Nova Scotia’s Old Man Luedecke brings his sombre songs to Winnipeg

Young man, old soul: Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Old Man Luedecke returns to Winnipeg this week in support of a new album, Tender is the Night. Supplied

He’s not as old as the name might suggest, but Old Man Luedecke isn’t short on experience either.

The Chester, N.S.-based songwriter picked up a banjo, released his first EP back in 2003 and hasn’t looked back.

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, he brings his latest disc, Tender is the Night, to the Park Theatre.

“It just seemed like a lonely instrument,” he says of the banjo. “I loved the rhythm, and its sound seemed to occupy its own unique space in the world. I was never much of a joiner so I figured that unique space would be a good place for me.”

For his fifth record, he crossed the border and headed to Tennessee to work on the follow-up to 2010’s Juno Award-winning My Hands Are On Fire and Other Love Songs, which featured a guest appearance from Grammy Award-winning bluegrass/folk musician Tim O’Brien.

This time around at the Butcher Shoppe in Nashville, the two teamed up again for Tender, but this time O’Brien produced the record.

I think that’s a theme for my better songs. They manage to be a bit sad and a bit happy at the same time.

Old Man Luedecke

“We would basically just count the song in and just go for it,” Luedecke says. “We worked really hard for four days and that was it, we were done.”

The result is 13 tracks showcasing Luedecke’s own blend of folk and bluegrass, complete with some catchy hooks tossed in. Having just signed with True North Records, Tender is his first release with Canada’s oldest indie label.

“I feel like I got closer to the thing that I’m looking for in my music, which is an absolute thrill for any songwriter,” he says.

Opening track Kingdom Come has an undeniably catchy chorus and the intro is carried by a bouncy banjo line, while on Long Suffering Jesus he picks up the guitar instead, playing the solo that’s found in the middle. A&W Song is short and sweet, a song he wrote after seeing a drunk stuck in a taxi after a gig he played earlier that night in Calgary.

“You wouldn’t think that it was a song, but lo and behold I couldn’t shake the idea and the melody kind of suggested itself,” he says. “I think that’s a theme for my better songs. They manage to be a bit sad and a bit happy at the same time.”

The cross-country tour in support of Tender is the Night with Grey Kingdom, a solo project that features Spencer Burton of Attack in Black fame, kicks off right here in Winnipeg.

“I’m really excited to play these songs,” he says. “There’s something about making this record that makes me want to get out there and play them more than ever. I just love performing and it’s such a big part of what I do - almost more important than being in the studio and making the records.”

Published in Volume 67, Number 6 of The Uniter (October 11, 2012)

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