Otis Gibbs 'Joe Hill's Ashes' Wanamaker

The latest album from Gibbs continues to consider the plight of the forgotten, often marginalized people who exist on the fringes. The song Where Only The Graves Are Real sums up much of his feelings about the nature of true friendship. This album co-produced by Gibbs and guitarist Thomm Jutz is a progression from his previous album in terms of sound, because of a tight band that consists of Jutz, Gibbs and Deanie Richardson on fiddle, Mark Fain on upright bass and Nanci Griffith's drummer Pat McInerney on drums. Gibbs' girlfriend Amy Lashley provides some additional vocals all of which makes this a cohesive blend of voice, music and song. The folk-styled songs leave you in no doubt as to where Gibbs loyalties lie and that's no bad thing in these days of artists watching their words in case they might offend someone who has some control of their career. Gibbs sings honest and true and his vision of the world around him is one that will be shared by many. His voice is full of empathy and grit that is both world weary and wide awake to life's ups and downs. Otis Gibbs has made a strong album that continues the troubadour tradition, the art of the protest songs and manages to infuse a real sense of optimism when observing the oppression that a corporate culture manages to consume us with. This is punk-folk that will find favour with roots fans as much as with those attuned to Billy Bragg's equally observed take on life, love and loss. www.otisgibbs.com