DEVIL’S TAXI

NEW ALBUM 2023

PRESS RELEASE

The new album drops on February 17th at The Cameron House in Toronto and all digital platforms world wide. This cycle of songs takes the listener on a journey into the spirit of Canada from gorgeous Lake Superior, to Moose Jaw SK, the historical Klondike Gold Rush of 1896 Dawson City, Yukon, and the rural landscape around Southern Ontario’s Devil’s Glen and the Mad River.

Co-produced by Pete Eastmure and Steve Dawson and the Henhouse Express in Nashville, Tennessee; Steve Dawson is an 7 time Juno Award winner and 18 nominations. Pete always wanted to go to Nashville and his sound led him there, brilliantly captured on his first record after the “Shutdown”. Good thing it did so this record could be made. Influenced by Gordon Lightfoot, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Joni Mitchell and Hank Williams and The Drifting Cowboys.

MAVERICK MAGAZINE UK, March / April 2023

“As cheerful and light-hearted as you could expect. Standing By A Hole is jovial and already sounds like a classic song within country music."

 Zoe Deighton Smythe 19-06-01

MAVERICK MAGAZINE, UK, KEEP YOUR LOVE STEADY "4/5 Star review”

KEEP YOUR LOVE STEADY

“Shirley Temple”

"You received Honourable Mention in American
Songwriter Magazine Lyric Contest"

American Songwriter Magazine - 2019-03-01

LITTLEST VOICE MAGAZINE

KEEP YOUR LOVE STEADY

"There is an honest serenity to be found in Pete Eastmure's latest album, Keep Your Love Steady..."

SAMANTHA STEVENS - 2019-03-27

"It's rare when an artist can capture the essence of country, roots, folk and pop.  Score this one eleven out of eleven."

Review of record The Smallest Voice.

RPM Magazine, Walt Grealis, Founder Juno Awards

IN PRAISE OF…

“I have been singing 44 Below all day”

Laurine M. Toronto, 2023 Devil’s Taxi Album release

"I was blown away by the talent I witnessed at your album release party. I loved the stories, and your inspiration rooted in family, traditions, and Canada’s beauty ( and of course the Collingwood girls) behind each song. Every instrument had a voice, and speaking of which, your vocals were spot on, with undeniable influences of some heavy hitting great Canadian folk artists. Bravo Pete and band.”

Eunice S. Toronto, 2023 Devil’s Taxi Album release

"Didn't quite know what to expect but was delightfully drawn in from the first number and stayed entertained and engaged till the last note. Really nice to hear the inspiration behind each number gathered from your travels and life experiences Pete. I'm sure there are many more waiting to be written and sung with your smooth and expressive voice. And you almost made this Collingwood girl cry. Congratulations on the release of your new album.

Lorraine S. Toronto, 2023 Devil’s Taxi Album release

"I'm a bit overwhelmed and deeply appreciative you performed at the Face the Music Collective Showcase. I loved, loved your performance."

Peter Kronowitt, Face The Music Collective

Folk Alliance International , New Orleans, USA 2020

"If I were still teaching English, I would include Outside as part of a Canadian poetry unit!
It's not about the outside, as a place to be; it's the concept of outside, as a way of being.  How Canadian!"

Mary Muirhead Board Member, Qu'Appelle Valley  Centre for the Arts, SK 2018

REVIEWS

Canadian singer-songwriter, Pete Eastmure, is back with another brilliant collection of songs. Starting off with the title track, with its delicate mandolin, we’re introduced to Eastmure’s style of authentic Americana. A standout track for me is ‘Lake Superior Sunset’ with it’s swooning pedal steel and organ helping to paint the picture and set the scene. ‘Always Springtime’ is another gem. Eastmure’s vocals sound stronger on this particular song, the chorus, though original, has a comforting familiarity about it. ‘Long Run’ sees a shift in the mood slightly and the arrangement is much simpler and stripped back. It’s an easy listen; the production is polished throughout, the traditional instrumentation adding to the authenticity. Eastmure’s vocals are clear as he makes sure every word lands with the listener and the songs are well crafted. Eastmure continues to impress with this latest album which captures the essence of his artistry. 

