J.D. Simo - Mind Control

J.D. Simo - Mind Control - 2021

By Mike O’Cull from rockandbluesmuse

Guitarist, vocalist, and blues/rock/psychedelic visionary JD Simo brings us all deeper into his world on his invigorating new album Mind Control. Released November 5th, 2021 on Crows Feet Records, the platter was tracked during the pandemic at Simo’s home studio The House of Grease, in Nashville, Tennessee. Simo made it all happen with drummer and frequent collaborator Adam Abrashoff and friend, bassist/producer/engineer Adam Bednarik (Justin Townes Earle) providing the support he needed to take his creativity and his inspirations farther than ever before. Mind Control blends the hill country sound of RL Burnside, the Afro Beat of Fela Kuti, and the lysergic wisdom of Hendrix and Captain Beefheart with the hard blues of John Lee Hooker and the noise of Nirvana. No other modern performer does it like Simo does and his fearless pursuit of his own musical soul is a welcome blast of clean air.

Born in Chicago and now working out of Nashville, JD Simo has caused a lot of commotion in recent years with his highly individualistic approach to roots music. His way of connecting the soul of Motown with the subversive freedom of Woodstock and Seattle has made more than a few fans of outstanding guitar music take notice. Already, he’s worked with important artists including Jack White, Tommy Emmanuel, Luther Dickinson, and Blackberry Smoke, performed at Bonnaroo, Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam, and Mountain Jam, and been invited to join Phil Lesh and Friends.

Making Mind Control was JD’s way of coping with the Covid situation that has impacted all of our lives. “Like everyone, I was unprepared in how to deal with this new “normal” so I turned to the thing that always helps me: music,” he said, “I just started playing, opening up my socials and jamming and from that, Mind Control was born.” The end result of working through this vulnerable time is a fully artist-oriented record that does exactly what it wants to do. It’s the sound of a small, talented crew making music for themselves.

Simo begins casting his spell right from the jump with the raw and hypnotic “Go Away Satan.” He leans all the way into a wild, Hendrix-inspired, hallucinatory trance funk state of mind and lets the notes fall. It’s raw and genuine, immediately commanding attention and threatening to blow your speakers to bits. Simo’s guitar work is exemplary in this almost avant-garde setting, as are his vocals. Hear it and you’ll want more.

“I’m In Love” is moody, atmospheric, and equally heavy. Simo lives entirely in the moment like the blues greats of old and seems to toss off incredible stream-of-consciousness tracks by the force of his soul, alone. The song just keeps unwinding and Simo lets it go where it desires. His full, reverb-soaked tone fits his vibe perfectly and helps him take control of this expressive piece.

“Know It All” opens with a complex and mystical groove that works its way into the smallest parts of your psyche. Simo is simmering, dissonant, and aggressive in turn, calling out an offender who is “allergic to truth…weak and so small” and evolving the cut into a freestyle, soul-cleansing noise workout. Simo’s artistry and intensity are both on point and beyond, happy facts that put him at the leading edge in any discussion of contemporary guitar monsters.

“That’s When You Know That You’re Down” is a dark, undulating journey of a song that delivers a Robert Johnson-level sense of existential dread and disorientation that’s seriously amazing through headphones. Simo is otherworldly in a way that no one else on the current scene could think up, much less execute. He might not excite the blues purist crowd but has the potential to become a major point of light for everyone else.

Every track on Mind Control has much to offer all of the adventurous listeners out there and, at only ten songs in length, there’s no excuse for missing even a moment of this career-making effort. JD Simo is exactly the iconoclast the roots music universe needs right now. He’s here to remind us that the future is what it’s all about now and that we have the power to remake any tradition in our own image. Ignore him at your own risk.

01. Go Away Satan

02. I’m In Love

03. Let Go

04. Know It All 

05. Want What I Don’t Have

06. That’s When You Know That You’re Down

07. Fucked Up

08. Devil Is Always Watchin’

09. People Pleaser

10. Recovery

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JD Simo - JD Simo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 JD Simo - JD Simo - 2020

After a series of single releases so far in 2020, the self-titled album JD Simo will be out on August 21st. With the 10 songs on this new album, Simo shows that tone is in the hands. With constant changes of mood or rhythm in or between the songs, certainly, one thing that this album is not is monotone. Considering the jazzy approach mainly showed by JD Simo in OFF AT 11, in this new album, he took a different path but always keeping the multiple sorts of effects added to the guitars.

