The Gibson Brothers Affirm Their Brotherhood; Acclaimed Duo
Pays Tribute to Everlys, Jim & Jesse, Louvins, Monroes, Osbornes, Stanleys,
and Others On Rounder Debut
Hear An Exclusive Premiere of “Bye Bye Love” at PopMatters: http://bit.ly/1zAu8T0
On February 24, 2015, The Gibson Brothers will release Brotherhood, a loving homage to the brother duos that have inspired them since childhood.
“Making an album like this is something we’ve always talked about,” explains Leigh Gibson. “At some point you have to stop talking and start doing. Older brother Eric elaborates: “We love that tradition of brothers singing together, and to pay tribute to that shows people where our hearts are.”
For Brotherhood, Eric and Leigh chose fifteen songs from country, bluegrass, and early rock ‘n’ roll brother acts, including some that will be familiar to most listeners, such as Phil and Don Everly; Charlie and Ira Louvin; Jim and Jesse McReynolds; and Carter and Ralph Stanley. The album also features covers of songs recorded by some lesser-known acts, including the Blue Sky Boys, the Church Brothers, and the York Brothers.
Leigh Gibson reflects, “These are the acts that pointed us in our direction musically. After we got going, we went our own way for a while.” He adds, “But the process of making this record brought us back to the music we were listening to when we were just getting started. So many of these songs, when we sing them, I feel like I did when I was 15 years old, sitting in our living room in the farmhouse and learning how to play. This music is a part of our soul.”
The material is familiar, yet in some ways Brotherhood is an album of firsts. It’s the Gibson Brothers’ first album on Rounder Records, their first covers project, and it’s also the first release that includes the newest member of the band, award-winning mandolin player and vocalist Jesse Brock, who joined the group in late 2012.
The band, which is led by guitarist Leigh and banjo player Eric, also includes longtime band members Mike Barber (bass) and Clayton Campbell (fiddle). For Brotherhood, which was largely recorded live in the studio, they were joined by a stellar group of guests, including Ronnie and Rob McCoury, who contribute mandolin, banjo, and vocals; former Osborne Brothers sideman Ronnie Reno;, pedal steel guitarist Russ Pahl, and percussionist Sam Zucchini.
Brotherhood is the Gibsons’ twelfth album since their 1993 debut, Underneath a Harvest Moon. 20 years on, Eric and Leigh have matured considerably as musicians, writers and performers, causing an ever-growing legion of bluegrass fans to take notice and garnering impressive amounts of critical acclaim: not only did the band win IBMA’s Entertainer of the Year Award in 2012 and 2013, but the organization presented Eric with the prestigious Songwriter of the Year Award last year as well.
The Gibson Brothers have truly come into their own, combining their wide-ranging influences into a unique style that honors tradition while still sounding refreshingly new.
For more information, please contact Regina Joskow at Rounder Records: [email protected], 917-532-5687.
Pre-order link:
http://www.amazon.com/Brotherhood-Gibson-Brothers/dp/B00PMSIT2Q/?tag=concordreco0c-20
Online Media Kit: http://mediakits.concordmusicgroup.com/p/brotherhood/
Brotherhood track listing:
1. Bye Bye Love (3:02)
(Boudleaux Bryant-Felice Bryant)
2. The Sweetest Gift (3:40)
(James B. Coats)
3. An Angel with Blue Eyes (2:53)
(Drusilla Adams Smith-Bill Church)
4. Each Season Changes You (2:46)
(Albert Goree-Ruth Talley)
5. I Have Found the Way (2:35)
(Charlie Monroe)
6. How Mountain Girls Can Love (2:29)
(Ruby Rakes)
7. It’ll Be Her (2:43)
(Billy Ray Reynolds)
8. What A Wonderful Savior Is He (2:53)
(William G. Brewster)
9. Long Gone (2:36)
(Leslie York)
10. Eastbound Train (2:24)
(Doc Watson)
11. Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes (2:06)
(Don Helms-Merle Taylor)
Universal Songs of Polygram International Inc. (BMI)
12. Seven Year Blues (2:51)
(Ira Louvin-Eddie Hill-Charles Louvin)
13. Long Time Gone (3:20)
(Leslie York)
14. I’m Troubled I’m Troubled (2:16)
(William Bolick)
15. Crying In the Rain (3:03)
(Howard Greenfield-Carole King)