by Les Pearson
Geoff Berner: Pushing More Buttons Than His Accordion!
Geoff Berner--as in barn "burner"--is an edgy musician. He is erudite, articulate, and maybe alcoholic. Not everyone loves him. I met Geoff for the first time at the Regina Folk Festival this summer. While they may not know his name, many folk fans have heard his songs. Corb Lund sang Geoff's song, Maginot Line, at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. And The Be Good Tanyas' version of Light Enough to Travel played on summer radio. Both songs are poetically memorable. Geoff has recorded a lone CD with a title that is more political banner: We Shall Not Flag Or Fail, We Shall Go On To The End. Billy Bragg has influenced Berner because "...he's never afraid to talk about stuff that matters to him." Berner opened concerts for Bragg in Dublin last February. Both singers support the anti-globalization movement. But Berner disagrees with Bragg's assessment that today's young protesters lack a positive vision. Berner's "perfectly good" world lacks "private sector and market" solutions to social ills. "I want to live in a society where you can't sink to desperation, no matter what happens. And, axiomatically, you can't rise to levels of absurd wealth." "And there has to be proper environmental standards for industry so that we can eat and breathe and drink clean water. Drinking clean water. Breathing clean air. Having a job. You know, having a home, having a place to live. These are very positive ideas!" Our stop-and-start conversation is like a forest fire. It leapfrogs one hot spot to the next. About being unpredictable on stage: "Risk is the currency of drama." Then later, "It's kind of a risky thing to stand up in front of people with nothing but an accordion. And you go, 'OK, you're going to be entertained by this. You're going to want to stick around.' There's inherent drama in this, I think." About the accordion: "The accordion is part of the folk music of Eastern European Jews--klezmer! Wedding music! Drinking music! Party music!" About being Jewish: Geoff describes himself as an "Ultra Reform Jew" and suggests that this tradition informs his "culture, ethics, and world view." His Jewish education taught him "Never again!" He believes, "If you really take that seriously that means 'Never again!' for anybody." He lists contemporary genocide victims. First Nations Canadians, Rwandans, Bosnians.... What can be said about a new folk musician who plays ancient klezmer tunes with slurred punk--or drunk--rhythms? Controversial? Provocative? Confrontational? Geoff Berner wears these labels like union jeans. (Ever notice the human inclination to rush judgment on those who judge?) Geoff Berner is Ezekiel stridently condemning social sin that mars God's creation. Woody Guthrie cried out. So did Pete Seeger. Each, in his way, paid a price for the message. Now, there is Berner. He will never be Garth or Eminem. If you encounter him, you may not like him. But you will remember his message and music. |