JERRY LEGER
UK & IRELAND TOUR ANNOUNCED FOR MAY
LATENT UNCOVERS EP, TO BE RELEASED MARCH 24
Watch new video for lead track “You Are Not Alone”
(written by Jeff Tweedy and originally recorded by Mavis Staples)
“Jerry Leger has that spark in him that all the great songwriters have. He’s the real deal.”
RON SEXSMITH
The gently sardonic, arch wordplay and country-rock twang recall Nick Lowe.”
Nick Hasted, UNCUT
Critically-acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Jerry Leger makes a much-anticipated return to the UK for shows in May, with dates as follows:
May 8 – Kingsmead House Concert, High Wycombe
May 9 – Green Note, London
May 10 – Running Horse, Nottingham
May 11 – Old Cinema Launderette, Durham
May 12 – St. Mary’s Creative Space, Chester
May 13 – The Glynne Arms, Hawarden
May 14 – House Concert, Sheffield
May 16 – Spirit Store (backroom), Dundalk
May 17 – The Court House, Bangor
May 18 – The Doublet, Glasgow
May 20 – TAIGH Festival – Glen Dye Estate Strachan, Aberdeenshire
May 21 – Leith Depot, Edinburgh
Ahead of his UK visit, Leger will release his Latent Uncovers EP on March 24. Pre-save here: https://eek.lnk.to/JLUC. The four songs were recorded and filmed live in the studio as part of a covers series for Cowboy Junkies’ Latent Recordings label and comprise:
“What Goes On” (originally recorded by Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed)
“The Law” (originally recorded and written by Leonard Cohen)
“You Are Not Alone” (originally recorded by Mavis Staples, written by Jeff Tweedy)
“Janine” (originally recorded and written by David Bowie)
Born in the mid-80s and surrounded by music from a young age, singer-songwriter Jerry Leger’s first musical influences were his grandfather’s Hank Williams records. Leger was intrigued by the way that Williams’ songs told a story and often conjured up mysterious images in his head. By the time he came of age in the East End of Toronto, other seminal influences had been added, including John Lennon and the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, The Everly Brothers, Tom Waits, and Gordon Lightfoot.
In 2005, a nineteen-year-old Leger cut his first independently released album. Since then, the prolific singer-songwriter has recorded 10 additional albums under his own name, with the last 4 released via Cowboy Junkies’ label, Latent Recordings.
Released in March of 2022, Leger’s album Nothing Pressing (produced by Michael Timmins) received positive reviews in prestigious music magazines, including Uncut and Rolling Stone. Evocative lyrics paired with wonderfully crafted melodies, soulful vocals and the spirit and energy of a mature songwriter, Nothing Pressing showcased an artist comfortable in his own skin and growing in stature with every release. Leger and his band supported the album with a successful UK and European tour, before returning to Toronto for a packed hometown show at Paradise Theatre. This performance was captured on tape and film, resulting in the EP Live From Paradise, released at the beginning of 2023.
Notes by Jerry Leger on Latent Uncovers EP:
“What Goes On” is pure rock ‘n’ roll with swagger; a very fun song to play. I’d love to hear Matthew Sweet do a medley of his song “Girlfriend” with this, if I don’t beat him to it!
“The Law” has one of my favourite Leonard Cohen lines, “my heart’s like a blister from doing what I do”. Maybe ’cause I can relate in my own way, which I think is the sign of a very effective lyric. We play this song a little faster and with more punch than the original. That’s just how it came out but I love the original arrangement too and the album it’s off of, Various Positions. When Cohen delivered this album to his record company, they told him, “Leonard, we know you’re great but we don’t know if you’re any good.” I don’t remember the name of the guy who said that to him…
“You Are Not Alone” is a song written by Jeff Tweedy (and I think one of his best) and originally recorded by the incredible Mavis Staples, produced by Tweedy. Dan Mock (the bass player in my band) introduced me to this tune and I think we did a really nice version of it.
“Janine” is one of my favourite hidden gems from David Bowie. It’s a track off of the first Bowie album I owned as a kid. This EP kind of turned into a collection of some of my favourite hidden gems. Maybe I should have called it Hidden Gems Vol. 1…!