Otis Gibbs is a man in search of an honest experience some people refer to him as a folk artist, but that is a simplistic way to describe a man who has planted over 7,000 trees, slept in hobo jungles, walked with nomadic shepherds in the Carpathian Mountains, been strip-searched by dirty cops in Detroit, and has an FBI file.
Otis has played everywhere from labor rallies in Wisconsin, to anti-war protests in Texas, Austria and the czech Republic, Feed & Seed stores in the Midwestern U.S. and in countless, theaters, festivals, bars and living rooms. Much of his work concentrates on the world that is ignored by pop culture. Sometimes forgotten, obsolete or simply marginalized, it is a world that doesn’t fit into a twenty-second sound bite or a White House talking point. Otis has spent the last fifteen years traveling across America and abroad documenting this world, and has a story to share about each stop along the way.
Otis grew up in the rural town of Wanamaker, Indiana. He first stepped on stage at the age of four, when he sang Jimmie Rodgers’ "Waiting for a Train" at a neighbourhood honky tonk. While his parents worked countless hours trying to make ends meet, Otis was often in his uncle’s care. Not accustomed to parenthood, the uncle was sometimes bored, so the two would frequent bars, where Otis sang for tip money (which meant more booze for his uncle). Otis was hooked, and would often ask if they could go back and sing some more songs. The answer, "Only if you promise to never tell your parents."
Otis started working when he was in high school. He stacked concrete blocks, flipped burgers, drove an ice cream truck, pumped gas, and did countless other crummy jobs. After discovering writers like Edward Abbey, Henry Miller and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, he started questioning what he was doing with his life. He was tired of working jobs that didn’t stimulate, or interest him in the least, so, in his own words, he decided to just “drop out.” Over the next four years, Gibbs earned and lived off less than $3,000 a year and had never been happier. He got rid of his car and shared apartments with artists, musicians and radicals (often living with 5 to 10 people). He also took advantage of the free time and wrote hundreds of songs. Otis sacrificed many of the comforts most of us take for granted, so that he could live a creative life.
Described as protest songs, Otis prefers to call them "love songs for young radicals"
The next few years were spent touring and releasing four indie records. The most notable being "49th and
Melancholy" (a stripped-down acoustic record, that was recorded on a two track reel-to-reel in a friends laundry room). There was also "Once I
Dreamed of christmas," a collection of songs he’d written "for people who don’t like Christmas."
In 2004, his critically acclaimed, "One Day Our Whispers" was released. It was an unpopular time to speak truth to power, but the album’s optimism and anti-war undertones resonated deeply with people who felt uncomfortable with the direction America was heading. Though songs like " I Wanna change it", "Thirty-three" and "Ours is the Time" have been described as protest songs, Otis prefers to call them "love songs for young radicals". " The Peoples Day " was later included in a Wall Street Journal list compiled by Billy Bragg of the "Top Five Songs with Something to Say", This placed Gibbs in the company of Bob Dylan, The Clash, Sam Cooke, and Chuck Berry.
His latest album, "Grandpa Walked a Picketline", is a glimpse inside of an America that you don’t see on the evening news, but it is the America most of us see at our doorsteps. The album showcases Otis’ ability to breathe life into the characters of his songs. One such example is "Caroline". The song tells the story of a woman who married too young. She finds herself stuck in an abusive relationship and secretly fears that her children will suffer the same fate. The populist anthem, "Everyday People" shines a light on the struggles our grandparents endured in the workplace. As the line in the song suggests, their generation’s willingness to take a stand, "made things better for you and me". "Preacher Steve" is certain to ruffle some feathers, but a closer listen will reveal that the only people who should be offended by the song are those cynical clergymen who prey on fear for profit This album is a reminder that Otis, above all else, is a damn fine songwriter. "Grandpa Walked a Picketline" was produced and remixed by Chris Stamey, engineered by legendary Motown engineer, Bob Olhsson, and was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with an impressive list of piayers including, Al Perkins, Don Dixon, Tim Easton and Will Rigby.
