Chattanooga Times Free Press entertainment reporter Casey Phillips spoke with Eric Gibson, co-lead singer and founder of the New York-based Gibson Brothers bluegrass band, about the simple beauty of simple music, what would have to happen for the band to break up and why they’re doing so well, despite the economy.
CP: As 2012 gets under full steam, what do you guys have coming down the pike in the coming months? Anything you’re particularly excited?
EG: A lot of playing. We’re really happy we have a healthy 2012 ahead of us. I think a lot of it has to do with our last two albums selling well. We did real well at the IBMAs last fall winning Vocal Group of the Year, and that kind of thing seems to make it easier on your booking agent finding work for you. We’re looking at a lot of touring, and we’ll hopefully be recording again in the fall. We’re trying to write and gather good songs. You want your new project to top the last one that came out, and hopefully we can do that. Our goal is to keep getting better. We’ve gutted it; we’ve stuck together a long time now, and it seems like it’s paying off .
CP: Lets talk about the IBMAs. You kicked Dailey & Vincent off a three-year run on Vocal Group of the Year. You said it’s helping your booking agent, but how, if at all, did that award affect your perception of yourselves as artists?
EG: [Laughs.] I don’t know how it’s changed the perception of ourselves. To be truthful, I was surprised that that happened. We’re a brother duet, and Dailey and Vincent can do duets very well, but they also have a very powerful quartet and trio. Maybe it was just the year of the brother duet. I don’t know.