Jokers and Prophets is the name of a powerful new album of original folk rock songs by long-time Peninsula music maker Steve Gidora (The Wheat in the Barley) and lead vocalist Medderick, musical collaborators on such projects as Home Grown and Dad since the ’70s.
And it’s a sure bet the CD release party and concert this Sunday (Feb. 5, 8 p.m., White Rock Elks Lounge, 1469 George St.) will be a focal point for many who have listened to, and worked with, the two musicians over the years.
The close-knit coterie who helped make Jokers and Prophets includes such luminaries as Gidora’s Wheat in the Barley bandmates Ed Johnson (percussion, guitars, bass and recording engineer) Mickey Hovan (bass), Neil Harnett (guitars and background vocals), Jan Sentell (background vocals) and Darryl Havers (keyboard – who works with Johnson in Brickhouse and Harnett on other projects).
But the project also features Gidora friends such as Tom Hawken (five-string banjo, an associate since the ’60s) and Barry Laffin (he, Gidora and Sentell were members of Bargain At Half A Price in the ’70s).
Well-known locals who also made contributions include Jordan Carrier, Fanny Starchild, Rick Dalgarno of Blue Voodoo, and Wheat in the Barley’s Victor Smith and Mark Dowding.
The atmosphere of friendship was important to Gidora on the long-awaited project – a chance to get down on disc some songs he’s written over the last half decade (including Crystal Mountains, Africa/One World, Heart Breakin’ Band and King of the Fools) which didn’t seem to fit the Wheat in the Barley playlist.
“They’re a little bit more modern contemporary style,” Gidora said. “I have some other songs that I’ve played with the group, like No Regrets, that work because they that have a folky, Celtic sound; but this stuff is just more open to a guitar, bass, drum and keyboards format.”
Gidora agreed that some of the material is also grittier in melodic and lyric content.
“There are a few ‘heartbreak’ tunes, but there are also songs with a definite outlook on the world situation; songs that are a little bit political,” he said.
It seemed natural to call on his friend, Medderick, who now resides in Armstrong, to sing lead vocals on the album, and who contributes two of his own songs, Boulevard and Shattered.
“Medderick has a world-class vocal ability – he definitely has his own voice, but it’s so versatile,” Gidora said.
“He can do anything from Beatles tunes to blues stuff. He can do the old Kris Kristofferson tunes or Tom Waits or Van Morrison material.
“We go back all these years and we haven’t ever grown apart.”
Harnett was also a natural choice to help with the album, Gidora added.
“I’ve known Neil almost as long as I’ve known Medderick,” he said.
“We’ve all jammed together over the years.”
Johnson, also co-producer as well as engineer, made a significant contribution to the sound of the album, Gidora said.
“He was getting his own studio together at the time I was ready to record the CD and he thought the songs were definitely worth recording,” he said.
“He added some acoustic guitar, played some power chords on Boulevard, and I think he’s even got some background vocals in there.
“And while I got Neil, he brought in Darryl from Brickhouse. The keyboard plays a big role in this album, and Darryl is a real ‘less is more’ guy – even when he’s on two tracks at once, it’s not too much.”
Gidora noted the album was mixed by Larry Anschell at Turtle Studios and mastered by Tony Chamberlist, another well-known musician on the local scene.
“It’s been a real Peninsula project, this album,” he said.
Gidora said he’s satisfied with the final product, which will be available for sale ($15) at Sunday’s gig.
“I think the flow of the songs works really well – it’s cool how it all came together. You can change mixes and change the fades at the end, but the real arrangements are there; the parts are all there.”
Gidora noted that the song Crystal Mountains has already received favourable feedback from a Nashville-based producer – even before the CD was pressed.
“I was playing it straight-ahead bluegrass style, but Neil got a funky rhythm going in there,” Gidora said. “It works beautifully – and we didn’t even have to redo the vocal.”
Tickets are available at the door or from Gidora at 604-723-3052 or sgidora@hotmail.com