Voices In My Head Podcast Episode #282 : Meet John Tibbs

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Welcome to Voices in My Head, the official podcast of me, Rick Lee James. I'm a recording artist, a singer-songwriter, an author, a worship leader, and an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene. The Voices in My Head podcast is your source for discussions on music, literature, movies, pop culture, theology, and more.

Now sit back, relax, and listen to the latest episode of The Voices in My Head podcast.

Voices in My Head podcast. And don't forget to let the voices in your head be heard by following me on Twitter @RickLeeJames and sharing your thoughts about today's show.

Walking away. I cursed your name on my loneliest day.

I fell into the fire of a thousand flames, saw my heart burn out in pouring rain. You made your home in a place unknown inside these veins, in this muscle and bone. And you led me back from the places I roamed. You paid every last dime on the debts that I've grown.

And every time it seems impossible, but you still find a way to walk me through the dark night.

You breathe life into just a loan.

You find the silver in stone. Oh yeah, silver in stone.

So here am I in the shine of your light.

I'm walking on.—

to the fray and the fight. I'm a weak man, you reached out for my hand. You never left my side. And every time it seems impossible, but you still find a way to walk me through the darkest night. You keep laughing, just stand alone, you'll be fine. Oh, I hold on to the promise that you never You see it through until your work is done. Oh, you never let me go. And I hold on to the promise that you never run. You see it through until your work is done. Oh, you never let me go. And every time it seems impossible, Would you still find a way to walk me through the dark night? You breathe life into dust and alone you find silver in stone.

Oh yeah, silver in stone. You find silver in stone. Silver in stone.

Welcome back to Voices in My Head.

As always, I'm I am your host, Rick Lee James, and I'm so glad that you could be here with us today. We've got a very special guest on the line. His name is John Tibbs. In 2016, John released his debut full-length album, Dead Man Walking, to great critical acclaim. Reviewers said about the album, with shades of Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, the heartland rock Tibbs traffics in is just right for the weightier dark side of the redemption story. John is an incredibly good artist. I've had the chance to meet him in person and hear him live one time, and today I'm so glad to have him as a guest on Voices in My Head. So John Tibbs, welcome to the Voices in My Head podcast.

Hey there, thank you so much. So good to be with you today.

Well, I've been a fan of your music for a while now, and I just am really happy to be able to have a chance to tell our listeners, or allow you actually to tell listeners, a little bit about your backstory. Where you've been and where maybe you're heading to in the coming days as an artist. I know you're a person— yes, has, has done a lot. You started out, I believe, in church work, and so maybe we should just kind of start there. I'm actually recording from my office at my church today where I work.

Oh, awesome.

And, uh, and I'd love to hear maybe just some of your early background. If I'm not mistaken, you're from Anderson, Indiana, or at least you started out working at a church in Anderson, Indiana. So maybe you could tell us a little bit about that experience and how it led you down a road of doing music full-time the way you are now.

Yeah, totally. So, um, actually I am a, uh, pastor's kid and, uh, I was born in Kentucky and then at the age of 6 we, uh, ended up in, uh, in PA, uh, and I graduated high school there outside of Pittsburgh. Then I went to college in Anderson, Indiana, and during our time there as a student, I ended up part-time on staff at a church doing worship arts for junior high, senior high, and college. As I continued there, that kind of transformed into the adult services. So after I graduated college, I continued on staff there. And about that same time, I started to have some songs that came out of that season at the church that I composed there to, you know, encourage people in our church. And I decided I would put that out as an EP, and people didn't have to buy it. They just entered their, you know, email and area code. That was in 2012, I believe, at the end of 2012. And, you know, that little EP did awesome. Tons of people picked it up and passed it along and passed it along. And out of all that came a lot of opportunities to tour. And so basically, I was just gone all the time, and I felt like I needed to choose if I was going to be on staff at the church and or if I was going to tour full-time. And to be honest, that was a very hard decision.

Sure.

I had always expected to be on staff at church. That was always a big piece of, of like who I am. And it was a pretty hard decision, but you know, God continued to open those doors. And so I stepped out and started touring full-time April 2013, and it's been so good. So that's wonderful.

Now, you may have said this already, but I think I missed it if you did. What, what was the position that you had at your church?

