After the sturm und drang of the ‘60’s, revolution rock fizzled out and went underground and woody sounds prevailed. Country-rock and singer/songwriter sentiments were a peak interest for musicians.
Jokers and Prophets is from there – a time rarely revisited.
The album is commandeered by Armstrong singer Medderick and Vancouver musician Steve Gidora. The duo front a vital congregate of musician friends that have collaborated from the late ‘60’s onward in various West Coast acts (Wheat in the Barley, Home Grown, Brickhouse).
This record reflects the spirit that still lingers on, that back-to-the-land folk rock style that spawned many Canadian legends (Chilliwack, Valdy, The Collectors).
Medderick and Gidora splice this post-Woodstock vibe with a solid mix of ‘70’s southern rock and western Canadiana by way of Gordon Lightfoot.
Medderick, a semi-baritone, has a voice full of character that has the ring of familiarity –– a friendly integrity that mixes the grit of Bob Seger with a Skynyrd/Lightfoot phrasing. He projects like a laid-back rock veteran (Boulevard, Shattered).
Time plays a big part in the music – it rolls away the years to reveal a potent, positive snapshot of an era with a rocking, calming influence.
Original Spin is a ringing melodic track that represents the other side of this album; a song that looks towards George Harrison’s first post-Beatle efforts.
Jokers and Prophets is a surprising album of deep and mellow tracks that pay homage to and linger in that time before the music scene became industry and big business –– a post-psychedelic reaction.
This recording veers back to then via Detroit and the West Coast.
–– Dean Gordon-Smith is a local musician who reviews recorded music in his column, Street Sounds, for The Morning Star.
