Geoff Berner (born 1971) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician from
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. Th ...
.
Musical career
Berner originally studied piano in his youth. At a party, somebody asked him why he did not play the
accordion. As a result, he began learning to play the accordion.
Following several years fronting the
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
band Terror of Tiny Town (its name borrowed from
the 1938 film), Berner released his first solo EP, ''Light Enough to Travel'' (2000) on the
Sudden Death Records label. ''Light Enough to Travel'' contained some of the songs he wrote while part of The Terror of Tiny Town. The Vancouver band
The Be Good Tanyas
The Be Good Tanyas are a Canadian folk music group formed in Vancouver in 1999. Their influences include folk, country, and bluegrass. The style of music they perform can be referred to as alt-country or Americana.
History
The Be Good ...
covered the title track, and had some chart success with their version in England, which helped to kickstart Berner's career. In 2000, Berner was deported to Norway, where he discovered the Norwegian band
Kaizers Orchestra, for whom he would later become a support act. His first full-length album, ''
We Shall Not Flag or Fail, We Shall Go On to the End'' (2003) featured the track "Volcano God", which has been
covered
Cover or covers may refer to:
Packaging
* Another name for a lid
* Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package
* Album cover, the front of the packaging
* Book cover or magazine cover
** Book design
** Back cover copy, part of ...
by Finnish-German singer/songwriter Mäkkelä and Canadian singer/songwriter Wax Mannequin.
In the years between ''We Shall Not Flag or Fail, We Shall Go On to the End'' and 2005, Berner travelled to
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, a ...
, to study the traditional musical style
klezmer
Klezmer ( yi, קלעזמער or ) is an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The essential elements of the tradition include dance tunes, ritual melodies, and virtuosic improvisations played for l ...
, from the many talented masters in Romania. In Romania, he suffered a severe gastrointestinal infection and was rushed to a Romanian hospital, which inspired him to write "Song Written in a Romanian Hospital". After his return, Berner released his second studio album, ''Whiskey Rabbi'' (2005) on
Black Hen Music, with the help of
Diona Davies Diona may refer to:
People with the given name
* Diona Doherty (born 1989), Irish actress
* Diona Reasonover (born 1992), American actress
Places
*Diona, Mali
Diona is a village and seat of the commune of Korarou in the Cercle of Douentza in ...
of
Po' Girl
Po' Girl is a Canadian music group whose style derives from folk, country and jazz.
The band evolved from a series of jam sessions, in 2000, between Trish Klein of The Be Good Tanyas and Allison Russell, then of Fear of Drinking. The two met up ...
, on the violin, and Wayne Adams of
Zolty Cracker
Zolty Cracker was a Canadian band based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The band was named for lead vocalist and guitarist Gilles Zolty; the other members were Annie Wilkinson (bass, accordion, vocals, cello) and Geoff Berner, Wayne A ...
, percussion. They would later join him occasionally on tour. ''Whiskey Rabbi'' is the first of a trilogy of klezmer-themed records.
Berner released a humorous instructional booklet called ''How to be an Accordion Player'' in 2006. In 2007, Berner released ''The Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride'', a
concept album
A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. So ...
with the theme of
marriage
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
, and second in his planned trilogy of klezmer records. He also collaborated with the Norwegian band Girl from Saskatoon on their 2007 album.
In 2008, he released "Official Theme Song for the 2010 Vancouver / Whistler Olympic Games (The Dead Children Were Worth It!)", a satirical song he promoted as the official theme song for the
2010 Winter Olympics
)''
, nations = 82
, athletes = 2,626
, events = 86 in 7 sports (15 disciplines)
, opening = February 12, 2010
, closing = February 28, 2010
, opened_by = Governor General Michaëlle Jean
, cauldron = Catriona Le May Doan Nancy GreeneWayne Gr ...
, as an mp3 on February 19, 2008. The song asserts that, in order to help pay for the games, the government of British Columbia closed a provincial
coroner's office which investigated the deaths of children.
He later attracted controversy at the
Winnipeg Folk Festival
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a nonprofit charitable organization with an annual summer folk music festival held in Birds Hill Provincial Park, near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The festival features a variety of artists and music from around th ...
in July when he opened his set with a performance of "The Dead Children Were Worth It!", followed by a joke which linked the festival's corporate sponsor,
Volkswagen
Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a global brand post ...
