Joel Gibb
Encyclopedia
Joel Gibb is a Berlin
-based Canadian artist and singer-songwriter who leads the "gay
church
folk
" group The Hidden Cameras
. He was born in Kincardine, Ontario
.
devoted to independent bands, Glamour Guide for Trash. He also hosted a college radio show at CFRE-FM
in Mississauga, Ontario. At the same time, he was writing his own songs and, in 2001, he released some of his recordings under the name The Hidden Cameras on his own independent record label EvilEvil, a CD entitled Ecce Homo.
He then gathered together a group of musicians to perform his work, playing everywhere from art galleries to churches to porn theatres to parks. Along the way, the band grew to include up to thirteen members, including a string section, choir and go-go dancers, its audience growing at the same time.
In 2003 the Hidden Cameras were signed to Rough Trade
, a well known British record label who released the band's next album, The Smell of Our Own
the same year. They began to tour North America and Europe extensively. In 2004, the album Mississauga Goddam
was released, followed by The arms of his 'ill'
on the California label Absolutely Kosher Records
. The album Awoo
came out in 2006 on Rough Trade Records
, EvilEvil and Arts & Crafts
. All The Hidden Cameras releases to date have been produced by Joel Gibb. In 2007, solo recordings by Gibb were released on the tribute to Arthur Russell
compilation EP, Four Songs by Arthur Russell
.
Gibb exhibits his artwork in various galleries and has been included in group shows in the past at the Tate Modern
, among others. His work comprises drawings and banners, both of which are featured on The Hidden Cameras CDs and records. He also shows the videos he has directed for The Hidden Cameras.
In 2008, Joel Gibb made his acting debut, alongside Jena von Brücker, Mark Ewert
, Calvin Johnson, Jen Smith
, and Vaginal Davis
, as one of the stars of the film The Lollipop Generation
, directed by G.B. Jones. The film also features music by The Hidden Cameras.
Gibb contributed to R.E.M.'s album Collapse Into Now
, with backing vocals on the track "It Happened Today"
Gibb currently lives in Berlin
.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
-based Canadian artist and singer-songwriter who leads the "gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
church
Church music
Church music may be defined as music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclestiacal liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn. This article covers music in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. For sacred music outside this...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
" group The Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras are a Canadian indie pop band. Fronted by singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, the band consists of a varying roster of musicians who play what Gibb once described as "gay church folk music"...
. He was born in Kincardine, Ontario
Kincardine, Ontario
The Municipality of Kincardine is located on the shores of Lake Huron in the County of Bruce in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 12,000, and covers an area of 580 square kilometres...
.
Career
His first involvement with the music scene was as editor of a fanzineFanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
devoted to independent bands, Glamour Guide for Trash. He also hosted a college radio show at CFRE-FM
CFRE-FM
CFRE is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 91.9 FM in Mississauga, Ontario. The campus radio station of the University of Toronto at Mississauga, the station first broadcast in 1970.CNN's J.D. Roberts began his career at CFRE...
in Mississauga, Ontario. At the same time, he was writing his own songs and, in 2001, he released some of his recordings under the name The Hidden Cameras on his own independent record label EvilEvil, a CD entitled Ecce Homo.
He then gathered together a group of musicians to perform his work, playing everywhere from art galleries to churches to porn theatres to parks. Along the way, the band grew to include up to thirteen members, including a string section, choir and go-go dancers, its audience growing at the same time.
In 2003 the Hidden Cameras were signed to Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, a well known British record label who released the band's next album, The Smell of Our Own
The Smell of Our Own
-Track listing:# "Golden Streams" – 4:28# "Ban Marriage" – 4:15# "A Miracle" – 2:50# "The Animals of Prey" – 4:04# "Smells Like Happiness" – 3:08# "Day Is Dawning" – 5:06# "Boys of Melody" – 4:59# "Shame" – 5:28# "Breathe on It" – 2:52...
