After a disheartening visit to an “unscrupulous” doctor, Christian Gibbs went home and wrote a song about it.
“I came up with the riff and chords and immediately started writing about basically all people of supposed authority who abuse their lofty positions, whether it be academia, cults, false spiritual guides or doctors,” says the prolific left-field troubadour about his latest single.
To understand the shape-shifting enigma that is C. Gibbs, it helps to start with the facts. A member of JG Thirlwell’s Foetus, he also played lead guitar on two tours with Modern English, fronted the mid-’90s trio Morning Glories, then pursued a solo career that led to a brief signing with Atlantic just before the turn of the century. Since delving into more overtly orchestral realms with Lucinda Black Bear, he’s released upward of 16 LPs under various guises.
Gibbs recently relocated from Brooklyn back to Southern California. Fittingly, his forthcoming effort, Against Frail Beats On A Teetering Limb, features a supporting cast largely from his native San Diego—including drummer Jules Stewart, bassist Joshua Mooers and guitarist Isaiah Mitchell (Black Crowes, Earthless). Megan Mattix, one half of the Sand Diego-based Americana duo the Wellsprings, provides backing vocals on “What The Doctor Says.”
“The song kind of took on a new meaning for me—of perseverance, not giving up, fighting back,” says Gibbs. “Even though it’s a song of irreverence born of a resentment of sorts, I wanted it to still have a playful soul bent.”
We’re proud to premiere C. Gibbs’ “What The Doctor Says.” Look forAgainst Frail Beats On A Teetering Limb sometime this spring.
—Hobart Rowland
