“In
the Ground” that New Album from the Gibson Brothers
Many fine writers have reviewed or
commented on the new CD from The Gibson Brothers. You know who the Gibsons are,
right? Well just in case you don’t I’ll tell you. Eric and Leigh Gibson front
one of the finest Bluegrass bands in America and are certainly the finest
brother duo in the business. Backed by Mike Barber on stand-up bass, Jesse Brock
- award winning mandolin virtuoso and Clayton Campbell - a terrific fiddle player,
this group has won IBMA Entertainer of the Year twice along with many other
awards. Eric and Leigh hail from over in Clinton County right near Churubusco.
Eric still lives up this way and Leigh has moved to the more cosmopolitan
environs of Scotia down near Albany.
The new album “In the Ground” (with all
the songs written by Eric and Leigh) has received rave reviews and a couple of
the songs are already high on the Billboard bluegrass charts. The band is
steadily touring in support of the album and audiences are loving the shows.
Nothing about this chain of events is new for The Gibson Brothers. They have a
work ethic that is embedded in their characters. They love their job, they
appreciate their fans and they deliver a stellar performance every time they
show up. All of these things have been remarked upon by writers better than me.
I’ve been listening to the new album a
lot. And on a recent ten-hour road trip I listened to all of their albums in
chronological order. Nine albums. Sadly, I don’t own the earliest albums from
Hay Holler Records. But from “Bona Fide” up through “In the Ground” you won’t
find a finer variety of bluegrass tinged music from any artists. Hard driving
or quiet and melodic, deeply bluegrass or rockabilly or traditional country or
Americana/Folk/Gospel they "own" every song they’ve recorded. The brothers have
championed the causes of family farmers, small town life and honest ethical
values. And I know, because I’ve seen them under good conditions and bad, that
they live what they sing.
So, here’s my actual review. This is a
really fine album: terrific song writing from the brothers. absolutely solid
and inspired playing by every musician, vocal duos that always ring true and
sometimes reach that ethereal (almost angelic) level. If you appreciate good music,
then you should buy this album. It’s a good investment. But if you want the
full experience find The Gibson Brothers when they come to a venue near you. I
guarantee you’ll love the music and have a whole lot of fun. I guarantee it.
