There’s no other band out around like Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys, from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Led by fiddling wiz Gordie “Crazy Legs” MacKeeman, the roots quartet features all-star pickers and singers, with everything from down-home country to reckless rockabilly to intricate bluegrass. Now the boys are back in town with their fourth and latest release, Dreamland.
The band spent the past year exciting crowds all over the world, from Denmark’s Tonder Festival and the U.K.’s Cambridge Folk Festival, to Merlefest in North Carolina and the Blue Mountains Music Festival in Australia. Crowds love them everywhere they go, thanks to Gordie’s charm (and flying fiddle and feet) and their unique blend of just about every roots genre going. They love it all, old and new, and put on a variety show that has the fans dancing, laughing and singing along.
Dreamland is a big step forward for the group, as it features the greatest number of vocal tracks they’ve ever featured on an album. That highlights the development of the quartet, with all four members writing and singing their own material, and bringing their own strengths to the table. From the Cajun rocker “Sittin’ In A Bar” to classic country sounds in “Strength In Numbers” to the beautiful lullabye of the title track, the group is showing their writing skills match their playing talents. It’s a versatile, wide-ranging showcase that mirrors the live show, with four singers and multi-instrumentalists.
The members are all musical Swiss Army knives, able to pull out whatever instrument or style is needed. Peter Cann handles acoustic and electric guitars, banjo and vocals, Thomas Webb can be found on stand-up bass, guitar, banjo, steel guitar and vocals, Jason Burbine moves between drums, bass, guitar and singing, and while Gordie is mainly on fiddle, he’ll grab the guitar, sit behind the drum kit and sing lots too.
On Dreamland the band wanted to capture all that versatility, and went off in search of a producer who could work in lots of styles. They found him in Mississippi native R.S. Field, best known for his work with Justin Townes Earle, Steve Earle, Tim O’Brien and Allison Moorer. “It’s nice to work with someone who gets the sound,” says MacKeeman. “It has bluegrass elements, it has rockabilly elements, it has old-time elements, but to us it’s all the same thing. That’s why we wanted someone who understands rockabilly base as well as old-time fiddle and accordions.
In addition to songs written and sung by each member, there’s room for some great cover tunes. There’s a fiddle and banjo-fired version of the old ’60’s hit by The Hollies, “Stop Stop Stop,” and beloved P.E.I. songwriter Gene MacLellan’s “Just Want To Be Loved By You.” And the biggest surprise is a mysterious number that turns out to be “Run With Us,” the theme song from the ’80’s Canadian cartoon classic, The Raccoons. “The original is very 80’s pop,” says MacKeeman. “But we do it so different, it’s been great, it’s fun seeing people get that eureka moment when they realize what it is. It usually doesn’t take very long.”
Dreamland is an album that moves from highlight to highlight, showcasing everything the band has to offer. There’s no filler here, it’s packed with their very best songs and very best styles. “I’m one of those people that has to enjoy everything on an album, and that’s what we were shooting for, an album that holds people until the end,” says MacKeeman. “And we always like albums to be a souvenir of our live show. To bring people back to that feeling they got seeing us live.”
That feeling? The playing, the singing, the music, and those crazy legs? Feel the fun, with Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys.