Buy a copy of Grandpa Walked A Picketline
Otis currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his long time girlfriend, Amy Lashley, their dog and two cats. Recently, he’s been examining ways of using bird feeding as a form of civil disobedience.
OTIS GIBBS
UK/Ireland Tour • May – July 2009
May
Fri 1st SELBY Selby Town Hall Arts Centre £7, 7:30pm
01757 213758 / www.selbytownhall.co.uk
Sat 2nd KILKENNY Carlsberg Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival
Club House Hotel €15, 4pm
0035356 7794664 / www.kilkennyroots.com
Sun 3rd KILKENNY Carlsberg Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival
Cleere’s €15, 1pm
0035356 7794664 / www.kilkennyroots.com
Mon 4th KILKENNY Carlsberg Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival
Ryan’s €12, 5pm
0035356 7794664 / www.kilkennyroots.com
Tues 5th BRIGHTON The Prince Albert £7, 8pm
01273 325440, www.thegildedpalaceofsin.com
Weds 6th NOTTINGHAM The Maze (co-headline with Chris Mills) £10, 7:30pm
0115 947 5650 / www.cosmicamerican.com / www.themazerocks.com
Thurs 7th LEICESTER The Musician £7, 8pm
0116 251 0080 / www.themusicianpub.co.uk
Fri 8th BRISTOL The Polish Club £12, 8pm
0870 44 44 400 / 0117 929 9008
Sat 9th WEST COKER (Somerset) The Royal George FREE, 7:30pm
01935 864395
Sun 10th EXETER Voodoo Lounge at Exeter Phoenix £8, 8pm
01392 667080 / www.exeterphoenix.org.uk
Weds 13th SWANSEA The Chattery £8, 7:30pm
01792 473276 / http://homepage.ntlworld.com/thechattery
Thurs 14th BASINGSTOKE The Forge at The Anvil £12, 7:30pm
01256 844244 / www.theanvil.org.uk
Fri 15th MANCHESTER The Ruby Lounge £6, 7:30pm
0161 832 1111 / www.therubylounge.org
Sat 16th NEWCASTLE Jumpin' Hot Club @ The Studio in Live Theatre £8, 7:30pm
0191 230 4474 (The Cluny box office) / www.jumpinhot.com
Mon 18th GLASGOW The Twisted Wheel (part of Glasgow Americana) £7, 7:30pm
0141 204 5151 / www.fallenangelsclub.com
Tues 19th CREWE Crewe Roots @ The Horse Shoe £9, 8pm
01270 213 706 / www.creweroots.co.uk
Weds 20th LONDON What's Cookin' @ Upstairs @ The Sheep Walk FREE, 8:30pm
07904 210218 / www.whatscookin.co.uk
June
Sat 20th LEICESTER The Big Session (Indoor Main Stage)
0116 233 3111 / www.bigsessionfestival.com
Mon 22nd BARNSTAPLE Lillicos (part of North Devon Music Festival) FREE, 7:30PM
01271 324242 / www.northdevontheatres.org.uk/northdevonfestival/festival.asp
Tues 23rd YORK The Basement £5, 8pm
0871 704 2054 / http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/
Weds 24th SHEFFIELD The Grapes £5, 8:15pm
0114 249 0909 / www.wagonwheelmedia.co.uk
Sat 27th RATHFRILAND (N. Ireland) The Bronte Music Club @ The Bronte Centre TBC, 8pm
028 4062 3322 / www.brontemusicclub.com
Sun 28th BELFAST The Real Music Club @ The Errigle Inn TBC, 8pm
028 9032 3744 / www.realmusicclub.org
July
Weds 1st DUNGARVAN (Co. Waterford) Nude Food
Fri 3rd LONDON The Borderline £9, 7pm
0844 847 2465 / www.mamagroup.co.uk/borderline/index.html
Sat 4th EASTON (Suffolk) The Maverick Festival @ Easton Farm Park www.maverickfestival.co.uk
