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Livin' in a Rooming House

from Ode to Gerry Barber by Paul Weber

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Inspired by a fire and born during a pandemic, Paul Weber's new album “Ode to Gerry Barber” is full of stuff that doesn't always make it into the history books. This is a heartfelt album about Ottawa area communities and stories past and present. Song subjects range from a famous local bouncer, the collapse of the Heron Road Bridge, the building of the Rideau Canal, Ottawa's first train, homeless people on Murray Street, why Ottawa isn't "Ottawa”, growing up in Vanier/Eastview, the days of the circus parade, the Great Fire of 1870, what it’s like to live in an Ottawa rooming house, and how to mansplain.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    - In January 2020 the song “Dans un mile carré” won Paul a L'Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario (AFO) award for contributions to Francophone culture by an Anglophone.
    - The song “The Great Fire (of 1870)” has a video that was filmed in the Burnt Lands in Almonte where the fire once raged. www.youtube.com/watch?v=184IAQG-K8A
    - The song, "Ode to Gerry Barber" includes a special guest appearance by Gerry Barber Junior saying the words his dad once spoke.

    The album was recorded and mixed at Ottawa’s Gallery Recording Studio by Dean Watson, produced by singer-songwriter/producer/videographer North Easton and mastered by Grammy-nominated Philip Shaw Bova. The CD was designed by Marc Audet.

    Principal accompanying musicians on the album are Marie Soleil Fecteau on vocals and Rob Lethbridge on upright bass. Special guest Ottawa musicians include: Sylvio Modolo, Angel Araos, Kelly Craig, Ryan Purchase, Zeek Gross, Kim Kaskiw, Patrick Pharand, Christine Fagan, Dan Artuso, Jason Sonier, and Stuart Rutherford.

    The CD comes with a 12-page booklet about the songs, not available with the digital version. The digital version of the album, available on Bandcamp, contains a bonus track, comes with an uncensored version of “Ode to Gerry Barber”, where Gerry Barber Junior speaks a more accurate version of what his dad would have said.

    If you're in Ottawa I will hand deliver the CD to you for free if you like. If you would like this option, email directly at info@paulweber.ca.

    THANKS
    In addition to my musical collaborators I wanted to especially thank the following people who have supported me in this project: Adri Anna, Alexandra Gruca-Macaulay, Amelia Brown, Andre Bouchard, Bernard Chartand, Bill Dare, Bruce Deachman, Carly Dybka, Chris White, Dave and Sherri Macki, Denise Legare Donald Clark, Janet and Dennis, Heather Weinrich, Jean Ouellette, Jim Sutherland, Kathy Cook and Mike Blanchfield, Ken Moore, Ken Risdon, Lalith Gunaratne, Lynn Chairelli , Marie-Eve Filteau, Mary Moreland, Maude Downey, Michael Rutherford, Michelle Gariepy, Mike and Gail, Nancy Shaver, Nicole Findlay, Paul Crete, Pierre Tardiff, Ramine Shaw, Rebecca Aird, Scott McNess, Sharon Tapp,, Sybil Grace

    Apologies for anyone I missed!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Ode to Gerry Barber via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.     ... more
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 CAD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1.50 CAD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • T-Shirt/Shirt

    High quality, black t-shirts available in all sizes. With original multi-coloured design by Ottawa artist An Nguyen. Due to high shipping costs, Ottawa-area orders can be hand-delivered on request for $3. To arrange this purchase contact me directly at info@paulweber.ca (don't order here)

    An Nguyen uses vibrant colours and intricate composition to illustrate the rhythms and joys of modern life. Inspired by her travels and love of music, her geometric contemporary paintings capture musical concepts of cadence and rhythm in the movement of their fluid lines and shifting shapes. Simple moments of modern life are transformed in her paintings via the convergence of music and culture, while thematic elements of jazz and urban architecture intermingle throughout her work. An hopes that her art serves as an escape and source of happiness. She is motivated by a desire to be a female voice in the world of jazz culture, and hopes that her whimsical landscapes can celebrate the explorer in all of us. ... more
    ships out within 10 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $30 CAD or more 

     

about

Ottawa has around 80 rooming houses, though the number has been in decline in recent years. There are a real range of places; some good, some bad, some in between, many with people living a life close to the edge. This song is for them.

lyrics

I’m livin’ in a place down on Cooper Street
In a room that measures 6 by 9 feet
That’s smaller than a cell in the regional jail
But not many places takes you out on bail
It’s better than a bunk at the Sally Ann
And it sure beats sleeping in a garbage bin

I’m livin’ in a rooming house

The rent’s way more than I can afford
But at least I know I'm helping out my landlord
With the payments on his black limousine
While we live here like a bunch of sardines
He come around when cheque day is near
But otherwise he don’t come round here

I’m livin’ in a rooming house
At the end of month when the money’s all spent
I go out on the street and I pan a bit
The food bank says they ain’t got food
Tell me, what’s a poor fella like me to do?

Yesterday I came home and they’d changed the locks
All my stuff was on the curb in a cardboard box
Yeah fellas like me, we don’t put up a fight
So I'm out here on the street for a long cold night
Sleeping on the sidewalk in a deep freeze
But you know I’d much rather be….

Livin’ in a rooming house
Livin’ in a rooming house

credits

from Ode to Gerry Barber, released September 13, 2020
Live in studio:
Paul Weber - vocals and guitar
Marie-Soleil Fecteau - vocals
Rob Lethbridge - upright bass
Stuart Rutherford – dobro

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about

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Paul Weber Ottawa, Ontario

Paul Weber is an Ottawa-based singer-songwriter, guiar picker, story teller, video maker, hell bent on telling stories of his town, Ottawa--stories that don't make it into the history books.

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