Neil Cribbs

Neil Cribbs's first full-length album fits squarely in the music tradition formed by artists like Bob Dylan and carried on by artists like Ray LaMontagne. In the voice of the iconic American individual, Cribbs's songs carry the listener into the nooks-and-crannies of one man's encounters with nature, adventure, relationships, and even history. Marionette is full of quaint, epic moments. It is universal and personal. In its dichotomies lies a range of emotions and experiences that you will want to travel time and again. - Itunes review by Stateless269

There are plenty of good reasons for you to be at Smith’s Olde Bar this Thursday, July 1 around 9 p.m. Sweetwater 420 on draught, Fox Bros. barbecue, great service from friendly bartenders and great company from the saucy regulars of the bar. However, the most important reason for you to swing on by Smith’s on Thursday will be to hear some great live tunes from local artist Neil Cribbs.

Neil Cribbs, a transplant from Boone, N.C., has been delighting audiences around Atlanta with his dusky vocals and reflective lyrics for over two years. His songs are stories of the greatest American past times: love, loss, memory and hope, crafted together with solid, rhythmic guitar and bright bursts of harmonica.

Cribbs will be playing a mix of fervid originals from his new album “Marionette,” along with some familiar tunes he has restyled to fit perfectly in his portfolio. Ever heard Michael Jackson in the style of Americana? Well be prepared to do a sparkly-gloved crotch grab of enthusiasm because you will this Thursday.

Cribbs will also be playing the Strange Daze music festival this August.

Visit www.neilcribbs.com for more show dates, to purchase “Marionette,” or just to see photos of a great beard in action. - The Silver Tongue

South of the city in Senoia, GA, Neil Cribbs will be treating the patrons of Maguire’s Irish Pub to a little piece of Americana with his soothing melodies and storytelling on Friday June 18th. This singer/songwriter paints vivid pictures with his songs all while getting you to tap your feet to the music. Check out the tune "Last Train", it is a great example of his work. Your ears will thank you for checking him out in this intimate setting. If you miss him Friday, then hop across town to the Alamo in Newnan Saturday the 19th, and check Neil out there. (Take a gander at my previous article about Neil here) - Examiner.com

Need something to do Thursday night, you know you do, then grab your keys, or Marta pass, or a cab or bicycle and get your ass down to Smith's Olde Bar. Neil Cribbs will be belting out some sweet tunes in the Atlanta Room.

The show starts at 7pm, so be sure to get there early and toss back a few PBR's and maybe of Smitty's Spicy Black Bean Burgers.....yeah you will pay later but damn they are tasty.

After satisfying your taste buds, make your ears happy with some good music. Neil has a soulful voice and spins story after story with his songs. I have been listening to his album, Marionette for a few weeks now, every time I listen to it, it gets better and better. (If you want more details on his record you can check out my review from a few weeks ago here.)

Cribbs, an Atlanta singer songwriter by way of Wilmington and Boone, NC, who is a fan of the Trolly Stop hot dog, (I can verify, these hot dogs are pretty damn good) writes and performs his own tunes. Sweet, soulful songs, songs you want to listen to over and over again. Songs that stick to your gut, stay in your head, remind you of why you dig music in the first place. In addition to his originals, he tosses in some cover tunes, not the everyday usual covers, but stuff you don't usually see, such as tunes by Sam Cooke, Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees.

So let's review; Neil Cribbs, sweet tunes, Smith's Olde Bar, good food, cold beer, Atlanta Room, only $7, starts at 7pm, Thursday, July 1st. Simple, so clear your schedule tomorrow night come on over and kick off the July 4th weekend early and have a great time. - Examiner.com

From the start of the strumming, Neil Cribbs grabs hold and moves you to relaxation, to take stock of the journey inside of a single day. There exists a storyteller quality to Cribbs’ voice which lends itself well to the tone of voice accompanying American soul songs. His songwriting is a solid stew of elements including inspirations drawn from Tom Petty’s chord progressions and Bob Dylan’s bluesy style of harmonica and folk tales.

What captures the attention in the songs on Marionette is the spirit of feeling which drives through each track and gets inside the listener. When I first heard the songs, I was hooked. Incredibly busy, but instantly hooked by the solid rhythms and heartfelt lines, unable to break away.

The harp solos reflect back on the lyrics, dynamically building the pressure from the chord strumming and straining vocals. The line, “Well, there’s a banjo playing and there’s dancing in the air and the rock and roll singer can find his roots out there,” in the second track, “Don’t Forget the Mountains,” captures succinctly the mix of Americana and blues stylishly told in the tradition of song. With tracks this easy to connect with and understand, Neil Cribbs is destined to find solace in small towns and fun loving audiences.

Much like watching the landscapes as a train rolls across the open country from coast to coast, Neil Cribbs’ songs will float in between silences and provide the soundtrack to a constantly evolving and changing scene, musically as well as environmentally. Marionette is the type of album to listen to when you need a voice to call forth the deep seated and often times haunting connections to individuals. These are songs that bring back memories, no matter quite who you are or from where you’ve come.

Ellen Eldridge, Indie Contributor - The Silver Tongue

Atlanta is filled with good music, bands, dj's, rappers, singer songwriters, you name it. There are shows all over town highlighting some of these artists, and you can usually find their music at local record stores or online. One of these artists is Neil Cribbs.

If you enjoy good singer/songwriters then you need to listen to Neil's album "Marionette" then check him out live, he will be playing all over in the next month or so.

Neil puts his heart and soul into each tune, writing songs that are more short stories than quirky tunes. His lyrics and music create graphic images brought to life by his soulful voice when listening to them. Stories of loss, wanting, sorrow and love.

Songs like "Mollie", "Last Tran", "Corner Of Me", "With Me" and "Don't Forget The Mountains" punctuate Neil's song writing abilities. His guitar fits each tune perfectly and he picks the right spots to fill in with haunting harmonica.

If you are a fan of Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne, Cary Brothers, Cat Stevens, Kevn Kinney and James Taylor type tunes then you definitely need to pick this up, and check him out in person. Check out his website for the latest dates. - Examiner.com