, to
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
.
In 2008 he released ''Klezmer Mongrels'', the third album in his klezmer trilogy. Later in the year, Berner and colleague
Bob Wiseman
Robert Neil "Bob" Wiseman (born 1962) is a film composer, songwriter, author and music teacher. Wiseman discovered or produced many artists including Ron Sexsmith, The Lowest of the Low, Bruce McCulloch of Kids in the Hall, Anhai, and forme ...
were given the
Key to the City
The Freedom of the City (or Borough in some parts of the UK) is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary. Arising from the medieval practice of granting respected ...
of
Bruno, Saskatchewan
Bruno is a town located 90 km east of Saskatoon and 35 km west of Humboldt. Its current mayor is Dale Glessman.
Bruno is the only community in the prairies to hold an annual cherry festival.
Bruno Clayworks located 4 km west of ...
.
Berner signed with Vancouver-based
Mint Records Mint Records is a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based independent record label founded in 1991, by friends and campus radio enthusiasts Randy Iwata and Bill Baker. Mint has put out over 150 releases, several of which have won Juno Awards.
His ...
in 2010 and recorded ''
Victory Party'' with producer
Socalled. Released March 8, 2011, ''
Victory Party'' featured backing musicians who specialized in authentic klezmer music. While the majority of modern klezmer is filtered through different forms of Western music, Berner's intention was to find a more traditional sound. He stated at the time, "We're all trying to put out a vision of
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
culture that's the opposite of the conservative, knee-jerk pro-
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
, judgmental b---s--- that's emerged in recent decades."
Following a four-year gap, Berner's next original album, ''We Are Going To Bremen To Be Musicians'', became one of the first releases on
Rae Spoon's Coax Records in 2015. The album title is a reference to the old German folk tale about elderly farm animals threatened with death, who run away from their masters in the hope of achieving freedom by becoming Town Musicians. The story's theme of irrational hope and optimism in the face of horror was echoed in most of the songs on the album. "I would describe the record as a compendium of strategies against despair," Berner stated.
Berner's next album, ''Canadiana Grotesquica'', arrived in 2017 on Coax Records, preceded by the single "Hustle Advisory (Canada 150 Remix by Socalled)." The songs were a return to a more traditional alt-country style, guided by producer/guitarist Paul Rigby. Significant contributions were also made by
Frazey Ford
Frazey Obadiah Ford is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. She was a founding member of The Be Good Tanyas. Her solo debut ''Obadiah'' was released on Nettwerk on July 20, 2010.
Jenny Charlesworth of ''The Georgia Straight'' wrote that a ...
and Diona Davies. The album contains the song "
Gino Odjick
Wayne Gino Odjick (September 7, 1970 – January 15, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1990 to 2002 for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelph ...
," a tribute to the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
fan favourite, while other songs namecheck
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley Fox (July 28, 1958 June 28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated due to cancer, he embarked on an east-to-west cross-Canada run to raise money ...
,
Corb Lund and
Country Dick Montana.
In February 2019, Berner released a video for the ''Canadiana Grotesquica'' track "Super Subtle Folk Song" in response to the
National Energy Board
The National Energy Board was an independent economic regulatory agency created in 1959 by the Government of Canada to oversee "international and inter-provincial aspects of the oil, gas and electric utility industries". Its head office was located ...
's second recommendation to approve the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Personal life
Berner is the stepfather of actress
Genevieve Buechner, and father of Margot Berner and Joseph Zeidler-Berner. He is also close friends with
American ukulele
The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ), also called Uke, is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four nylon strings.
The tone and volume of the instrumen ...
player
Carmaig de Forest, and covers his compositions regularly on tour, and recorded his song "In the Year 2020" on his ''We Shall Not Flag or Fail, We Shall Go On to the End'' album. In 2008, he began covering songwriter Kris Demeanor instead of de Forest, and Demeanor's song "One Shoe" appears on the ''Klezmer Mongrels'' album. Additionally, Berner often collaborates with fellow Canadian
Carolyn Mark, and recorded a duet with her, for her ''Just Married: An Album of Duets'' album in 2005.
