The Gibson Brothers: Simply Outstanding!

I want to take the opportunity to let everyone know that if they weren't at the Gibson Brothers Concert in Shuck Recital Hall at the River Campus on Sunday night, they missed a truly memorable performance. Clayton Campbell's fiddle playing was superb, Rick Hayes brought his usual good nature and humor to the stage along with his wonderful mandolin chop and blazing solos, and Mike Barber's rock-steady bass, well-placed accent slap and always-present groove was perfect. And what can I say about Leigh and Eric? Leigh was apologetic about a throat tickle keeping him from his best, but you'd never know it. His tenor voice, alternating between well-placed harmony and lead, really came through with that Gibson Brothers sound. His effortless guitar work was, as usual, amazing to behold. Eric's deep concentration spoke to how seriously he takes the band's work, and he always seemed aware of the band's timing and kept watch over the details that set this band apart. His smooth, refined vocals, paired beautifully with his brother's, made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. As a frustrated banjo player myself, I am always amazed at how well Eric has mastered the fill-in and backing licks that set him apart among banjo players. What is also amazing is that he takes the syncopation in stride while he sings. Simply amazing. On the subject of banjos, if you've ever wondered what the big deal is about a "pre-war", or why a certain banjo is better than another, you simply have to compare the most recent recording with one of the Gibson Brothers earliest efforts. In 2003, Leigh presented his brother Eric with an original Gibson TB-3 tenor banjo that had been outfitted with a Frank Neat custom neck and a Steve Huber tone ring. It has both edge and tone, and is just a wonderfully unique-sounding banjo that really adds to the Gibson Brothers' overall sound.

While we're talking about instruments, Rick Hayes plays a wonderful mandolin. He built it. Actually, he builds and sells the Hayes F-5 mandolin, and it just starting to build guitars, one of which I had the pleasure to give a few strums before the show. The mandolin he was playing Sunday was the #3, one he built in the spring of 2007. It has been his mainstay on stage for over a year, used on his latest Gibson Brothers recording and his on new CD "Fly By Night" (which is great, by the way) and was with him on his first Grand Old Opry performance with the Gibson Brothers back in April. I am proud to say, it now belongs to my wife. I contacted Rick several months ago about building on for Tamara, and there were none that were at the right stage of completion, or that had not been already been spoken for. Without hesitation, he offered his personal mandolin, the No. 3. In typical Rick Hayes fashion, he worried that she'd be disappointed about receiving a "used" mandolin. Can you imagine? We kept the secret for several months, and he presented the mandolin to my wife before the conclusion of their last set. Of course, he politely asked "Can I use it for one more song?" What a class act.

The Gibson Brothers and their entire band are all class acts. You need to hear these guys, and you need to see them live. They're stopping back through the area in September to play a show at the Kentucky Opry in Draffenville on September 26^th on their way to the fall festival at Bean Blossom. Pay them a visit—I'll be there.

(Mark Adams)

Eric & Leigh Gibson

(Mark Adams)

Rick & No. 3

(Mark Adams)

Happy Customers!

(Mark Adams)

The Band at Work