Uh, so, uh, basically it was a bigger church, and so, uh, at first I started out as the arts director for junior high, senior high, and college. And, um, as the college service transitioned it became a contemporary adult service. And by the time that transitioned, that's pretty much the only thing I did was the adult contemporary adult service. So I think we had 2 Saturday nights and 2 Sundays.

So very cool. Well, you know what, I, I'm listening to this and I didn't realize I too was born in Kentucky. And I have—

oh really?

I have a lot of family members in Anderson, so I get back there all the time and live in Lived in Middletown.

No way!

Yeah, Middletown, Indiana was where I lived for several years as a kid, just down the road.

Small world.

Yeah, so pretty interesting to hear all that. And I too am a PK. We are just discovering all kinds of things about us today.

That's amazing.

Well, it's neat to hear how your story intersected. I believe the online place that you had people download through, was it Noise Trade?

Yes, yes sir.

Which has done a lot of great things for artists, and you're able to actually interact with the people who listen that way, which is such a great tool. And you are, right, really strong evidence for the, the power that sort of social media and social tools like that can be in building a music career.

Oh, totally.

I'd love to hear about— because I know you were an independent artist for a while, as you just talked about, and you had to decide whether or not you were going to go on the road full-time. But then, if I'm not mistaken, you signed on with a record label and then were working with them. And then there was a process that led you back to being an independent artist.

Yes.

And I also, if I could interject, and I, I think it's okay and you might want me to mention this, um, you do have a bit of a stutter. And I, and I wanted to let listeners know that, not to just draw attention to it, but in case there was a— we want to help you out in the midst of that. We had to do the The same thing is sort of a preface when we had Jason Gray on the show, and it's just something I want to make listeners aware of.

Oh yeah, of course. I am super open about it, and I figured it was going to come up at some point in time in the conversation.

Now, no one would know that you did because you've been doing great. So I just wanted to make sure throughout the show, I always want guests to feel as comfortable as possible.

Yeah, well, thank you.

Sure. So, well, maybe we could continue on with the conversation and just maybe tell us a little bit sort of about that journey from independent to label to back to independent and kind of what that was like for you.

Yeah, so, you know, as I started out as an independent artist, you know, I had this EP that was doing awesome and we went ahead and did a Kickstarter. We did a second EP and that was doing just as good. And people in the industry kind of started paying attention. I had some doors open up to go out on tour opening under Audrey Asajj after she went independent. And I got the chance to open for other acts like Unger or 10th Avenue. And so all those doors kind of kept opening up. And honestly, I really did not have any interest in signing a deal. I always planned to be independent. I had come to town to try to find a booking agent because I was doing about 100 dates at the time and I was doing everything. And through all of that, I got an offer out of a company that's called FT. They used to be called INO, and they're an independent company. And, you know, the idea was to Hey, like, just keep doing the stuff you've been doing, you know. And so I've been able to do that, and you know, that's when we put out our debut 10-song in 2016, and that was great. And when it came time to do it again, I felt a tug and a pull. I had some songs that I thought those are the songs that I needed to do. And, you know, just with how the industry's changed, you know, airplay has become such a bigger and bigger piece of it all. And I just didn't sense that I had a song that I was excited about that could easily be a, Adeo song, you know, songs that are successful there. Like, I tend to, I tend to create something that's like a little bit different than that. And so, you know, I just kind of sensed that it was the artist piece of me that was just trying to be honest. And it's like, I want anytime someone hears a song I do that is completely honest and that comes across, because I think that's— that is the, like, special thing inside art and songs, is that if it's created in an honest place, that emotion and that energy is captured by a different person. And I think that can only really happen if it's completely honest. And so all that to say is, is that, oh, how the industry is changing with dreaming being such a big thing. And, you know, I just, I just really did not want to spend all this time getting a song to send to AVO, and then if that does great, then do an EP, and that does great, then put a couple other songs out, and all of a sudden you have an album. Because, you know, it just takes time and time and time, and I think it's so important to kind of always be churning out content and engaging your audience. And so kind of stepped out on our own, and, you know, I'm definitely independent in a sense that I, you know, cover the expense of everything, but I'm so fortunate I've got such an awesome team at this point. So, you know, doing the album under an record company was so healthy, so helpful. It kind of helped get our songs to a different audience, and it created a lot of doors to the industry to help, to help kind of be in a place that I'm able to do it independently. And so I put out an EP, well, an 8-song project the end of 2017, and man, it's been so cool. That project has already had a bigger impact and has outdone that 10-song album that came out in 2016. So it's just been so cool, and I actually just put out a song a couple days ago, and we've got another song coming out in August. So it's been so cool to see, you know, how God is truly just taking care of us, and Like, I have— like, I just think it's so fascinating that this whole journey I've been on has been completely unexpected. It's like, yeah, like, I was expected to be at a church, and then, and then that changed. And then, you know, I expected to come downtown to get a booking agent, and then I got a deal, and then I expected to continue doing that, and I'm indie again, and And yet everything has just been so good.

