Samantha Gibb kicked off the Galena Summerfest music line-up on Saturday, playing comfortably through an excellent thirty-minute set despite the oppressive afternoon heat. Gibb’s longtime writing and stage partner, Lazaro Rodriguez, supplied acoustic guitar and backing vocals, while members of Miami’s Chase the Jaguar filled out the remainder of the performing ensemble: Michael Cohen on drums, Sebastian Fox on acoustic guitar, and Kevin Krag on electric guitar.
Gibb’s voice has great control and clarity, which gives her many options vocally – evidenced as she moved easily through a diverse mix of covers and original songs. She opened with Coldplay’s “Yellow”, followed by her own composition “Mama Told Me”, which has yet to be released. She paused before her third number, joking that it was her “redemption song” after apparently botching a karaoke version she’d sung among friends. Mission accomplished as her fun acoustic take on George Michael’s “Faith” seemed effortless.
Even more impressive was her beautiful version of the Bee Gees’ “Morning of My Life”, first written by Barry Gibb in 1965 during their time living and working in Australia, and eventually released on the 1973 compilation, Best of Bee Gees, Vol. 2. The three contrasting guitars and Gibb’s natural vibrato were perfect vehicles for re-acquainting the audience with a slightly overlooked classic. She played through two more enjoyable covers: Janis Joplin’s “Me and My Bobby McGee”, and a mash-up of Jason Derulo’s “Want to Want Me” and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – the latter of which worked particularly well; Gibb herself pointed out to the audience how structurally similar the two era-disparate songs were.
It was especially great to hear two of Gibb’s recent singles – 2014’s “Wild at Heart” and 2015’s “So We Danced” – an uptempo gem that soared with the acoustic treatment it was given that afternoon. There is a warmth and positivity in her songwriting that translates well to her listeners, which was an ideal fit for an intimate community-based event.
Gibb coyly introduced the final performance of her set as “a song…we really like.” She and her stage mates then launched into a sultry, slowed-down reading of the Bee Gees’ quintessential “Stayin’ Alive”. It was proof that when a great song meets a talented artist that cares deeply about it, even the most established of hits can benefit from a fresh breath of air. The Gibb family legacy is in good hands.
A new album from Gibb is in the works for early 2017 – hopefully with a few local dates to follow so that Columbusites can discover the well-crafted work this now local musician has to offer.
Visit Samantha Gibb‘s website and Facebook pages for more information. Her original songs are available on Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify.
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