Tackling subjects other musicians shy away from Chris Gheran is a unique singer-songwriter.
For example the title track of his most recent album “Calgary” the artist, performing at Coyote Moon in Turner Valley on April 2, said he penned the tune because he felt his hometown was overdue for critical examination through song.
“I just realized that almost everyone, when they write songs dealing with cities, they always mention something like New York or at the very least Toronto or Montreal.” Gheran said. “Nobody from Calgary seems to mention it in their songs. It’s like their trying to forget where they come from.”
Having a self-professed love hate relationship with the city, Gheran included some lyrics that take jabs at the urban centre. At one point he refers to it is as a place, which, “steals your virtue”.
Gheran sees the song not as condemnation of Calgary, but a heartfelt plea for the city to be all it could be.
“I grew up here and it’s home, but I think we could be a better city if we tried harder,” he explained.
“Calgary” is Gheran’s third independent album. It was made possible primarily by grant money whereas his previous two discs, “Monster” and “Coup d’etat” were financed by loans from family, which he happily reported he has recently paid back.
The musician enjoyed a bump in his notoriety last summer when Calgary’s Jack FM radio station honoured him as the city’s best busker, an accolade that delivered a $5,000 prize.
Gheran explained, like most musicians who open up the guitar case to donations, his decision to do so was made mostly out of financial need.
“I did it for a little while, maybe about a year,” he said. “I was mostly just playing down at the farmer’s market in Calgary because I had lost my job and I needed to start making some money. I was playing so much anyway I thought why not go out and do it on the weekends.”
Another illustration of Gheran’s knack for taking songwriting roads less traveled is his song “APC Gunner” with the first three letters standing for armored personnel carrier.
Appearing on his “Coup d’etat” album it’s a tribute to contemporary soldiers and he said he was inspired in great part by Gheran’s cousin, Corporal Mike Bourgaize, who just went overseas for a second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
“I have this strange kind of obsession with war and military history,” he said. “When my cousin joined up I started to become obsessed with modern war and all the ins and outs of that.”
While many folk musicians have traditionally written anti-war songs, Gheran stated he wanted “APC Gunner” to be a tribute to those who serve their country in areas of conflict.
“It might not be the most politically correct song to write,” the performer said, “but I just feel bad for the guys over there. They are working so hard day in and day out and they turn on their radio they hear an anti-soldier song telling them to stop fighting but they’re thinking, ‘I am just trying to do a job here.’”
Gheran and his playing partner, Tyler Stephan, will perform in Turner Valley April 2 at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are available at the show venue, Coyote Moon Cantina and Espresso Bar on Main Street.