So, well, tell us, what's the title of the song you just released a couple of days ago?

Yes, it's called Dear Hate, D-E-A-R-H-A-T-E. It's actually a cover song. It's the first song that I've ever done that I haven't— or it's an— and, um, ah, it is a song that I heard back in 2017 and it hit me so hard I was like, I have to do this song. And it's been so cool, you know, like I said, it's come out a couple days and the engagement that the song has seen has just been excellent.

So wonderful. Well, congratulations to you on that. I'm so glad to hear it.

Thank you.

That's got to be such a good feeling and so much affirmation for artists. It's so good in helping us kind of know what we want to continue to keep doing in the direction we're taking. And it sounds like Dear Hate was the perfect cover with that kind of response. Do it then.

That's great. Right. It's such an important tune, I think. And especially speaking into the culture today, it's been— I first heard it and it just It just became a personal anthem, and I was like, I can't just keep this. Like, I have to get this out there too. And so, yeah, so it's just such an important song. So I'm so happy that people have been connecting to it.

Well, good. I'm glad for that kind of connection. I would love to ask you a question because you've already referenced that you had such a busy booking schedule and you came to town looking for someone to book. Yeah, I know that when people are successful in really any career, but especially in music, it involves a team, which you already referenced, a team that you have working around you. I wonder if you could tell us, because people don't always know some of the behind the scenes, what are some of the, the parts of your team that you find to be essential that you really need to to have in working in the music business in the way that you do, because many artists try to do everything themselves and are often wondering, what would I even do with the team if I had? So would you mind talking a little bit about your team today?

Yeah, of course. I, well, you know, I definitely don't think anything is essential. I think there's a different scenario based on the artist. I am I have a manager who has a staff under her of— and it's kind of each of those people do their own task. They're a huge piece of it. Then I also have a person who kind of handles getting our songs to Apple and to iTunes and to all those outlets and is in communication with them to be sure that the song is getting attention. We definitely have a PR team that's, you know, on and off, and that is just— that tends to be something that I anytime I have like an album or a song out. Besides that, you know, we— you know, it's interesting, I thought I was staying pretty busy in 2013. Now I'm doing about 200 dates, and so I have a person that kind of handles just all the details of getting to the place you know, things I'll be eating that evening, hotel I'll be staying at, how I'm getting there, how I'm getting home, you know, who I'm taking out. I do a bunch of different dates. Some days I just go out just acoustic. Some days I bring out a second person. Some days I bring out like 6 different people. So it just depends. And so they're able to kind of piece all of those things together.

Wow.

So it definitely takes a team.

Well, that's amazing. And I, I don't think people always consider all that that goes on. And I know there's so many things to juggle, and we're grateful for the teams in our life that make things possible.

That's absolutely—

and help us. And that's amazing. I'm so glad that, you know, you, you're able to, to handle and sustain— I mean, 200 shows a year, that's a really incredible It is a lot. So how does that work in with, uh, I actually haven't thought to ask you before and haven't read about it before, um, like family time or anything like that? Are you married?

Um, I am, yes. So, um, Emily and I just celebrated, uh, our 7th anniversary.

Congratulations.

That's fantastic.

So now, does Emily ever get a chance to go with you on the road, or Tease.