“Devil’s Taxi is an evocative and emotional journey song that affects the listener and is rooted in the story of Robin Hood;

seen through the lens of the modern world gone mad.” Martin Noakes, Pennsylvania, USA.

THE GREAT DARK WONDER, CANADA, Devil’s Taxi February 28, 2023

Pete Eastmure- Devil’s Taxi PeteEastmure.com

Pete Eastmure, a veteran Canadian singer/songwriter of the Americana/roots variety, crafts narrative songs with poetic and abstract elements alongside.

A Toronto resident, Eastmure draws upon his experiences, including those of early childhood and youthful travels, to influence his songs. His vocal cadence reminds me of the late James Reams, one of my all-time faves, putting Eastmure into the Fervor Coulee Favourites category. Eastmure sings with the confidence of Tom Russell performing that damned chicken song for the fifth time on a festival weekend.

No holding him back then.

Co-producing Devil’s Taxi with Eastmure is Steve Dawson, another Fervor Coulee Fave. Eastmure provides the voice and guitar, while Dawson—as he does—shares a bit of everything: pedal steel, acoustic, and electric guitars, as well as Dobro and banjo, with frequent Dawson compatriot Gary Craig handling the drum kit. Fats Kaplin offers the fiddle parts, Jeremy Holmes the mandolin with Denis Keldie’s organ and accordion appearing in places.

“Devil’s Taxi,” the title track, immediately captures the imagination as Eastmure utilizes elements of the Robin Hood legends to illuminate our current challenges. Another memorable song is “Lake Superior Sunset,” influenced certainly by Eastmure’s childhood experiences living along the lakes of northern Ontario.

One of the album’s most impressive songs is “44 Below.” Lyrically, Eastmure captures the experience of extended exposure to extreme cold—most Canadians of a certain age can relate—while developing a captivating narrative of gold rush exploration. Dawson’s pedal steel washes over the song, effectively connecting verses and choruses, with Kaplin’s fiddle further enlivening the tale.

“Jonah,” with vivid images of long-ago memories and hopeful, life affirming lyrics, is another favourite. “The Long Run” and “Always Springtime” are strong country songs, the latter a realistic post-mortem of a final goodbye. Rebecca Campbell’s vocals on “The Long Run” provide a welcome, softer element; the line “may all our mistakes get buried in the dirt” is evocative.

Eastmure has fond memories of a childhood work companion, “Tom Mix.” A local hero by Eastmure’s account, Mix was that ‘guy who blocks the sun’ that most youthful boys will admire. Clearing brush and felling trees provides the background for the song, but it is the instrumental passages that elevate it.

While “Tom Mix” and “Jonah” allow Eastmure to bring his father into Devil’s Taxi, it is “This Old Hammer” that serves as tribute to his lasting influence. If you’ve got family tools, or spent time completing projects with a parent or other family member, you feel the emotions the song evokes.

The only song I didn’t appreciate was “Talkin’ In Line.” Maybe it is because I don’t enjoy talking to strangers while queuing, but mostly I don’t find the lyrics compelling. Musically, the jaunty tune works and perhaps could have been left as an instrumental: that I would have enjoyed.

Pete Eastmure isn’t fancy, and isn’t likely to find himself lauded by the American websites of influence. He brings a comforting intimacy to his songs, both in the manner in which he handles his subject matter and in the way he seems to be singing to an audience of one. Good songs and great performances all around. A very enjoyable album is Devil’s Taxi.

ROOTS MUSIC OPINION REVIEW - FEVOR COULEE

JUNE 4, 2023

“It felt like John Hartford was in the house”

Collingwood Art Crawl, Sept. 2023 Clerkson’s Home Store