When Ellen Eldridge of “The Silver Tongue” first heard Neil Cribbs perform, she recognized hints of Tom Petty and Bob Dylan.

“What captures the attention in the songs on Marionette is the spirit of feeling which drives through each track and gets inside the listener,” Eldridge wrote. “When I first heard the songs, I was hooked. Incredibly busy, but instantly hooked by the solid rhythms and heartfelt lines, unable to break away.”

Greenville residents can check out Cribbs' for themselves when his east coast tour stops by Tipsy Teapot, 409 Evans St., on Friday. The show begins at 9 p.m.

Neil Cribbs began playing music at the age of five and explored instruments such as violin, piano, trombone and drums. Early in his life he primarily was influenced by symphonic music and groups from the '60s such as Cat Stevens, the Beatles, and James Taylor.

At 16, Cribbs found his mother's guitar stashed away in the attic and decided to learn the ins and outs of the six strings hovering high above the fretboard. Immediately he began writing music of his own.

As time progressed so did his influences. He began exploring the world of Alternative Country. Bands such as Whiskytown, Uncle Tupelo, Ryan Adams, Wilco, Sonvolt, Richard Buckner and the Old 97s paralleled with Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Beth Hart, John Prine, and Taj Mahal. After recording a small album entitled “35 Sound Start” in 2006 the press, almost immediately, sold out. In December of 2009 Neil release his first album “Marionette.” Neil is currently finishing up his sophomore follow-up to “Marionette” entitled “Windshield.”

In February, Cribbs also signed up to perform at the 500 Songs for Kids Foundation Benefit, to be held May 1.

For more information and to check out Cribbs' music, visit http://neilcribbs.com/.