BRIAN GIBSON (MUSICIAN)

'Brian Gibson' is a musician based out of Providence, Rhode Island. Gibson is best known as the bassist for the band Lightning Bolt, alongside drummer and vocalist Brian Chippendale, and as the drummer of Wizardzz, with Rich Porter of Bug Sized Mind. Gibson was also previously in the band The Netmen, with John Dwyer.
Brian Gibson is particularly known for his unique and complex set-up, tuning, and use of his guitar. Before its destruction, Gibson was a member of Fort Thunder, part of an abandoned, pre-Civil War textile factory in Providence, Rhode Island known as a work-space for local, avant-garde artists.

Contents

Sound

Equipment

Other projects

Discographies

Solo projects

Lightning Bolt

Albums

DVD / Video

Wizardzz

Albums

Netmen

Albums

Appearances on compilations

References

External links

Sound

The majority of Gibson's playing draws on fairly simple loops and major/minor chord structures, yet also employs more advanced guitar techniques, such as tapping. Gibson uses a high amount of distortion, feedback and effects. In juxtaposition to Chippendale's frenetic drums, Gibson's playing often acts as a rhythm section of sorts. With the use of his many effect pedals, Gibson often creates multiple layers of his own bass riffs. Due to the high level of distortion used, "lead" playing style, and high register tuning of his instrument, Gibson is often mistaken for a guitarist.
In the Peter Glantz and Nick Noe film ''The Power of Salad'', revolving around Lightning Bolt's live performances across America, Gibson confesses "I feel like it's taken me years and years to develop this insane setup that I have ... if somebody got my guitar set ... they're just gonna be good: whatever you do sounds good through it. You know, just plucking the strings." ^[1]

Equipment

According to Gibson, his bass guitar is set to standard cello tuning, in intervals of fifths (C G D A) with a banjo string for the high A (contrasted with the typical bass guitar tuning of E A D G). He used this four-string setup for several years, but has recently been using a five-string setup, tuned to C G D A E, with banjo strings for the A and E.
Gibson also uses several effects pedals, including a bass whammy pedal (pitch shifter), an octaver, two overdrive pedals, and more recently a delay pedal. A complete list of equipment Gibson typically uses, in order, is:^[2]

★ 5-String Music Man StingRay

★ DigiTech Bass Whammy pedal

★ BOSS OC-2 Octave pedal

★ BOSS ODB-3 Bass Overdrive pedal

★ BOSS SD-1 Overdrive pedal

★ Line 6 DL-4 Delay modeler

★ Ampeg SVT4 Pro with 4x10 cabinet
As of 2007, Gibson has added a Wah-wah pedal to his touring gear.

Other projects

Gibson, like band mate Chippendale, is also involved in animation. Gibson has provided animations for the films ''Pick a Winner'' and created ''Barkley's Barnyard Critters: Mystery Tail'', released on Load Records.

Discographies

Solo projects

★ ''Barkley's Barnyard Critters'' DVD (Load) (2006)

Lightning Bolt

Main articles: Lightning Bolt discography

Albums

★ ''Lightning Bolt'' (1999)

★ ''Zone'' 50-minute companion cassette (1999)

★ ''Ride the Skies'' (2001)

★ ''Wonderful Rainbow'' (2003)

★ ''Hypermagic Mountain'' (2005)

DVD / Video

★ ''The Power of Salad'' (2002)

★ ''Pick a Winner'' (2004)

Wizardzz

Albums

★ ''Hidden City of Taurmond'' (Load) (2006)

Netmen

Albums

★ ''Self-titled'' Cassette (Folding) (1995/1996, re-released 2006)

Appearances on compilations

★ ''You're Soaking in it: The Sounds and Smells of Load Records'' (Load Records) (1997)

References

1.
2. http://www.laserbeast.com/photos/052807/rendeiro-07.jpg

External links

★ Official Website

★ Other Website

★ Wizardzz Homepage on Load Records

★ Load Records

★ Fort Thunder website, retrieved March 2, 2007. Archived: http://web.archive.org/web/20060423080826/http://www.fortthunder.org (may contain dead links and broken images)