Singer-songwriter Otis Gibbs has just released a new single, “Eastside,” the first track from his upcoming album The Trust Of Crows, set to debut this September. To mark the occasion, Gibbs will perform live on Saturday, October 25th at HI-FI, a venue close to his heart and hometown. In 2017, Gibbs was the first artist to perform in the newly expanded HI-FI, and has left his mark on the venue as his portrait graces the back hallway of the club.
This release is a grassroots effort, and Gibbs is asking fans to help spread the word. You can support by streaming “Eastside” on Spotify, saving it to your library and sharing it with friends.
Sign up for presale access to see Otis Gibbs, and his band, live at HI-FI on October 25th. Presale starts at 10 AM EST this Thursday with the public on sale beginning Friday, June 20th at 10AM.
“Eastside” was recorded at the legendary Columbia Studio A in Nashville, the same room where Bob Dylan made Blonde on Blonde and Nashville Skyline. Closed to the public for decades, the studio opened its doors for Gibbs and producer Thomm Jutz, making the experience especially meaningful for a lifelong Dylan devotee. The song captures a spirit of homecoming, both musically and emotionally, and sets the tone for an album rooted in memory, place, and community.
New Video: Eastside
The track draws inspiration from Gibbs’ early days after moving to East Nashville nearly 20 years ago. Soon after settling in, he and his partner Amy were invited to a neighborhood porch concert featuring Cowboy Jack Clement, WS Holland, and a cast of local legends. The evening turned into an unforgettable moment of musical storytelling and camaraderie, one that confirmed they’d landed exactly where they belonged. The East Nashville scene—eccentric, deeply rooted, and rich with tradition—quickly became their new home.
One of the lasting memories from that night came when Peter Cooper, the late songwriter and journalist, invited Gibbs to play a few songs. Gibbs joked about following Cowboy Jack on stage, but Cooper simply said, “Otis, we’re in East Nashville now. We didn’t get here by making career decisions.” That moment of humility and humor helped shape Gibbs’ view of the creative world he had stepped into; a place where sincerity and community matter more than polish or perfection.