the same year. They began to tour North America and Europe extensively. In 2004, the album Mississauga Goddam
Mississauga Goddam
Mississauga Goddam is a 2004 album by The Hidden Cameras.The title is an allusion to Nina Simone's civil rights anthem "Mississippi Goddam" , suggesting suburbia as the real battleground for LGBT equality.The album was released on Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom and EvilEvil in...
was released, followed by The arms of his 'ill'
The Arms of His 'Ill'
The arms of his "ill" is the title of a 10 inch EP by the band The Hidden Cameras.The EP was released in 2004 on the Berkeley, California-based label, Absolutely Kosher. It was later re-released as a CD also. All songs were written, performed and recorded by Joel Gibb. The EP features Lex...
on the California label Absolutely Kosher Records
Absolutely Kosher Records
Absolutely Kosher Records is an independent California-based record label founded in 1998 in San Francisco by Cory Brown. The label moved to Berkeley in 2002 and then to Emeryville in October 2006 when it partnered with Misra Records...
. The album Awoo
Awoo
AWOO is an album by The Hidden Cameras, released in 2006.The album was released on EvilEvil in Canada in August. It was released on September 4 on Rough Trade in the UK and was also released on Arts & Crafts in the United States on September 19....
came out in 2006 on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, EvilEvil and Arts & Crafts
Arts & Crafts (record label)
Arts & Crafts Productions is a Toronto-based independent artist services company, offering expertise as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser and music publisher both in Canada and internationally...
. All The Hidden Cameras releases to date have been produced by Joel Gibb. In 2007, solo recordings by Gibb were released on the tribute to Arthur Russell
Arthur Russell
Arthur Russell may refer to:* Arthur Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill , Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India* Arthur Russell , British athlete...
compilation EP, Four Songs by Arthur Russell
Four Songs by Arthur Russell
Four Songs by Arthur Russell is a tribute EP of songs written by Arthur Russell, featuring Vera November, Jens Lekman, Taken By Trees, and Joel Gibb.-Track listing:#"Our Last Night Together" #"A Little Lost"...
.
Gibb exhibits his artwork in various galleries and has been included in group shows in the past at the Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
, among others. His work comprises drawings and banners, both of which are featured on The Hidden Cameras CDs and records. He also shows the videos he has directed for The Hidden Cameras.
In 2008, Joel Gibb made his acting debut, alongside Jena von Brücker, Mark Ewert
Mark Ewert
Marcus Ewert, previously known as Mark Ewert, is an American writer, actor and director, living in San Francisco.Marcus Ewert began making and appearing in films in the 1990s. He has appeared in the Gus Van Sant short film Four Naked Boys and a Gun, in Sadie Benning's Flat Is Beautiful, and the...
, Calvin Johnson, Jen Smith
Jen Smith
Jen Smith is an artist, musician, zine editor, and activist from the United States.Jen Smith is credited with being the inspiration behind the term Riot Grrrl and being one of the architects of the movement...
, and Vaginal Davis
Vaginal Davis
Vaginal Davis is an American genderqueer performing artist, painter, independent curator, composer, and writer. Davis's name is a homage to activist Angela Davis.-Life and career:Davis is often associated with the formation of the Queer-Core Zine Movement...
, as one of the stars of the film The Lollipop Generation
The Lollipop Generation
The Lollipop Generation is the first feature film by G.B. Jones.The Lollipop Generation premiered as the Gala Feature presentation of the Images Festival in Toronto on April 3, 2008....
, directed by G.B. Jones. The film also features music by The Hidden Cameras.
Gibb contributed to R.E.M.'s album Collapse Into Now
Collapse into Now
Collapse into Now is the fifteenth and final studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on March 7, 2011 on Warner Bros...
, with backing vocals on the track "It Happened Today"
Gibb currently lives in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
External links
- Interview with Joel Gibb in BUTT Magazine
- Interview with Joel Gibb on Torontoist.com
- Official Site of Joel Gibb's label, EvilEvil
- Joel Gibb's zine Glamour Guide For Trash at ZineWikiZineWikiZineWiki is an open-source online wiki devoted to zines, fanzines, small press publications, chapbooks, and independent media. It covers the history, production, distribution and culture of the small press.-History:...