It's possible, even probable, that any time you see Gilbert in person his songs will make you laugh and cry simultaneously.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram

In Vance Gilbert's acoustic performances and albums we hear compelling original songs played with artistry and soul, humor and joy. Guitar Player magazine says of Gilbert: "His graceful picking, lush voicings and bright syncopations support engaging inner dialogues and witty verbal jabs sung in a smooth, energetic tenor." Gilbert's latest CD, "Somerville Live" (recorded at the Somerville Theatre), has been hailed as one of the best live acoustic CDs in years. The Boston Globe goes so far as to say that young songwriters should study it "the way law students cram for bar exams." To give you an idea of Vance's rapport with his audience, the comic stage banter captured on this fine CD gets almost as much airplay as the songs themselves.