Below: MWK bassist Justin Briggs. See him Friday at Liquid's.
Tulsa World file

Midwest Kings gets a boost from executive producer-dad Dr. Robert Skib thinks his 17-year-old son Andy is doing something even more challenging than anything he's tried in life. Andy wants to make it in the music industry with his band the Midwest Kings.

Skib knows it won't be easy for his son.

"In this world, it's extremely difficult to make it because there are so many pitfalls and it's such a capricious environment out there," he said. "We believe in them so much that we're doing everything we can to make it happen for them."

The good doctor financed the band's self-titled debut album, which will be released Friday at Liquid's, and has an executive producer's credit on it.

Andy said he marvels at his father's devotion to the band.

"Sometimes I think my dad wants it more than I do," he said. "He kicks our butts and tells us to get out there and play for anyone and do anything we can."

The Midwest King's bassist Justin Briggs said Skib has the same zeal about supporting his son's band as another father might have about his son's football team.

Guitarist-lyricist Neal Tiemann said it's the little things that Skib does that mean the most to him.

"On his BMW 540, he has a Midwest Kings sticker on the paint," Tiemann said. "Man, I wouldn't even do that. That's loyalty right there."

Skib said the Midwest Kings have several things going for them, especially when it comes to songwriting. He called Tiemann a poet.

Tiemann said the album's producer, Jimmy Newquist, lead singer of the band Caroline's Spine, helped him to hone his songwriting skills.

"The thing I got out of working with Jimmy was that every one of my songs was a five-and-half minute epic, so he took them and ripped them all to pieces -- along with my pride," Tiemann said. "At first it sounded like (expletive) but then it slowly evolved into these really cool three-and-a-half minute songs that I'm really happy with."

Singing those lyrics at Yellow Dog studios is one thing. Performing them live is another for Andy. Since joining the band, Andy said he has learned to overcome his shyness -- taking a lesson from his father.

Skib also was shy in his youth, but has conquered his timidness and appeared in local productions of "Annie" and "The King and I."

"He always wanted to do that as a little kid, but he never did because he was too shy," Andy said. "Now he's grown up and he's doing that stuff so he wants me to not be shy and to not hesitate."

Briggs said he remembers Andy as a very introverted character who wouldn't look directly into the audience when he first joined the band. However, he has since overcome his stage fright.

"Now he takes the stage by force," Briggs said.

In the last year, Briggs said the band has evolved together.

"We've all become the four brothers separated at birth," he said.

With that internal support, Skib said he doesn't worry about his son, even when Andy plays gigs around town until 2 a.m. on school nights.

The only thing Skib asks is that his son stay on the honor roll at Holland Hall High School and graduate. He wants Andy to have options in life.

"If his dream doesn't pan out, it's a rough world out there," he said.

Whatever the future has in store for the Midwest Kings, Skib said he'll be there for the band.

"Obviously, we're living vicariously through our children. But, you know what? Why the hell not."

Midwest Kings