Berner is Jewish, which is reflected in his klezmer song "Lucky God Damn Jew".
Politics
Between 1988 and 2001, Berner was active in the
Green Party of British Columbia
The Green Party of British Columbia, often simply called the BC Greens, is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1983 and is based in Victoria. The party won its first seat in the Legislative Assembly of Br ...
and was a member of former leader
Stuart Parker's inner circle. He ran as a candidate at the federal and provincial levels in the general elections of 1991, 1993, 1996 and 1997.
His most high-profile campaign, however, was as a candidate for the satirical
Rhinoceros Party of Canada in the 2001 provincial general election against future premier
Gordon Campbell.
In recent years, Berner has expressed intense environmental concerns, and has thrown his support behind the newly launched
BC Ecosocialist Party.
Discography
Albums
*2003 - ''
We Shall Not Flag or Fail, We Shall Go On to the End''
*2004 - ''Live in Oslo''
(credited to "Geoff Berner & Associates" (Diona Davies & Wayne Adams); live recording from May 21, 2003
*2005 - ''Whiskey Rabbi''
(with Diona Davies & Wayne Adams)
*2007 - ''Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride''
(with Diona Davies & Wayne Adams)
*2008 - ''Klezmer Mongrels''
(with Wayne Adams & Diona Davies)
*2011 - ''
Victory Party''
*2015 - ''We Are Going to Bremen to Be Musicians''
*2017 - ''Canadiana Grøtesquica''
*2019 - ''Grand Hotel Cosmopolis''
EPs, singles and others
* ''Light Enough to Travel'' (2000)
* "It's All Just a Matter of (Where You Draw the Line), duet with
Carolyn Mark, featured on her 2005 album ''Just Married: An Album of Duets''
* "Don't Play Cards for Money with
Corby Lund", non-album track released in 2006 as a download from his website
* "The Rich Are Going to Move to the High Ground", non-album track released in June 2007 as a download from his website
* "Official Theme Song for the 2010 Vancouver / Whistler Olympic Games (The Dead Children Were Worth It!)", non-album track released in February 2008 as a download from his website
* "How to be an Accordion Player" - instructional booklet (2006)
*
"Come All Ye Bold Canadians (Song of the War of 1812)", released on Henry Adam Svec's 2011 recording project ''Folk Songs of Canada Now''
Books
In 2013, Berner released his first novel, ''Festival Man'', with
Dundurn Press
Dundurn Press is one of the largest Canadian-owned book publishing companies of adult and children's fiction and non-fiction. The company publishes Canadian literature, history, biography, politics and arts. Dundurn has about 2500 books in pr ...
.
In 2017, Berner released the novel ''The Fiddler is a Good Woman'', also with Dundurn Press. It was well-received, with ''Foreword Reviews'' writing, "The language blends the profane and poetic … Melodic and chaotic, with a wide range of voices, ''The Fiddler is a Good Woman'' creates an artist of complex character, unapologetically flawed and almost too real to be fictional."
Television
Berner wrote over a dozen sketches for ''
Sesame Park'', the
CBC version of ''
Sesame Street
''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) and ...
'', including animated short "Doug the Monster" and "Alison's Magic Kettle" in 1993, the first televised children's program in the world to overtly depict same-sex couples raising children. Berner also wrote several episodes during the
third
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute''
Places
* 3rd Street (disambiguation)
* Third Avenue (disambiguation)
* Hi ...
and
fourth seasons of the long-running animated series ''
Ed, Edd n Eddy
'' Ed, Edd n Eddy'' is a Canadian animated comedy television series created by Danny Antonucci for Cartoon Network and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television. The series revolves around three friends named Ed, Edd (called "Double D" ...
''.
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berner, Geoff
Canadian accordionists
Canadian folk singer-songwriters
Canadian male singer-songwriters
Jewish Canadian musicians
Canadian satirists
Living people
Green Party of British Columbia candidates in British Columbia provincial elections
Folk punk musicians
1971 births
Mint Records artists
Musicians from Vancouver
21st-century accordionists
Canadian Folk Music Award winners
21st-century Canadian male singers
Black Hen Music artists