I tease, but it's pretty honest. It's anytime I go to the beach, she goes. So, like, you know, I get asked all the time about being connected to her and being out of town touring and all that. And I think, you know, overall, her and I have it pretty easy. I have picked up that a big piece of it is kind of, it's kind of like, you know, she and I both kind of understood the stuff that I was getting into at the beginning. And I think that's such a big piece of it. I have heard that the kind of issues typically pop up if a person, you know, just kind of does this like EP and doesn't expect to ever tour and then is all of a sudden just out of town all the time, and it kind of comes after, um, uh, like, um, you know, being hitched and having kids and stuff like that. And then the other thing is, is that him and I try to not be apart over 10 evenings. There seems to be something about that 10-day that just kind of gets too hard.

Yeah, so I understand. Well, that's— and I get that. I'm, I'm gone quite a lot too, and I always want to encourage people to keep their marriages as close as they can, you know, even—

of course.

And that's one—

of course.

Well, I want to ask you as well, not only are you a great musician, but I know that one thing that helps creative people, uh, continue to be creative people. And I know even this morning as we were getting ready for the call, you were already writing today.

Yes.

So you're a busy guy and you're keeping yourself busy. You're doing the right things. Because we— you are on a show called Voices in My Head, I want to question you a little bit about the voices in your head, so to speak.

Yeah.

What's currently speaking to you? And this can be music, maybe from other artists, maybe a book that you're reading, maybe a film that you've seen. I know that different things give us different inspiration, but I wonder right now if there's anything that in particular is really speaking to you.

Yeah, I would say I would have an answer on each of those things. I'm constantly kind of either digging into a brand new album or an author or a podcast. I'm currently going through the the biography about Ger-Ant, and that's awesome. And I'm also going through the autobiography of Burr-Einstein. So, you know, I think both of those individuals are such interesting, gifted people, and it's been so cool to see kind of the places that they came out of and the issues that they've come up against and to just see how they've handled all of that. I think those are the two pieces today that have, you know, just truly had an impact on everything I do. And I think it's so easy to get caught up in today and And seeing, like, if Instagram and Facebook and all the digital outlets, it's so easy to kind of take it in. Some people just kind of have it easy and it just happens easy. And, you know, that just isn't ever how it is. And it's like both authors just do such a great job kind of talking about the ups and downs that each of those individuals had.

Yeah.

Yeah. And I loved Springsteen's autobiography, and you get a really human look at who he was and the journey that he took. And again, yeah, it wasn't an easy journey at all. He had a lot of things. I mean, he was about ready to toss it in at one point after I think the third album. And, and yeah, it's just so good to, to read those humanizing aspects. And I think that people like him especially have spoken to me over the years. Yep. And, and especially when you hear his story, just partially because of how they're down to earth. And, and you know, what an honor to be compared to someone yourself. You're being compared to people like Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Yeah, that's crazy.

Isn't that amazing?

I, I wonder if Do you feel like when you're writing songs and playing songs, most of us are not necessarily trying to emulate anyone, but do you like those comparisons, or do you feel like—

Oh, I totally do.

Yeah.

Yeah, I like, um, um, I definitely do. Uh, being a kid in a tiny town in PA, I mean, those kind of artists, they had been on all the time.

Yeah.

And so it was definitely a huge impact on on the interests I have today. And so, yeah, it's definitely cool to hear people articulate those comparisons, of course.

Well, and I'd have to say about your album as well, it does have sort of those rootsy rock vibe to it. And especially like, you know, Silver and Stone, the opening track on one of your albums, and it passes the treadmill test is what I call it. You know, when I'm out there, when I'm out running and I'm like, I need like a real rocking song to be able to run to today.

Love it.

Yeah, it's one of those type songs. But I mean, there's, there's some great music that you're putting out, and I want to applaud you for being able to continue to do it. And in a world that is often very difficult to sustain as an independent artist, you're doing some great work and you're making some really wonderful art. And I'm loving that you're able to, you know, release a new song here and you do a cover song like Dear Hate, but then you have this great catalog of your own music. And while I think there can definitely be some comparisons made, complimentary, like Bruce Springsteen or John Mellencamp or other ones that have been mentioned, I think you really do have your own particular style.

Thank you.

Away from them as well. And so I always appreciate that.

Well, thank you so much.

Sure thing.

Well, I'm trying to think of one last really good strong question. And I like to ask this of artists from time to time. And maybe you can think of this, maybe you can't. Sometimes it takes people a second. But I like to ask artists often a question about what was your best gig and what was your worst gig? Can you remember?

