Brian Gibson (musician)

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Brian Gibson

Background information
Born 7/25/75
Genre(s) Noise Rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Instrument(s) Bass Guitar

Drums
Label(s) Load Records
Associated acts Lightning Bolt

Wizardzz
Netmen

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, and is currently a drummer for the doom metal band Megasus. He is one of the head animators working at video game company Harmonix .

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

[edit] 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]

[edit] Equipment

Gibson's typical setup
Gibson's typical setup

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 Boss PW-10 Wah-wah pedal to his touring gear.

[edit] 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. He also contributed to Harmonix Music Systems's Guitar Hero II as a graphic designer.

[edit] Discographies

[edit] Solo projects

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

[edit] Lightning Bolt

Main article: Lightning Bolt discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] DVD / Video

[edit] Wizardzz

[edit] Albums

[edit] Netmen

[edit] Albums

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

[edit] Appearances on compilations

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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Peter Glantz, Nick Noe. The Power of Salad [DVD]. Load Records.
  2. ^ http://www.laserbeast.com/photos/052807/rendeiro-07.jpg

[edit] External links

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