New York, NY (Top40 Charts) "JD SIMO spins soulful psychedelic blues rock with an improvisational bent reminiscent of the
Grateful Dead and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Though he's been performing in bands since his teenage years, [he] has begun to get national attention…." - Rolling Stone.
"JD SIMO, 'OFF AT 11,' a man playing like his life depends on it, fighting for his family, swinging from the vines of the future while chewing on the roots of American music. The album captures the transitional transcendence of this point in his artistry filtered thru the vintage PAF treble pickup of Ol'Red, JD's favorite 335, telling like it is, how it was and how it gonna be! Who's that psychedelic
Chicago blues man moved down to Nashville playing the chicken pickin' with no chicken? JD SIMO." - Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars).
Revered guitarist/vocalist, JD SIMO, announces his upcoming, first solo record, OFF AT 11, due out March 1, 2019 as well as a national tour that kicks off on January 22nd before the band leave for a European tour in support of Tommy Emmanuel. JD returns to the United States in April to open for the Allman Betts Band on their inaugural tour, with shows announced in New Orleans and Memphis, and more dates TBC. For all dates, JD will be backed by drummer Adam Abrashoff and bassist Andraleia Buch. With his band, SIMO, JD and cohorts have gained a solid fan following from touring and opening for bands such as Blackberry Smoke, The
Gregg Allman band, Warren Haynes, Tommy Emmanuel and others.
They have played Bonnaroo, Warren Hayne's Christmas Jam and Mountain Jam since the formation of the band in 2010.
The Chicago-born, Nashville-based recording artist channels classic sounds from acid rock, traditional blues, folk, soul, to free form jazz, reinvigorating them into a kaleidoscope of sound for a new generation of music lovers. NPR declares, "SIMO sounds as if it comes to us straight from 1968."
Produced by SIMO in association with co-manager Michael Caplan, OFF AT 11 consists of 8 tracks that are laid out on the record like a musical journey through gifted guitar playing and singing, incredible rhythm section arrangements and lyrics that convey that "all the feels" momentum. One can almost touch the ghosts of the brilliant, wounded masters of the blues who have shaped and guided JD's art and craft. SIMO's brand of blues is like the surge of sound from a classic car, say a Chevy V-8. It starts with a roar, then a rumble. Then a low, throaty hum. The explosion of the gas in the cylinders are like emotional triggers - liberating, visceral. Intense.
The recording of this rocking, blues driven, electric tour de force took place over a three day period in the summer of 2018; "Our next summer of love," says SIMO. Recorded during a brief break in touring, including SIMO's first shows as a newly cultivated member of Phil Lesh and Friends, he and his band laid down these musically dense and inspiring tracks in a "groovy space" to lay down something authentic, filled with fun and no edits, no tricks. "Just honesty and a tape machine" he explains. SIMO continues, "There's an underlying theme of LOVE that permeates the album. Both outward love but also inner and self love. These days, everything is so heavy, but I just want to point out some joy, love and deep passion; in this world, we all share that spirit. OFF AT 11 does that."
