After hiatus, Naples band Tiberius returns with new album

Tiberius is methodical in its approach to music. It likes to have a plan.

What sets Tiberius apart from other local acts in Southwest Florida is their readiness and experience, the group said. 

“The reason you would pick us before any other band is, I think, our knowledge. Our having done this in the past, our preparedness, and our willingness to say we have our stuff together,” said Danny James, one of the band's two guitarists. “What makes us different from other bands is it’s not just to the next show. We’re always trying to think three or four steps ahead.” 

The alternative indie-rock group hails from Naples. Colin O’Brien is the lead vocalist. Guitarists James and Nick Chandler, bass guitarist Evan Seals, and drummer James Kay, round out the crew.

Tiberius came together in the summer of 2015. By then, O’Brien and James had a decade of playing and touring together in other projects.

“Dan actually came to me with just kind of like a baby seed of an idea,” O’Brien said. “It was, kind of at first, I think intended to be a studio project but it grew, and grew, and grew and took on these fine gentlemen.

Tiberius took a break for a bit to hone its sound on a new project.

The musicians had been in previous bands, and they didn't want to force their transition into a new sound.

That self-awareness allowed them to make the music that they wanted to make, the group said.

While it is also a passion project, they expressed the desire for Tiberius to be what they do for a living. 

“Instead of showing up every day to work where I would normally work, now and then doing music on the nights, I want music the first thing I wake up to do,” James said. 

Tiberius credits their experiences in previous projects with helping them become a unit. Their past music ventures also served as an invaluable learning experience, the group said.

“We’re fortunate enough to have played with big-name bands, so we get to watch them work, watch how they do their craft, and watch how they warm up for their shows,” James said. “Things like that that you can’t buy through anything but experience.”

The bandmates' comfort sharing their influences with each other is the driving force behind new ideas, Seals said.

They also find inspiration in listening to seasoned musicians, which drives them to be better themselves.

“Any good artist will pull from lots of directions,” O’Brien said. "I grew up on punk rock and stuff like that, but as far as preparation, application, and technique, I refer a lot to theater.”

Their desire to be prepared and professional kept them away from performing at any shows for a while.

Tiberius spent roughly nine months writing their debut EP, “Chapter I: Rebirth/Retribution,” with Jesse Kirkbridge and Chris Whited of Kirkbridge Recordings. 

O’Brien said he wanted to play live a lot earlier but waiting ended up being the right move for the band.

They wanted to be sure that they had the best product for the audience. Everything they do is catered for the listener, said James. 

“It goes back to what we were talking about earlier as far as constantly learning. We use that as an ability to learn our own capabilities in this project, we use it as somewhat of a meter to gauge where we were and we learned a lot,” Kay said. “I hope that we continue to in every opportunity we’re given.

Tiberius went on to have their debut performance at Damnfest, which featured a number of local artists showcasing their craft at Howl Gallery in Fort Myers, after 18 months of preparation. 

“It was amazing, too, because we didn’t know what to expect and then we came here and the whole night, the whole show was off the hook, man,” Seals said. “It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you have enough discipline to take an idea from something small into fruition.”

Now, the band is focused on their next performance at its CD release show at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Howl Gallery. Playing alongside Tiberius: Wilder Sons and Mike Wassef.

Tickets for the 21-and-older album release party are $10 each and include a copy of the EP. The tickets are on sale at Howl Gallery.

The public can find Tiberius’ music on Spotify, Amazon and iTunes. Their debut EP titled “Chapter I: Rebirth/Retribution” will be available everywhere on June 6. 

Visit tiberius.bigcartel.com for more merchandise.

IF YOU GO

What: Tiberius CD release party

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 3

Where: Howl Gallery,  4160 Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers. 

Details: 21 and older, $10 entry fee

Information: howlgallery.com