Join Steve Yusko has he explores The Gibson Brothers, Eric and Leigh. Bluegrass royalty Leigh and Eric Gibson step into what some might at first see as uncharted territory on their country-soul breakout Mockingbird, the new album produced by Grammy Award winners Dan Auerbach &Fergie Ferguson. Connect with The Long Island Sound Podcast  Intro/Outro song in this episode: “Fading out Fast” from Mike Nugent’s album, Mike Nugent and the Blue Moon Band . Opening Narration by Faith YuskoAll songs in this podcast episode have been used with prior permission by the artists. Please Subscribe Here: Https://linktr.ee/thelongislandsoundpodcastThe celebrated bluegrass duo — named back-to-back Entertainers of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2012 and 2013 — played the Nashville game two decades ago, while in their early 20s, and were offered a major label deal, only to be told at the last minute that they were too “retro” for modern country music. The Gibson Brothers have had their greatest success in the world of bluegrass, but their talent knows no bounds. Songwriting is at the core of who they are, and on their latest album "Darkest Hour" which releases on January 27, 2023. they deliver 12 tracks produced by Jerry Douglas. The majority of this album was recorded with a standard bluegrass configuration, but a few of the tracks have lap steel, percussion, and electric guitar masterfully blended together by Jerry. They began work on this album just before the world shut down in March 2020.As Northerners growing up in a Southern business, they had to work twice as hard as the bands from the South to achieve the success they had, and were the first from that far north to carve a path to IBMA Entertainers of the Year.“The songs on this album are the sounds we heard growing up, riding around with our dad, who was a farmer, in his pickup, or with our mom in her station wagon. This sound was on the radio,” says Leigh, citing the Eagles, Bob Seger, Tom Petty,  and the warm country sounds of Don Williams, Emmylou Harris and Waylon Jennings as influences for Mockingbird, produced by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach with Fergie Ferguson (Johnny Cash, Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers).The members of R.E.M. certainly agree. “It’s incredible! They did a great job,” says vocalist Michael Stipe. “It really re-focuses the song and lyric in a great way.” Bassist Mike Mills offers, “Wow. I really didn’t see that one coming. I love it,” with guitarist Peter Buck echoing those remarks: “Wow. Incredible.” Even Bill Berry, R.E.M.’s former drummer, and one of the original writers of the song, chimes in, saying, “It’s the best cover of it I’ve heard.Call the Listener Line (631) 800-3579 and leave your comments for our host and guests.Please Subscribe Here: Https://linktr.ee/thelongislandsoundpodcast Call the Listener Line and leave us your impressions (631) 800-3579Support the showConnect with us here: Https://linktr.ee/thelongislandsoundpodcast If you like what you hear,click the link below to support us with a secure donation. https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=lg4LOxiWjgFS8z75NJpziIIRYXvpvtm6oZ2VlYE5eedpGDcJ-YD1ybtpJZiAWaSa1HKHDPX7IFp9uisz