JD Simo definitely is a mature album where the difference between playing notes and playing music flows through it.It’s a new step that consolidates his discography and shows all the textures, approaches, and balance of Simo’s music.

More JD SIMO HERE

01. The Movement
02. Love
03. Out of Sight
04. Higher Plane
05. One of Those Days
06. Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
07. Take That
08. Soul of a Man
09. Help
10. Anna Lee

 

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JD SIMO - Burnin' Live! (RE-POST)

JD SIMO - Burnin' Live! - 2000

Simo grew up in Chicago. He began playing guitar at the age of five. By age 15, Simo had already formed a band and released a live EP recorded in Phoenix Arizona, which sold 5,000 copies.

He quickly earned a strong local following in the Phoenix area, pleasing crowds of all ages with dynamic stage performances that showcased his guitar skills. He spent most of his teenage years touring, either in  his own solo endeavors or in various other bands.

01. Can't You Hear The Wind Howl?   
02. Lost Your Way   
03. The One   
04. Remembering You   
05. Them Changes   

J.D. Simo - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Tom Feigenbaum - Rhythm Guitar
Harley Bonham - Bass Guitar
Thomas Walker - Drums

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JD SIMO - Off At 11

JD SIMO - Off At 11 - 2019

By Mike O’Cull

Guitarist/vocalist JD Simo has received a lot of well-deserved glory as of late for his soulful and energetic take on Second Generation blues/rock. Simo’s sound is based in the spirit of the late 60s but infused with the intensity of a rising star of today. His first solo album, Off At 11, out March 1, 2019, skillfully blends classic blues, rock, and psychedelic influences into songs and performances that are the equal of his inspirations. JD Simo stands on the shoulders of giants and takes his art to a whole new level. He has the grit and groove of Stevie Ray Vaughn at his best but folds in the improvisational spaciousness of the Dead, Allmans, and Butterfield’s East-West. The end result feels like a new giant walking the Earth in our present moment.

Off At 11 is only eight songs total but JD Simo demonstrates a masterful command of tone and phrasing on each one. His solos are duets with the open air and he never goes over the edge into the getting-paid-by-the-note power wanking that often occurs when blues and rock guitar collide. Instead, Simo has that Miles-type thing where the only notes he plays are the right ones and the silence between them matters more than the pitches themselves. This is still rock music but it’s the kind that hypnotizes, not the kind that attacks.

The set opens with a slow and heavy trip through Little Walter’s “Boom Boom Out Go The Lights.” Simo’s tone and vocals reveal the true threat of the lyrics in a dramatic way that’s much more pent-up than the party-down Pat Travers’ version most people are used to hearing. It’s evident from the first bar that this isn’t the typical power trio record. The title track, “Off At 11,” is up next and immediately launches into a full-on space jam situation that leaves the pentatonic boundaries of the blues behind, crashes through the Allman Brothers, and winds up hanging out in a bar somewhere with Jerry Garcia, John McLaughlin, and early Zeppelin. It’s the kind of cut that can only go down live and JD Simo, drummer Adam Abrashoff, and bassist Andraleia Buch delver it like flowing water. The three players make an able, flexible improvisational unit that’s a pleasure to behold.

READ MORE HERE

01. Boom, Boom, Out Go The Lights
02. Off At 11
03. You Need Love
04. I Got Love If You Want It
05. Temptation
06. Mind Trouble
07. Sweet Little Angel
08. Accept

Simo - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Percussion, Bass (6)
Luke Easterling - Bass
Adam Abrashoff - Drums

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Simo - Rise & Shine

Simo - Rise & Shine - 2017

Rise & Shine is the new album from Nashville trio SIMO on Provogue/Mascot Label Group (Black Country Communion, Joe Bonamassa, Black Stone Cherry, Monster Truck, Beth Hart, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Walter Trout, Jonny Lang)