Oh, my best gig. I mean, there have been a lot of fantastic gigs. I don't think I can give you a specific ideal gig. I tend to enjoy each of them. I think that's the thing I enjoy about touring is that every evening ends up having its its own character and being its own, you know, and the engagement with the people there changes every evening. And I think it would be hard to pit a single, you know, gig against each other. I would say the, oh, Erskine gig, you know, it's kind of the same answer. It's like it would be hard to pit them against each other. I think the outside aspects of gigging, that definitely has an effect on the answer. I have been broken down on the side of the interstate about 10 times, and those instances always pop up. Oh man. There was a time that I was on tour on a bus in Texas. We were all the way down, like, about 6 hours south of Dallas, and we had a concert Sunday night, and we were headed home. It was in August, and the bus had some problems apparently at about 2:00 AM. Of course, all of us have been out of it, so got up at, you know, 8 AM the next day, you know, thinking, expecting to be in Arkansas or something, and we're like, we haven't gone anywhere. And apparently the person who was operating our bus called the owner and said, hey, I'm getting out of here. I guess he had some issues at that particular company, so he had a buddy in the area pick him up, take him to the airport. So we were stranded.

Oh my goodness, like literally stranded.

Yes, yes. And we didn't have, you know, anything to eat. This was 8 AM. That night, by about 10 PM, a church came and picked us up and took us to the airport to get a car or rental, but that was about 2.5 hours to get there. And that one definitely, I think, takes king. But of course, you know, the actual gig itself had been awesome. It was just that outside circumstance.

Yeah, wow, that's an amazing story. That might top some of the best ones that I've heard, actually, as far as the worst gigs. But what a memory you made in the meantime.

Exactly.

Well, John, man, it has been a great pleasure to talk with you. Is there anything we haven't talked about today that you really want to make sure that we get a plug in for while you're on the show?

I don't think so.

All right.

Appreciate you so much.

Well, you too. And I just want to refer everybody to johntibbsmusic.com and you can find out more about John there. And get his music. And you guys that listen to this podcast, you know how to get good music. Go look up John's music online. You're going to find it's a treat if you've not listened to him before. If you have heard him before, go find the new stuff. Dear Hate is a new one that just came out. So John Tibbs, thank you for being one of the Voices in My Head this week.

Ha, of course. Heaven knows I'm a broken man.

These tired bones, they can barely stand. In the ways of the world, oh, I lay my grave. Till the darkest of nights when you call my name.

Your love, your love always set me free.

Oh no, give no shame, got a hold on me.

Your love, your love, well, it opened my eyes.

I was a dead man walking till you gave me life. Grace that comes with a price. I'm light of the world, just to save my soul. But in the valley of the shadow of the cross, you will find, oh no, brokenness, for I've come alive.

Ooh, you love, you love, you set me free.

Oh no, guilt, no shame, Shame got a hold on me.

Your love, your love, well, it opened my eyes.

I was a dead man walking till you gave me life.

Ooh, your love broke the chain. And I'm free from the guilt and the shame. Love opened my eyes. Ooh, your love, your love has set me free.

Oh no guilt, no shame, got a hold on me.

Your love, your It opened my heart.

I was a dead man walking till, Lord. I was a dead man walking till, Lord. I was a dead man walking till you gave me life.

Thank you for joining me here this week on Voices in My Head. I hope you'll visit me on my website at rickleejames.com, follow me on Twitter @RickLeeJames, like my artist page at facebook.com/rickleejames, and keep up to date on what I'm writing on my author page on Amazon. There's also the Voices in My Head Facebook community found at facebook.com/voicespodcast. And if you want to follow my alter ego on Twitter, follow my popular Mr. Rogers quote account found @MrRogersSay. Also, make sure to follow my appearance schedule on my website, and if you would like to have me come to your town to do a concert, a speaking engagement, or a book event, you can book me through my website at rickleejames.com. RickLeeJames.com/bookings. And it would mean the world to me if you would write a review of this podcast on iTunes. The more positive reviews we receive, the more visible this podcast is on the internet. And now the benediction. May the God of peace, who raised Christ from the dead, strengthen you in your inner being for every good work, and may the blessing of God Almighty May the blessing of Yahweh, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon you and dwell within you this day and forevermore.

Amen.