| Bonafide - Gibson Brothers | |
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Reviewed by Kathy Coleman
One thing which "O Brother Where Art Thou" has given today's music (besides the rising awareness of American roots music) is an increased access to brand-new bluegrass music and musicians. Sugar Hill Records, in particular, is one of the labels showcasing these talents to an increasing audience. What better time and place for The Gibson Brothers' Bona Fide, which is certainly that, and more. (The notes translate the Latin phrase, "1. made in good faith without fraud or deceit; 2. made with earnest intent; 3. neither specious nor counterfeit. synonyms: 'authentic.'" Yes, indeed.)
These talented brothers bring to music a rustic-yet-modern approach that is so beautifully country, so pure and unadulterated, so truly REAL, it's hard to believe it's an old-timey form of music. Especially since it sounds so perfectly contemporary. For people who keep tooting the "musical evolution" horn, well, this is what country/mountain music evolution SHOULD sound like.
Leigh and Eric Gibson (vocals/guitar and vocals/banjo, respectively), together with backup from a slew of tremendous pickers-n-fiddlers (including, but not limited to, Jason Carter, Sam Zucchini, Mike Barber, Marc MacGlashan, Jeff Taylor, and Luke Bulla), present simple, unvarnished, modern bluegrass music without pretense or self-consciousness. They're making music they like for people who like it.
Most of the songs on Bona Fide are written by the brothers (together or separately), with the occasional traditional piece thrown in and a contribution from the legendary storyteller, Tom T. Hall (who also writes a brief introduction to the disc, and adds a brief "cameo" vocal), "Don't Forget The Coffee, Billy Joe." Strong pieces such as "The Open Road," "Ragged Man," and the heart-tearing "Vern's Guitar" introduce a pair who not only play and sing tremendously well, but obviously can write a song. Lyrics are deceptively simple with tremendous meaning
and delivered with punch. The toe-tapping "That Bluegrass Music" is the song that pretty much says it all.
And to cap off my favorable impression with this disc, it closes with the beautiful gospel hymn, "The Lighthouse," which, oddly enough, I had just been looking for when suddenly it popped up here. Taking lead vocals on the hymn is the sister of the group, Erin Gibson, whose
lovely voice passionately delivers the beauty of the song.
Country music would do well to pull bluegrass back into its fold before it's pulled off completely. It's a sub-genre, not a category all its own. Bluegrass truly puts the "country" in country, and these boys know how to bring it all home. It's a foot-stompin' good time and a great
listen.
Song List:
Album cover and sound clips courtesy of Sugar Hill.