The album began taking shape on the road, where SIMO’s three bandmates — singer, guitarist and namesake frontman JD Simo; drummer Adam Abrashoff; and bassist Elad Shapiro — spent most of 2016 on tour. They played 215 shows that year (including supporting Beth Hart, Blackberry Smoke and the late great Gregg Allman) leaving behind their Nashville headquarters and traveling to nine different countries in support of their Billboard Top 10 blues album, Let Love Show the Way. The trio worked on new music along the way, hashing out chord changes in hotel rooms and tweaking song arrangements during soundcheck. It was a time of growth and self-improvement for everyone, and they became better friends, better musicians, and better people. At the same time, the outside world was changing. Political pundits were screaming at one another. Elections were pitting candidate against candidate, party against party, neighbour against neighbour. The need to write music that truly meant something — music that not only demonstrated the band’s explosive chops, but also sent a clear messag.

NB --> The Best Album of 2017'

01. Return    
02. Meditation    
03. Shine    
04. People Say    
05. Don't Waste Time    
06. I Want Love    
07. The Climb    
08. Light The Candle    
09. Be With You    
10. The Light    
11. I Pray

JD Simo - Guitar & Vocal
Elad Shapiro - Bass
Adam Abrashogg - Drums

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Others JD SIMO' Albums? Click HERE

JD SIMO- Burnin' Live!

JD SIMO- Burnin' Live! - 2000

Simo grew up in Chicago. He began playing guitar at the age of five. By age 15, Simo had already formed a band and released a live EP recorded in Phoenix Arizona, which sold 5,000 copies.

He quickly earned a strong local following in the Phoenix area, pleasing crowds of all ages with dynamic stage performances that showcased his guitar skills. He spent most of his teenage years touring, either in  his own solo endeavors or in various other bands.


01. Can't You Hear The Wind Howl?   
02. Lost Your Way   
03. The One   
04. Remembering You   
05. Them Changes   

J.D. Simo - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Tom Feigenbaum - Rhythm Guitar
Harley Bonham - Bass Guitar
Thomas Walker - Drums
Mindy Nilson - Backing Vocals






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MORE JD SIMO HERE

J.D. SIMO - The Other Side Of Me

J.D. SIMO - The Other Side Of Me - 2004

from wikipedia

Simo grew up in Chicago. He began playing guitar at the age of five. By age 15, Simo had already formed a band and released a live EP recorded in Phoenix Arizona, which sold 5,000 copies. He quickly earned a strong local following in the Phoenix area, pleasing crowds of all ages with dynamic stage performances that showcased his guitar skills. He spent most of his teenage years touring, either in his own solo endeavors or in various other bands.

In the winter of 2006 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he established himself as the lead guitarist in the Don Kelley Band. This led to Simo's employment as an in-demand session musician. Simo continued to play in this capacity until 2011.

In the beginning of 2010, he joined bassist Frank Swart and drummer Adam Abrashoff to form the rock band SIMO. They spent much of 2011 on tour and released their debut album in November. They closed out the year with a homecoming show at The Basement in Nashville, the site of their first show. Sundazed Records released a vinyl single of Shake It/AoH off their debut album on January 25, 2013. SIMO was featured at several festivals including Mountain Jam and Bonnaroo in the summer of 2013.

Simo maintains an online blog, featuring videos of his playing style as well as information about vintage music equipment. In addition, Simo often films promotional videos for Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee.

>>>>> READ MORE HERE

>>>>> OTHERS SIMO'S ALBUMS. CHECK HERE

01. The Other Side of Me
02. Sooner Or Later
03. Black Cloud
04. Love on the Side
05. Fallin' Down
06. Wait Til Tomorrow
07. This Party
08. You're Mine Tonight
09. Will U Wait For Me










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J.D. Simo - One Night Stand

J.D. Simo - One Night Stand - 2002

J. D. Simo is an American blues singer-songwriter, who began guitar lessons at the age of five. By age 15, Simo had already formed a blues-rock power trio and released a live EP recorded in Phoenix Arizona. He quickly earned a strong local following in the Phoenix area, pleasing crowds of all ages with dynamic stage performances that showcased his explosive guitar skills. By 2006, having reached the age of 20, Simo has appeared alongside Lynyrd Skynyrd, Goo Goo Dolls, and Santana, and had written and performed in commercials for Dominos Pizza and Geico car insurance. In the winter of 2006 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he has established himself as a session musician, appearing on albums by Rodney Atkins, The Van Lears and Travis Meadows. He currently plays with the Don Kelley Band whose prior guitarists included Brent Mason, Kenny Vaughan, Redd Volkaert and Johnny Hiland.

