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Country Music News: "Get Up" Review
Born in Steinbach, Manitoba, raised in Brandon (with a sidetrip to Chicago), Cam Penner and his Gravel Road band, have fine-tuned their 'busking' into a pretty decent act. I have not been privy to an earlier "Drive" CD, but this follow-up disc has a lot going for it.
Cam Penner writes and delivers his songs wit h a Fred Eaglesmith/Steve Earle/John Prine touch to them; all the while maintaining his own vocal identity with a crusty, at times raspy delivery. It's not necessarily "pretty", but certainly is effective.
There's a 'dust bowl' feel to a lot of the messages in the songs (all of which are written by Cam Penner except for Drunken Fights); and he touches on several different musical themes. There's an excellent rockabilly item in Met Her On A Monday, which also draws on some Chuck Berry touches. This Ol' Town is a country/boogie woogie piece that is quite infectious, while the steel guitar licks (courtesy of Charlie Veilleux) help make the slow country weeper When I Die one of the standouts on the package.
Also worthy of extra listen is the country hurtin' tune Could've Been A Better Day; while Come Back To Me is wrapped around a shuffle/blues arrangement that is particularly interesting. That Steve Earle/John Prine influence is felt most in the gutsy Over My Head. Cam Penner's wife Tabitha Nordby-Penner has lead vocal honours on the Drunken Fights song.
Get Up was produced by Darren Bourne.