Click here to purchase the My Fellow Sophisticates CD
by William F. Gibbs from Old Man Records.
Buy My Fellow Sophisticates on iTunes
Influences
The world at large, music at large, faith, hope, love, joy, fear, hate, sorrow, kindness, beauty, pain, death, life, romance, damnation, salvation, sanctification, sacrifice, grace, mercy, peace, justice, injustice, obedience, disobedience, wisdom, folly, conformity, non-conformity, community, individuality, my wife, overcast days, rain, Western North Carolina, my family, alcohol, sobriety, The Fall, The Gospel, literature, film. John Lomax, Alan Lomax, Leadbelly, Jelly Roll Morton, Robert Johnson, Glen Miller, "Satchmo", Billie Holiday, Woodie Guthrie, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Percy Sledge, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, John Fahey, The Temptations, Etta James, The Muscle Shoals House Rhythm Section, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zepplin, Tom Waits, Nick Drake, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, U2, David Bowie, The Clash, The Police, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, David Wilcox, John Gorka, Rich Mullins, Martin Sexton, M. Ward, Amos Lee, Andrew Bird, The Arcade Fire, Beck, Ben Folds, Cat Power, Matthew Ryan, David Mead, Elliott Smith, Jon Brion, Matt Morris, Richard Swift, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, The White Stripes, Wilco, and countless others that I am sure have played a part be it unknown and unheard.
Review Excerpts:
"The hooks come with baroque ornamentation on this debut that was original and eclectic enough to cut through the dozens of singer/songwriters that come across my desk."
- Paste Magazine
"It’s obvious that Gibbs has done his homework, and probably has a mountain of ancient LPs that he plays over and over in the wee hours of the morning, but the production and arrangements keep the tunes from being nostalgic exercises or clever recreations of blasts from the past. Every time you think you know where a tune is going, Gibbs and his collaborators change direction just enough to keep you off balance and pleasantly surprised."
- Crawdaddy!
"My Fellow Sophisticates is a very mature album...without a doubt, some of the most beautiful melody lines we have heard this year. Don't expect a quick fix here. Sophisticates takes a few spins to sink in. But, if you're like us, about five or ten spins later...you will be addicted to this album. Recommended. (Rating: 5++/6)"
- Babysue
"the Alabama native proves he's undoubtedly talented- in the way he’d probably still figure out how to churn out music if his palms were tied behind his back...the guys got a sickly eclectic musical range...Get your groove on. His album, a veritable tour de force"
-RCRDLBL.com
"William F. Gibbs is melting together garage music sounds with the great gospel spirit to create an interesting soundtrack for the neo-religious/spiritual groups...William has created a very specific sound and, by the title, it looks like he dedicated it to folks who share his thirst for this sound"
- Urb Magazine
"I’ll get this out of the way . . . buy this album. You won’t regret it, unless you’re the type of person who just can’t stand really good music...This guy is no amateur trying to macbook his way to stardom, he’s the real deal...this is the kind of album that I was hoping to find when I started working for Greenville Scene"
- Greenville Scene
"It's a shame most CDs come with stickers that are jammed to the gunnels with RIYL and hyperbole laced descriptions...for a poor fella like William F. Gibbs it really pigeon holes a creative artist...Gibbs song writing is really more soulful and genre bending than those listed on his one-sheet...more that he shouldn't simply be lumped into the masses that try to emulate them."
- Herohill
Fabulous. Yes, I'm still old school and like the smell of a fresh cd in my hands. But for sanity's sake, I will hit up itunes in the interim. Thanks for hitting me back! Loving the new Steamboat song...
Thought I'd drop you a quick note to say what a great show you played Sunday night. It was nice meeting you and I hope to see you out here again soon... minus poetry night.
Ello Mate, Thank you for adding me! I am very glad to accept you into my circle of friends. How are you today? Have a listen to my song "What If." Not many know that I am able to sing. Click the banner below to go to my page. Also, If you would like that banner on your page; on my site there is a code for you to copy To Keep you updated on my work; I am working on three new movies. You may have heard that I working on a new movie with Leonardo DiCaprio. That is True. It is called Revolutionary Road. If you would like to know what is going on my blogs are the best place to look. Let me know how your day is going. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day. Thank you for your time. Regards, Kate Winslet
Hi, William - If you're in town the night before your Root Bar gig, I invite you to start your weekend off in a great way this Friday night downtown at the New French Bar for an evening of original music. Please join us!
Just wanted you and all your fans to check out the February edition of Hear/Say Magazine (online and in college bookstores across America) because we included your group in our Sonicbids Band Reviews section! For more info. or to track down a copy of the review, check out our MySpace page!
sucks you guys didnt win. i enjoy the song endlessly, which is saying a lot. i dont celebrate christmas. no im not jewish or atheist, etc. just a rare irish kid who would rather celebrate kwanzaa, haha. no joke. you should plan a show for vegas. id be sure to be there, and bring plenty of company. best wishes to you and yours. happy holidays to you as well.
