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You are about to release your second solo album, "Blues Like Midnight"?
When
is
the
album
going
to
be
available?
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 April 1st. It was supposed to be February. You know how these things are. We said it would be out in February, I'll start doing gigs in February. But, the artwork still isn't done. We did a complete
re-synch last week on the artwork and it should be done any day. The record itself is mastered and all ready to go so as soon as the artwork is done they'll get it to the manufacturers. So, April 1st is a comfortable release date and I guess we'll have advance copies in a matter of weeks. I'm very, very happy with the record. I think it shows my continuing confidence, standing on my own two feet so to speak, as a singer and songwriter as opposed to hiding behind a band.
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Your first solo album,
"Solitaire" (1997) was a one man show, total acoustic Blues and you handling the harmonica parts as well. What can we expect with this second release?
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We wanted to make it a little different, so I brought in some other accompaniment, some other instruments, percussion and so forth, just to kind of make it
a
little
bit
more enjoyable
a
listen
for
the listener who's
not necessarily committed to this kind of music. Again, this features most of my own compositions and therefore it's a little more singer-songwriter oriented, within the Blues framework. Some sparse accompaniment and I
would think quite a bit different a record from "Solitaire" but they could stand side by side.
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You
are
in
the
middle
of
doing
an
acoustic
round
of
shows.
Do you enjoy the opportunity to strip it all down and play acoustic?
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Yeah. The great thing about where I'm at right now is that I don't need a record to promote to go out and do live shows either with a band or solo. Luckily enough, I've got a following of people that will show up, hopefully. So, it's no big deal that the record's not out. There are enough Savoy Brown fans who are fascinated by this aspect and to the general public that might just drop in to see a different kind of show. There are not a lot of them (acoustic shows). There's enough to keep me interested over the next few months. It's a very, very good show. I did a television show for a public channel in Albany about a month ago with David
Malachowski, the guitar player that's doing the shows with me, excellent guitar player, it was a resounding success and I suppose it keeps surprising me really how good the show is. I think as a player in the back of your mind you've always got doubts. But it is a good show, people do like it, they do respond to it. I think it surprises me because I enjoy it so much. You're just up there with an acoustic guitar having a blast.
Click
here
to
view
Kim Simmonds'
tour
date
schedule
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You'll be wrapping up your acoustic gigs at the
Dinosaur
Barbecue in
Syracuse
on April 8th?
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I'm thinking of doing that maybe half electric as well because it's such a honky-tonk place. I've done it acoustic before, with a band. I've done a couple of Christmas shows in the past and I've done acoustic, then rocked out with a local group. I think that's probably what I should do in April because it's that kind of venue.
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It sounds like you picked it up easily.
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I must of,
yeah. Judging by that situation, I did pick it up easily. I think looking back I was just one of those kids of my generation that were artistically inclined but instead of picking up a paintbrush or going and writing a novel, The Beatles were around and it was,
"Oh yeah, right, we can actually play
guitar."
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It's amazing to think of the impact those records had on influencing
aspiring
musicians
and shaping
the future of Rock music. It may sound a little dramatic to say that
those records were life changing, but in many ways
they were.
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I think that happens with us. I mean, life changes in simple ways. Obviously, God forbid something terrible should happen to us to change your life, but in many ways we become converted in religion, or converted in some way, but in very, very pedestrian ways. You suddenly wake up the morning, stub your foot and have an epiphany! What amazes me is the power of music. I'm still overwhelmed with music. And I think that no matter how hard you are, no matter how professional you become, I think deep down we're all fans. And that's the case. The music is always bigger than our contribution. It obviously goes on and on and on. I think I was very lucky to have had that epiphany and had that experience with meaningful music." Luckily, I think right from the beginning, my influences, and a lot of people like me, started off right and that's the important thing in life, in fact in everything. If you start off right, you're always going to have that foundation. If you start off listening to some lesser
guitarists
and then try to play like BB King you could be in trouble. Because what you first listen to, what you first
play, will always come through. Like me right now, I'm still a Bill Haley fan.
I'm still listening to Bill
Haley records. After all these years I listen to
"Rock
Around
The
Clock". I think it's one of the greatest produced records of all time. I constantly listen to that and think,
"How did they produce this
record?" It's obviously just a couple of microphones in the studio. You can hear people stepping up to the mic, stepping back from the mic. It's a phenomenal record. I
still listen to that stuff and it
still comes out in my playing. You cannot hide what you are, and luckily, as I say, when I was in
my
formative
years I started playing music that was right and it always comes out in your music. I was very lucky to have those people around me that said,
"This is the real
stuff".
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www.savoybrown.com
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Continue
Reading |
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here
to
continue
reading
as Kim Simmonds recalls the Blues explosion that overtook London, Savoy Brown's early days, his love, and initial fear, for performing live (some great stories!) and his experiences working with Chris Youlden, memories of Lonesome Dave and a special moment with the legendary Willie Dixon. Also, Simmonds recalls the stories behind some of the classic Savoy Brown songs such as Hellbound Train, Mr. Downchild, Second Try, All I Can Do and more.
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