The Gords get geared up

What are the odds of lightning striking three times in the same place? Probably about the same as a new band having three guys each named Gord.

So how do you keep it from getting too confusing, I ask St. Albert’s Gordie Matthews, one of the mainstays of the trio, The Gords? The other two are Gord Maxwell, former lead vocalist for One Horse Blue, and Gord Lee Wordon, a singer/guitarist with a penchant for snappy vocals and even snappier hats.

“It’s not too bad,” replies Matthews with a soft, patient drawl that suggests it’s only perplexing to outsiders.

The trio’s adrenalin is pumped as The Gords get ready to premiere their sound at the Yellowhead Brewery on Monday, Jan. 16.

“We all have a connection to Ian,” Matthews adds explaining that in the last 15 years, all three have been a part of the Ian Tyson Band.

Playing on their musical similarities, they decided to record a CD. Tom McKillop, producer for Lisa Brokop, One More Girl and Aaron Pritchett, heard about The Gords' project and wanted in. In a bizarre twist of fate, McKillop also used to provide support to Ian Tyson.

“Tom has a great track record and he’s a great friend and musician. He was just in the right place at the right time.”

Some producers can take a band and sculpt the entire sound.

“Artistically he comes in when he’s needed. This is three guys playing guitars. He edits and points out things. He’s another voice. He’s actually the fourth Gord.”

As producer, McKillop arranged for engineer Loren Lonnqvist to record the album at Studio Downe Under in Abbotsford, B.C.

With the trio scattered across the west – Matthews lives in St. Albert, Maxwell makes his home base Port Coquitlam and Lee Wordon has taken a liking to Oregon – they ended up trekking to the studio on several occasions.

Each singer/musician brings to the table a different influence. Maxwell, the lead singer/bass player, was a leader of new country in the early ’70s. Lee Wordon has always been partial to pop and catchy lyrics.

“I’m more the bluesy side. I’m the black sheep,” laughs Matthews.

In pre-production the trio settled on nine originals and two Tyson numbers. The two covers are Magpie with an almost unrecognizable arrangement, and a contemporized Somewhere in the Rubies.

One of their originals, Feel at Home, will kick off the record and it’s available for listening on their website at www.thegords.com.

Then there’s Time to Cry, a good old-fashioned R&B jam paired next to Childhood Memories, a country Steely Dan with a jazz bridge and mainstream chords.

And their good friend, Chris Aitken, now a Warsaw, Poland resident is mixing the charts and mailing them through MP3s.

“It’s amazing the tweaks you can do over the Internet.”

The Gords perform at the Brewery on 10229 – 105 St. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Seating is limited. Reserve by emailing [email protected].