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Gilbert Neal is originally from Buffalo, New York, and now lives near Chapel Hill, NC. He started out self-taught, dirt poor, and ill-equipped to play well with others, save the imaginary presence of George, John, Paul, and Ringo in his room, gently encouraging the next chord----the next intricate vocal arrangement. Like two of his favorite artists, Steely Dan and Stevie Wonder, Gilbert Neal executes a deft blending of soul, funk, folk, and wit, drama, and recollections of a sometimes sad, sometimes fun past. This is music for everyone.
Before recording Drink The Beast With Me, Neal spent time immersed in various musical roles, including (but not limited to) performing as a vocalist/bass player for various studio sessions, performing as a voice-over actor for radio and television, acting as a music director for a theater in Buffalo, leading original country and funk groups, teaching music to children in a catholic school, tutoring music privately, achieving an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music's history (Neal can play a pop song after hearing it once, and possesses relative perfect pitch) and even playing piano for his college's graduating class ceremony.
Neal's lyrics are cryptic, gauche, always literate, always respectful of the listener, and prescient in judgments of self and surroundings. His muse is self-defined. Neal says, �A formal education teaches you the rules, which are extremely important, because you should always know which rules you're ignoring.�
A multi-instrumentalist with a voice that's as versatile as they come, Neal writes all his own material, and performs the lion's share of instrumental backing on �Drink The Beast With Me�. Listen to �Jesus� and its driving rhythms and soaring melody. A sure hit. �Aurora� is as articulate a tale of youthful memory as one could wish for, and only Neal could have created that a capella ending.
The title cut features a wonderfully sexy sax solo from Ken Mosher (ex-Squirrel Nut Zippers). It slithers out of your speakers and seduces with a flair and a melodic turn that defies convention. Feel the funky tension of tracks like �You're No Match For Me�, �Time Bomb� and the soul-drenched �Olivia�. Indulge in the rich arrangements of �The True Way� and �Abbie�, the story of a final conversation between Neal and his aunt, the great C&W star Abbie Neal.
Versatility, passion, charisma, and soul.
That's Gilbert Neal. |
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