Al Tuck

BIO IN BRIEF: Al Tuck was born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, the son of editorial cartoonist and Anglican cleric Canon Robert Tuck. He attended the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia and began appearing in Halifax coffeehouses and college pubs, either as a solo performer or with his first couple of bands, namely The Columbia Recording Artists and The Bluegrass Lawnmower. His formation of the trio Al Tuck and No Action (with various musicians such as Tracy Stevens, Dave Marsh, Henri Sangalang, Matt Murphy, Charles Austin, Paul Mandell, Phil Harmonica, Harry Norris, Devon Henderson, Angus Parks, Benn Ross and Brock Caldwell) coincided with increased attention on the burgeoning Halifax independent music scene in the early 1990s. This led Tuck to a recording deal with Murderecords, the boutique music label managed by Halifax pop act Sloan, a nomination for an East Coast Music Award (ECMA) and an appearance at Lollapalooza. Over the years Al has shared the stage with the Garth Hudson, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Vic Chesnutt, Calexico, Feist, Sarah Harmer, Hayden, Oh Susanna, Tom Russell, Superfriendz, Hardship Post, Eric's Trip, Howe Gelb, Old Man Luedecke, Buck 65, Matt Mays, Joel Plaskett, Julie Doiron, Catherine MacLellan, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. He has toured the British Isles and played to receptive crowds on the alt-country circuit there, receiving his first mentions in the overseas press including a blurb in the authoritative monthly Mojo Magazine. To date Al performs regularly, never playing the same show twice. As his legend grows he continues to live the life he sings about in his songs, keeping his lamp trimmed and burning. DISCOGRAPHY: (click on the links below to listen to the albums) * Arhoolie (1994) – Murderecords http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?products_id=165&osCsid=18pso74g7jggega9ot59kdqqn3 * Brave Last Days (1994) – Murderecords http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?products_id=156&osCsid=18pso74g7jggega9ot59kdqqn3 * The New High Road of Song (2001) – Brobdingnagian http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?products_id=171&osCsid=18pso74g7jggega9ot59kdqqn3 * Live at the Rebecca Cohn (2002) – independent http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?products_id=173&osCsid=18pso74g7jggega9ot59kdqqn3 * My Blues Away (2005) – independent http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?products_id=257&osCsid=18pso74g7jggega9ot59kdqqn3 * Food For The Moon (2009) – independent http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?products_id=2342&osCsid=18pso74g7jggega9ot59kdqqn3 All of Al’s albums are available for $8.88 each by visiting: http://www.zunior.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=al+tuck&osCsid=18pso74g7jggega9ot59kdqqn3&x=6&y=8 Physical copies of the albums can be found in record stores in Eastern Canada from Windsor to Saint John's. To listen to more of Al’s music: Visit his myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/altucknoaction Visit his CBC Radio 3 page: http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Al-Tuck-and-No-Action/ Listen to Al recorded live at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax, January 28, 2009 for his performance at the annual "In The Dead Of Winter" Festival: http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod/concerts/20090128atuck All Music Guide’s review of Al’s album “The New High Road Of Song”: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kpfixqr0ldae For more extensive information on Al Tuck including song lyrics, press clippings, photos, shows, news and compilations please visit his official website: http://www.altuck.ca All booking inquiries should be directed to: [email protected] [email protected] WORD ON THE STREET: “(My Blues Away) confirms his place as perhaps the premiere Atlantic tunesmith whose influence continues to spread amongst several generations of alternative and roots musicians." -Ron Foley Macdonald “My Blues Away is a staggering collection of solo ditties, instrumentals, full band moments and tearjerkers.” -The Hour "The third album (The New High Road of Song) by one of North America's least-known exceptional songwriters is a dense, sublime masterwork. The degree of looseness in Tuck's music is endearing and exactly right. It is neither messy nor sloppy, it is simply candid and honest." - All Music Guide "With his third album, The New High Road of Song, Halifax's unsung hero has offered an irresistible collection of laid-back, jazz-inflected, indie groove rock.... One of Canada's best-kept secrets." - Chartattack.com "This critically-acclaimed, but criminally underexposed songwriter has weathered the music industry's Haligonian feeding frenzy and come out with his most cohesive work to date." - Earshot Online “The notions of a mad prophet expertly realized in music. Al Tuck may not know the way, but he is the way." - More Goat Than Goose "His stripped down approach makes him sound like a funky white boy from the deep South playing slightly twisted country blues songs in an after hours juke joint session. His songs are wry and endearing and bound to attract him a cult following." -Dirty Linen “All in attendance enjoyed Tuck's laconic delivery, humorous asides and gently haunting songs." - Tandem "Tuck had no difficulty in captivating the audience, delivering a powerful set of his humorously hurtin' acoustic folk-blues.” - Chart Magazine "Tuck will dominate any venue he so chooses to play. ... Tuck single-handedly stole the show at the much ballyhooed SAC National Songwriting Competition Showcase with his music, style and banter. ... When he's not cracking wise in a dryly-sardonic manner, he's singing with a voice that makes him sound like an authority on everything.” - Chart Magazine