Our Nashville pal has a new long player in the can and here’s what we know…
J.D. Simo has announced his debut solo album and March 2019 UK dates as special guest to Tommy Emmanuel.
JD Simo is a Nashville-based guitarist and vocalist who wants his listeners to know that what matters to him first and foremost is that music should be honest. He offers this in spades on his debut solo album, ‘Off At 11’, a psychedelic, free-flowing, dynamic kaleidoscope of sound, energy and vibe that incorporates elements of Acid rock, traditional blues, folk, soul and free form jazz around JD’s improvisational skills. –
With influences as diverse as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Captain Beefheart, Miles Davis and the Allman Brothers, to blues guitarists such as Lightnin’ Hopkins and BB King, this young artist is taking the listener on a musical journey using LOVE as the guideposts.
JD explains: “There is an underlying theme of love that permeates the album, outward love but also inner and self love. Everything is so heavy these days, but I just want to point out some joy, love and deep passion; in this world, we all share that spirit.”
The recording of the electric tour de force that is ‘Off At 11’ took place over a three day period in the summer of 2018 during a brief break in touring that included JD’s first shows as a newly cultivated member of [Grateful Dead bassist] Phil Lesh and Friends. Showing off not only his guitar and vocal abilities, but also the incredible rhythm section of drummer Adam Abrashoff and bassist Luke Easterling, the eight musically dense songs that make up the album were laid down with no edits and no other studio trickery. “Just honesty and a tape machine” says JD, who co-produced the record with Michael Caplan.
One can almost touch the ghosts of various brilliant, wounded masters of the blues who have shaped and guided JD’s own art and craft. “There isn’t a single way to express the blues, thank God,” he chuckles. “You can be joyful or plaintive, all in the same song. And there are always two sides of me when I play, because I’m eternally obsessed with both. There’s my love for obscure black music from the Forties and Fifties, and how I choose to relate to them. There’s also my trippy, psychedelic side, the possibilities that the Dead and the Allmans present, or where John McLaughlin points me on Bitches Brew.” Elaborating, he states: “The blues, it’s grown folks music. The blues is not for kids. Blues to me, it’s an art form. It’s not supposed to be flashy. And that fools a lot of people.”
JD previously fronted the psychedelic soul group SIMO and gained a solid following from touring with acts such as Blackberry Smoke, The Gregg Allman band, Warren Haynes, Tommy Emmanuel and more. The band released two albums for the Mascot Label Group that received praise from several publications across the world – including us at JLTT.
You can listen to the full length version of the new single ‘You Need Love’ in this article.
Pete Sargeant
(Many thanks to Gary L for help with this announcement)
J.D. Simo’s debut solo album ‘Off At 11’ is released on Friday 1st March 2019.
You can pre-order it here: http://bit.ly/2tK8Nvv
For more information visit his official website here: http://bit.ly/1nZ92xr
JD Simo will be the special guest on Tommy Emmanuel’s March 2019 UK Tour which will stop at the following venues:
Thursday 7th March 2019 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2LUAAAM
Saturday 9th March 2019 – Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2haamO1
Sunday 10th March 2019 – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2oG3bAp
Monday 11th March 2019 – City Hall, Salisbury, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2peQ6PG
Thursday 20th March 2019 -Royal Festival Hall, London, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2DA71me
Friday 21st March 2019 – City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2kH5sd4
Saturday 22nd March 2019 – RNCM Concert Hall, Manchester, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2qNqE3d
Monday 24th March 2019 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/2a1l5XR
