Why back Gibbs?

Because members of Why Make Clocks, recently signed to a national label, have joined fellow Rubric Records group C. Gibbs and the Cardia Brothers on tour.

Why Make Clocks bassist Boonie Boone, technical director for the M-Shop, is playing behind Gibbs and the brothers.] Guitarist Dan Hutchinson and keyboardist Brian Wiksell, other members of Why Make Clocks, round out Gibbs’s Ames connection in the touring lineup. Drummer Dan Menke is the lone New Yorker contributing to the Gibbs crew.

The last time C. Gibbs played in Ames, he was the opening act for Why Make Clocks. Now, both C. Gibbs and Why Make Clocks are on Rubric. Boonie says this was the connection that sparked the collaboration.

“C. heard our disc,” Boonie says. “So he did our tour.”

Gibbs’ is promoting his new album, “The Pinkermen Set.” Recorded in various studios around New York, Venice Beach, and Los Angeles, the album took about a year to finish, says Christian Gibbs, frontman for the band which bears his name.

“I was pretty broke, working full time, recording after work and on weekends,” Gibbs says.

“It was a pretty laborious process.”

Gibbs had recorded his previous album with Atlantic Records, but funded “The Pinkermen Set” entirely on his own.

“It was my big ‘fuck you’ to Atlantic,” Gibbs says. “I knew if I didn’t do it, it was my last chance — I’d probably become an accountant or something.”

Gibbs says he wrote the songs on the album about loneliness and fresh starts.

“It’s pretty much about the uphill battle of being in a strange, lonely place,” Gibbs says. “I was living in L.A. and didn’t know too many people.”

Gibbs describes the music in his album as versatile, with a mixture of dark country, alternative and singer/songwriter sounds.

“It’s more in the Neil Young vein of country,” he continued. “Not cry-a-tear-in-your-beer country.”

In a phone interview from New Orleans, La., Boonie described the sound similarly, but had his own preferred term.

“I picked this [label] up the last couple of days in Nashville,” Boonie says. “They call it ‘y’all-ternative’.”

Boonie’s brother, Squire Boone, is in charge of booking for the M-Shop. After he heard Gibbs’ performance with Why Make Clocks last October, he booked them again.

“It’s good music,” says Squire, junior in liberal arts and sciences. “So why not bring it back?”

“I love Ames,” Gibbs adds. “Last time I was here I probably sold 15 CDs, and the M-Shop is such a cool place.”

Gibbs is playing about 12 shows with his current lineup, and will move on to Minnesota and Michigan after tonight’s show in Ames.

“We’ve picked up a few shows along the way,” Boonie says.

Though Boonie and Gibbs haven’t decided on future dates and tours, there’s a definite possibility of another tour with the Cardia Brothers.

“We haven’t really talked about it much, but we’ll probably play again,” Boonie says.

Who: C. Gibbs and the Cardia Brothers

Where: Maintenance Shop

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

Cost: $6 students, $7 public