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The Great Fire (of 1870)

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
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about

Official Video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=184IAQG-K8A

This devastating fire started out near Pakenham on August 10th, in 1870. It was a very dry summer and the fire quickly spread, at times growing to 10 miles wide and 20 miles deep, blasting through eastern Ontario on super-heated hurricane winds, moving faster than people could run.

lyrics

I was playing in the gully, with my little sister Mary
When we heard church bells ringin’ on the summer breeze
Then my daddy came a runnin’, he said, “son there s a big fire comin’”
Then he put his hands on my shoulders ‘n said to me…

Ya take yourselves, down to the river
And in its water you hide
and I pray it will deliver you
from the Great Fire

So take your sister to the landing, let there be an understanding
No time for explanations or goodbyes
I'm goin back to the house now, I'll get some food and I'll grab the old sow
And as he turned to run, he said one last time…

Ya take yourselves, down to the river
And in its water you hide, and I pray it will deliver you
From the Great Fire

I heard it was, 10 miles wide
Was nothing gonna stop it?
Winds blow high
Could no one could outrun it?
With my father's words ringing in my ears
As we ran down to the river with the fire on our heels

The Great Fire took my father,
he never made it to the water
I still seem him running through the haze
And every Sunday morning,
near the place where he was born
We kneel down in the burnt lands,
and hear him say….

Ya take yourselves, down to the river
And in its water you hide, and I pray it will deliver you
From the Great Fire

Ya take yourselves, down to the river
And in its water you hide, and I pray it will deliver you
From the Great Fire

credits

from Ode to Gerry Barber, released September 13, 2020
Paul Weber - vocals and guitar
Marie-Soleil Fecteau - vocals
Rob Lethbridge - upright bass
Dan Artuso – pedal steel and guitar

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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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