The Gertrudes

"By the lakeside, by the seashore, the light of sky, all the creatures who live there, no name for you and I."

Those lyrics have been singing through my mind since the moment Annie Clifford stepped into the audience with her banjo and taught us all the chorus to "Advancement of the Human Age," the epic seven-minute number from their latest album Hard Water. The song started off sweet and gentle, the light picking of violin strings set against the backing melody of a mandolin was setting a tone of anticipation, and when the chorus finally broke, the audience joined in the harmonies of the ever-present members of the band, joyfully basking in the music that they shared. With a build up so baited and beautiful, this was my introduction to The Gertrudes; Kingston, Ontario's very own musical pride and joy.

I was first informed about the talents of The Gertrudes by my coworkers, who subsequently informed me of their upcoming show; and even though I was unfamiliar with the depths of the band, what I had heard during the days and even hours leading up to the gig was enough to get me fired up and excited for their performance, the events which followed went something to this effect:

By the brass taps of the E-Bar I stood patiently, awaiting the group's arrival to the stage, and when it came and I watched the nine-piece ensemble take stance behind their instruments, an immediate positive energy filled the room. On the strum of the first few chords I was front and center, where I stood glued for the duration of their set. By the start of their second song it had become blatantly clear to any observer that their connection as a group sparks and fuses their likeness for making good music, and as a listener with foot tapping and hands clapping, I can tell you with nothing but the truth that they have done their job very, very well.

Bass, guitar (acoustic and electric), banjo, ukulele, mandolin, keys, trombone, accordion(s), trumpet, violin, drums and percussion: the instruments crafted into the hands of each performer, each one played with respect and prowess. More than just a band to hear, they are a band to physically take in, my eyes bouncing to all corners of the stage, welcoming the achievements of each member as they display their talents respectively. A feast for both the eyes and ears, I would be extremely hard-pressed to pick out any one moment or song to which I could say was the highlight of the evening for me, all in all, I was utterly blown away.

Together since January of 2008, they have now released their second EP, Hard Water, a seven-track collection of creativity and hard, dedicated work. Whether you listen to efforts new or old, their "folky"/country sound is enough to get anybodies toes-a-tappin', and when you add their individual personalities on top of their musical abilities, you end up with something entirely moving. Be it Greg Tilson's soothing vocals, Amanda Balsys's charming presence and ability on the violin, Pim van Geffen's complimenting notes from the trombone, or any of the other countless talents within the construct of this band, their sound is welcome, full of promise, pleasing by every definition and, quite frankly, long overdue.

With a band whose history is still so young, it's hard to imagine such a chemistry could exist, but The Gertrudes seem to have dedicated their efforts into writing songs that make them proud and, in turn, make the audience happy, a feat for which they have not failed. In the opinion of this writer and musical adventurer, and I say this with pure sincerity, more music needs to follow the path that The Gertrudes seem to now be paving.

With Greg and Annie taking their turns on lead vocals, every member of the band weaving harmonies to haunt or cheer, and altogether playing off the energy of camaraderie, The Gertrudes are a band to watch out for; it's actually a total wonder that it took this long for me to discover them. So, while they tour Ontario, checking in to one of their shows is something we should all be so lucky to do.

Keep listening

-Phil


www.myspace.com/theothergertrudes

Recommended Listening

Advancement of the Human Age - - seriously....listen to this song.
Turn Out the Lights (River Song)
Lonely Days
Seymour