01. Freight Train
02. Six String Blues
03. Goin Down
04. School House Blues
05. Superstition
06. Doin All Right
07. Til The Morning Comes
08. Capture Me
09. Just Begun
10. Texas Flood
11. One Night Stand
12. City Limits
13. Mystery (Bonus Track)


J. D. Simo - Guitar, Vocals
Tom Feigenbaum - Bass
Thomas "Freight Train" Walker - Drums
Hans Olson - Harmonica






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SIMO - Love - Volume 1

SIMO - Love - Volume 1 - 2015

SIMO is an American rock band formed in 2010. The group is notable for having virtuoso guitarist JD Simo as the centerpiece and namesake. A blues-based band that also incorporates extended improvisation into its live sets, they have released one album, with another for release on January/2016.

01. Rather Die In Vain
02. What’s on Your Mind
03. Off at 11
04. Shake It




* Recorded Live at The High Watt at Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN, 28 feb 2015

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Simo - Simo (re-post)

Simo - Simo - 2011

J.D. Simo é um guitarrista norte-americano que começou suas aulas com apenas cinco anos. Como 15 ele já havia lançado um EP ao vivo com seu próprio Power Trio. Com um som baseado no blues-rock, não tardou para que SIno agradasse multidões com sua habilidade. Da mesma forma, a sua participação em shows e discos de artistas consagrados foi somente uma questão de tempo. Com apenas 20 anos, Simo já estava presente nos palcos de Lynyrd Skynyrd, Goo Goo Dolls e Santana,

Em 2006 mudou-se para Nashville aonde se estabeleceu como músico de estúdio, aparecendo em discos de Rodney Atkins, The Van Lears e Travis Meadows. Atualmente ele toca com a Don Kelley Band.

Em 2010 ele formou um novo Trio com Frank Swart no baixo e Adam Abrashoff na bateria e entraram no estúdio para gravar um novo álbum - o primeiro em mais de cinco anos. O resultado está neste disco, simplesmente intitulado "Simo". Um belo disco cheio de rock, blues, solos e um vigoroso vocal; um belo disco como eram daqueles powers-trios dos anos 1970 (inclusive solo de bateria).

 
01. AOH
02. Shake It
03. Fool For You
04. Young Man, Old Man
05. Clementia's Lament
06. What's On Your Mind
07. That Same Thing
08. Thank You Tony Jones
09. Evil






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Simo - Simo

Simo - Simo - 2011

J.D. Simo é um guitarrista norte-americano que começou suas aulas com apenas cinco anos. Como 15 ele já havia lançado um EP ao vivo com seu próprio Power Trio. Com um som baseado no blues-rock, não tardou para que SIno agradasse multidões com sua habilidade. Da mesma forma, a sua participação em shows e discos de artistas consagrados foi somente uma questão de tempo. Com apenas 20 anos, Simo já estava presente nos palcos de Lynyrd Skynyrd, Goo Goo Dolls e Santana,

Em 2006 mudou-se para Nashville aonde se estabeleceu como músico de estúdio, aparecendo em discos de Rodney Atkins, The Van Lears e Travis Meadows. Atualmente ele toca com a Don Kelley Band.

Ano passado ele formou um novo Trio com Frank Swart no baixo e Adam Abrashoff na bateria e entraram no estúdio para gravar um novo álbum - o primeiro em mais de cinco anos. O resultado está neste disco, simplesmente intitulado "Simo". Um belo disco cheio de rock, blues, solos e um vigoroso vocal; um belo disco como eram daqueles powers-trios dos anos 1970 (inclusive solo de bateria).

 
01. AOH
02. Shake It
03. Fool For You
04. Young Man, Old Man
05. Clementia's Lament
06. What's On Your Mind
07. That Same Thing
08. Thank You Tony Jones
09. Evil
   
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