Q&AQ&A with Eric Gibson, co-lead singer and founder of the Gibson Brothers
IF YOU GOWhat: The Gibson Brothers.When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.Where: Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave.Admission: $15 in advance, $17 at the door.Phone: 624-5347.Venue website: www.barkinglegs.org.
Call him superstitious, but Eric Gibson doesn't want to draw too much attention to his band's recent success.
Just as the economy entered its tailspin four years ago, the New York-based Gibson Brothers released their eighth studio album, "Iron & Diamonds," whose subsequent success kickstarted a boom in popularity that has made them one of the top-tier performers in bluegrass.
That's one gift horse's mouth Gibson prefers not to examine. For the time being, he said, he just wants to keep his nose to the grindstone.
"I don't want to jinx us because we've had our best years during this terrible economy," he said, laughing, during a recent phone interview. "I don't have a Plan B. I really hope, scratch and claw during the bad times to keep doing this.
"You've got to really want it, and we do."
Gibson may prefer to avoid the spotlight, but fans of the brother-led duet haven't let them.
The Brothers' last two albums -- 2009's "Ring the Bell" and 2011's "Help My Brother" -- have been highly acclaimed.
The former's title track nabbed the Brothers the International Bluegrass Music Association's Song of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year honors, their first such awards since winning Emerging Artist of the Year in 1998.
"Help My Brother" did even better, occupying the No. 1 spot on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine's charts for eight months. The album was named Album of the Year at the IBMA Awards last fall, when the Brothers ended Dailey & Vincent's three-year streak as Vocal Group of the Year.
Gibson said that, while the band is honored by the attention, the members aren't letting it affect their approach to the music.
Accolades aside, he said, their success has always been and will continue to derive from a combination of compelling stories and well-played music.
"We're making music to please ourselves. Our music isn't rocket science; it's fairly simple," he said, laughing. "We try to lay down a strong rhythm and sing our hearts out.
"If we have a formula, that's it."