesy slide guitar work to be immediately accompanied by banjo and harmonica. It is great to listen to a record that oozes talent from the songwriting to the playing, to the arranging and to the mixing.Elsewhere in the industry, the art of great music seems to have somehow taken a backseat. Most record companies are trying to take music somewhere else.They are signing up some real talentless singers and songwriters whose output baffles me. Gordie Tentrees is the exception and by far the best album I have listened to for some time. He is supported by the Yukon Sound Recording Program, which has been established to encourage music in Yukon. He is also receiving sponsorship from Air North, Yukon's airline. I have no doubt that someone like Sony/BMG will offer him lots of money and take his record global. The album opens with Plenty to Hold, about being an itinerant musician. Gordie is a hardened touring musician who has done over 400 gigs in the past 2 years (according to his web site). This song gets to the heart of the problem: it's lonely out on the road, especially when you sometimes play to empty venues when the sound man and the waitress are your only fans. The title track Bottleneck to Wire is a beautiful tribute to slide guitar, �a sound I wish I could hear longer". The arrangement includes some fine backing vocals from Casey Smith and wonderful slide guitar and harmonica. Everton McEwan is a renowned Canadian boxer with 87 knockouts to his credit. 87 Men celebrates this.This song is a good old sentimental romp, a tribute to a Canadian legend who Gordie knows personally. The rest of songs are about seeing caribou drive trucks (because living in the remote Canadian countryside drives you nuts), the Tsunami and other personal tragedies in many guises. Fishing Fool is my favourite. I am great fan of slide guitar and this is an up-tempo piece that gives Gordie an opportunity to shine. His guitar style moves from finger picking on an ordinary acoustic guitar to using slide on a Dobro. He also plays a mean harp(harmonica). Jaxon Haldane needs a special mention. His banjo playing is awesome! Coming (I think) from Winnipeg, Jaxon is an accomplished band- leader, with a few rave albums to his credit as part of the D.Rangers. Gordie's album has opened up a whole new vista for me, on Canadian music and the Yukon way of life. Thank you, Gordie. You can catch him touring British Columbia, Yukon and Ontario in the summer.Hopefully, he will be back in the UK, soon.


- www. maverick-country.com

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.
- Round Up Review

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.
- Round Up Review

-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.

- Steve C

-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.

- Steve C

"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" PENGUIN EGGS - Penguin Eggs

"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" PENGUIN EGGS - Penguin Eggs

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" NO DEPRESSION - No Depression

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" NO DEPRESSION - No Depression

I think Gordie has great potential.�There's some great stuff on his new CD�Gordie's new album shows considerable growth and originality and should put him in the top echelon of young songwriters coming up through the ranks today.� - SLAID CLEAVES

Tipped troubadour Gordie Tentrees emerges from the Yukon, full of strong songwriting, hickish hoots, and stir-crazy laments. Tunes, carried by his resonater guitar, and aided by pedal steel, banjo, fiddle and blow harps, are often darker than a Whitehorse winter- yet never remorse, not even close. In the rough- cut vein of Fred Eaglesmith or Kelly Joe Phelps, Tentrees is gifted.
Brad Wheeler
Globe & Mail - Brad Wheeler

These songs are as real and dusty as any unpaved roads I've ever been on. I'm thinkin' the Yukon might have a lot in common with Texas." - Gurf Morlix

These songs are as real and dusty as any unpaved roads I've ever been on. I'm thinkin' the Yukon might have a lot in common with Texas." - Gurf Morlix