MUSIC REVIEW: Mike Gibbons, Swells & Storms

On a sunny, cloudless day, cars cruise along the tree lined, twisted Corte Madera Avenue. Some pass by the unassuming building which occupies the 107-year-old Masonic Lodge No. 356 in Mill Valley, but some stop. For those who stop and wander in, either by chance or because they know what is inside these walls, they are in for an ear tickling treat of bold proportions; The Sweetwater Music Hall.

This particular version of the Sweetwater opened in 2012, under the stewardship of music lovers and investors including Bob Weir of Grateful Dead; however it has a history that dates back to 1972, when the original roots venue opened. Throughout the years, the Sweetwater has hosted an array of talents such as Carlos Santana, Clarence Clemons, Elvis Costello, Gregg Allman, Huey Lewis, Jerry Garcia, retired SF Giants 3rd base coach and local icon, Tim Flannery, Eric Burdon and the list goes on and on. Tonight we came to the intimate, 100 seat venue for the CD release party and art exhibition, Swells & Storms, by Mike Gibbons.

Like Renaissance artists of times gone by, Mike expresses many facets of his personality through artistic endeavors; music, photography and film, which always lead to the same locale: the ocean. To create masterful art, one must take the necessary time. Gibbons most recent collection and creation, is affirmation of time well invested. Three years in the making, he presents his collection of ocean inspired photography, film, and original music.

Swells & Storms, his current musical release, is a ten track, rock tinged homage to the mountains and oceans, Gibbons calls home. It is delivered with the effortless charisma, you come to expect of a veteran performer, who has toured extensively and shared the stage with Americana and Folk greats, like White Buffalo and Jonathan Coulton.

“This album is dedicated to two incredible communities in the San Francisco Bay Area,” writes Gibbons. “First, to the activists, scientist and volunteers who work tirelessly on behalf of our oceans and coastal habitats—and second, to the extended family of amazingly talented of musicians that I’ve come to call friends over my years living here….”

And what a family he has grown here.

In the haunting, eerily beautiful, deeply moving, California Calls Me Home, Gibbons time travels hard with folk sensibility, an unbridled desire constrained by social norms, but desire nonetheless, for an ideal outcome coupled with the regret that it may not be possible. It’s a love song to California with a hint of lament suggesting a ‘spiritual gentrification’, that is afoot.

Rebecca Roudman’s, stunning work on cello, not only makes this a standout track on the album, but it brought the house DOWN, at Sweetwater.

"Near mountains and oceans, amidst things bigger than ourselves—we give our spirits space to grow.”

Tornado Love is a tidal wave of vocal passion and pulsing instrumentation, with hooks hidden in the onslaught. Multi-faceted musician and vocalist, Heather Combs, elevates the track with a fire and energy that is pure gold.

A songwriter and a lead guitarist are two different beasts. They are wired differently, think differently and interpret differently. Their paths cross, as they must, but rarely do you see a pro-level guitarist and a successful songwriter, embody the same human being. But, it does take two; and Max Delaney is the Ying to Gibbons Yang in this creative partnership and it works like a slinky devil double agent, ratcheting up the energy on both the album and making the fans howl at the live show. Delaney’s work is brisk and cleansing, adding layers of invisible depth. And nowhere is that more apparent than on the track Ride A Wave, which is an aching melody that ripples like a hypnotic tide.

The closing track, Love Another, couples the grit of Gibbons voice with rain in the background and the calming banjo mastery of Dylan Brock, who is a one man wrecking crew, of focused intensity on a damn perfect song.

Love another/Love ourselves/ love another/learn to love ourselves.

Swells and Storms, has the sound of an album, cycling through a major label budget. To know that no such budget existed, makes the music not only that much more alluring and meaningful, but, it adds to the overall vibe; this is an album that never feels less than honest.

Check out the Swells & Storms video below.

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