R E V I E W S: FIBArk brings Lubriphonic from the Windy City

Photo courtesy of Howard Kaplan, 2009

In preparation for a big Friday night in Salida, the Citizen had a chance to connect with Giles Corey from Lubriphonic, one of the many fine acts playing FIBArk 2009. Bill reviewed their 2008 release “Soul Solution.” Giles plays guitar and sings, though a short romp through the myriad web videos available will betray his modest introduction. While you read the interview  hold onto your socks and listen to this

(Their homepage will open in a new window and begin playing music, just move that window aside)

If you like the rich Chicago blues and funk sound, you’ll get in spades with Lubriphonic —but the journey is just beginning. The gravel and the belting, organ and the wail, speaks to something larger in our American roots rock lexicon. It’s rare to taste the fusion this band throws down, and refreshing to hear an act with so many unfettered flavors that never loses it’s completely tight and original sound. It might be tempting to hear Denson, Maceo and Brown, but the powerful earthy vocals go deeper into the heart of American blues and rock heritage. 

Detroit filters down to the Dregs and settles somewhere south of  the Crescent City before lifting you airborne over the swamps just to be smacked down by the nineties power rockers from the west coast. Then, when you least expect it, Redbone and Cocker will be channeled to take your hand and remind you that we are nothing without soul. Later, when you’ve lost your drink after an hour or more on the dance floor you’ll have to laugh as the apparent musicianship forces your attention, and sends your grooving hippy soul back to the deep midwest solo trading jazz jamming showmen that put this hard-working country on the map. Get some sleep Salida, Steve-o and the entire FIBArk board have done it again. 

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us Giles. Have you ever been to Salida? 
This is our 4th time touring in Colorado.  We’ve driven through, past, and around Salida several times, but unfortunately, we’ve never had a show there.  So, we’re looking forward to checking out the town and its people.
We’ll be on our best behavior. What do you know about Fibark? Have you ever been kayaking? 
I have never been kayaking.  I’d love to try– probably on a nice placid lake somewhere, without rapids or wildlife predators.  We’re all city folk in Lubriphonic.

Hopefully you’ll get on the river. Like other river towns, it’s a part of us. Did you know we had Liquid Soul here for FIBArk? In what way are you tied into the Chicago funk scene? 
Actually, the guy who is playing trumpet with us on this tour, Ron Haynes, used to play trumpet for Liquid Soul.  You know how it is– eventually, everybody knows and plays with everybody, even in a big city like Chicago.

Yeah, great act. What if I were to tell you we will be the easiest crowd you ever played to? 
I would ask you to define “easiest.”

Hmmm, next question. On Saturday night a band called Lez Zeppelin will be playing. Apparently it is an all- female band playing Zeppelin tunes. If you covered any single act in this vein, who might it be? Would you do it as females if possible? 
I’ve never been much good at cover tunes, and the ones I do, I had to change around to fit the way I play and sing.  I’m afraid I don’t have much future in the tribute world.  I wish I could do a James Brown tribute, dance steps included. In drag.

This can be arranged. But, seriously, what if it turned out that Salida was an entire community of deaf people, could you still rock us? 

You know how Jimi Hendrix, or Bruce Springsteen, or James Brown can be on t.v. in a bar, with the sound off, and most people are still looking at the t.v.?  I’m not comparing us to any of those guys, but what they do, in addition to making sound, is create energy.  It’s a positive force and it moves people.  It’s what we try to do live– as much as just play our instruments– but move people.  I think we can rock the deaf.

That’d be a niche. What is the dream of the band? Where do you go in this day and age of the music industry? 
I see us continuing to tour and keep building an audience.  The days are gone, I think, where a band (or at least, a rock band) gets signed to a major record label, a label that has the music world by the shorthairs, and that company throws a kajillion dollars into making that band the biggest thing since sliced bread.  That used to work all the time, too.  But those companies, now, are just trying to figure out how to make money selling recorded music– they don’t have the money that they used to, and if they do, they’ll throw it a boy band or a diva– something that appeals to 12 year-old girls. But, while the internet and online distribution is problematic for giant rock bands, it opens up opportunities not just for consumers, but for all musicians to meet and cultivate their natural audience, and ultimately, create an authentic and comfortable niche for themselves in which to tour and record.  It’s happening all the time on the indie rock and jam band circuits.  And that’s what we’re doing.

What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen touring? 
Last year I saw a fellow wipe his bottom out on Colfax Street in Denver.  Broad daylight, busy thoroughfare, at a bus stop.  He got a piece of paper or something, reached down in his pants, wiped, and tossed it into the trash can.  At least he threw it in the can, though.  I don’t know if you want to print that, but it’s the first thing that came to mind that wouldn’t incriminate someone I know, or myself.

You’ll love the boat ramp.

It’s going to be a good time. We could all make more money living somewhere else, so we are here to dance. We’re happy you’re coming to our humble little town. Hit us hard. -bd 

FIBArk 2009 MUSIC SCHEDULE