Old Hoss is the alter ego of Edmonton-born, Toronto-based musician Kris Gies who has switched from hard rock bassman to alt-country, digging into a rough and ready recording style on the album ‘Mid-Atlantic.‘ It’s an album that revels in its authenticity – heck, even the count-ins get left-in on some songs. The album, which is out October 18 th was produced by Steve Bigas, an old friend of Gies who had relocated his original Hamilton, Ontario recording studio/label Porcelain Records to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Says Kris Geis: “A common theme in these songs—though not intentional—is hitting the road, seeking thrills and living your life. So the journey to the States to record made even more sense to properly bring these songs to fruition. ‘Smellin’ Like A Rose’ was inspired by stories of a professional wrestler popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s named Playboy Buddy Rose. In those days wrestlers practically lived on the road, getting paid in cash. I took some of the stories I had read about him and gave it a spin into a more musician-centric storyline. Wrestler or songwriter, it’s about making a living out on the road.”
