Bman's Blues Report

When Kim Simmonds hooked up the first version of Savoy Brown back in London in 1965 , nobody could have guessed he was kicking off a sixty-year blues crusade. Simmonds lived his life on the road, taking raw Chicago electric blues and supercharging it into a heavy, high-octane boogie that basically drew the blueprint for British blues-rock . While the band never quite got their due back home in the UK, they absolutely conquered America on the back of relentless touring and killer FM radio staples like Looking In (1970) , Street Corner Talking (1971) , and the massive Hellbound Train (1972) . The group also doubled as a legendary revolving-door incubator for rock history—most famously when a chunk of the band split off in 1970 to form the arena-rock powerhouse Foghat . Through every single lineup change, Simmonds was the glue holding it all together, steering the ship for over 40 albums and even landing a #1 Billboard Blues hit with Witchy Feelin' in 2017. Now, the 14-track...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues All Around , from Savoy Brown and I think it's their best in years. Opening with Falling Through , Kim Simmonds sets the pace of the set with some authentic delta style riffs on electric guitar breaking into a classic boogie style rocker. With Simmonds on vocal and lead guitar, this band has more miles than most anyone short of the Stones. Simmonds, who passed away in December has held the blues rock boogie torch for 57 years and has released 42 albums...yes...42. Having personally seen at least 4 or 5 different lineups of Savor Brown (all with Simmonds), I have been a long time fan. On Going Down South , Simmonds pulls out the slide and this is a guy who really knew how to play it. From some of the best days of the band in the 70's and Tell Mama to now, Simmonds shows a super command and feel for slide guitar. Due to Peripheral Neuropathy as a side effect of chemotherapy Kim plays quite a bit more slide on...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Done Yet , from Savoy Brown and they are definitely on a solid path again. Opening with blues rocker, All Gone Wrong , Kim Simmonds is up front on lead vocal and guitar and Simmonds is developing into a very solid lead vocalist. His guitar  playing and blues chops are as good as any, possibly one of the best electric/contemporary lead blues rockers ever. Joined by Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums, the band sounds tight. With it's droning bass line and steady drums beat, Borrowed Time has a classic feel. Simmonds uses a Multivox FullRotor for shimmery guitar effects and keeps the underpinnings of the track spartan. Boogie rocker and title track, Ain't Done Yet has classic Savoy Brown styling with crisp lead work by Simmonds and a solid base. Latin flavored, Feel Like A Gypsy , is a cool radio style track with a smooth, "Santana" like feel. Simmonds is a talented player and improvi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, City Night , from Savoy Brown and it's smokin'! Opening with Walking on Hot Stones , Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown is back with a vengeance. With a driving, heavy bottomed blues rocker beat, Simmonds is handling lead vocal like never before and his guitar can still breathe fire. An excellent slide player and overall guitar player, this is a great opener. I love the guitar tone that Simmonds gets on Payback Time and he has definitely refined his vocal delivery which gets closer and closer to a great blues rock delivery with every release. His lead riffs are as good as ever and at his best, he can compete with anyone. Neighborhood Blues has a real nice funky slouch and Simmonds rides the pocket with excellent, call and response like Clapton on Outside Woman Blues with the Cream. My favorite track on the release, Selfish World , conjures an eerie sense of Savoy Brown from the early 70's with it's calm but h...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You should have been there! from Savoy Brown featuring Kim Simmonds and it's a super exhibition of Savoy Brown live and on top of it's game, recorded live at the Yale in Vancouver on 2.23.03. Opening with When It Rains from their 2003 release, Strange Dreams, Kim is handling stinging lead guitar and vocal, backed by David Malachowski on guitar, Gerry Sorrentino on bass and Dennis Cotton on drums. I have seen this unit and it is tight. On slow blues, Where Has Your Heart Gone? , also from Strange Dreams, Simmonds gets into such a nice guitar groove that this 11 plus minute track seems to be over in short minutes. Simmonds' phrasing is excellent as always and his ingenuity on this night was spot on. On classic, Poor Girl , from on of my all time favorite SB releases, Looking In, Simmonds literally blows the doors off. You like contemporary blues rock. This is it! Excellent! On Jimmie Rodgers' Blues Like ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Witchy Feelin' , from Savoy Brown and it's quite good. Opening with Why Did You Hoodoo Me , Kim Simmonds is back, better than ever with Pat Desalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums. With a pounding bass rhythm and some of the most scorching riffs to come off of Simmonds guitar on record in a long time, this track rocks! There's something about a Gibson humbucker and a Marshall amp that just has that tone and Simmonds has it. Title track, Witchy Feelin' , is a somber, dark blues number with light backing highlighting Simmonds vocals and exceptional soloing. Very nice. Gun Slinger kicks it into gear with modern boogie style. With a droning bass line and raw, saturated guitar tone Simmonds uses this basis to deliver one of the best rockers of modern Savoy Brown's history. Standing In A Doorway is a solid, old school blues style number with sweet slide work with tone not unlike Ron Wood on the Stones L...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jazzin' On The Blues , from Kim Simmonds , and it's quite good. Simmonds, well known front man for Savoy Brown, takes an occasional break from his band and does individual projects and this is a fine instrumental one. Opening with Dancing On A Memory , a smooth instrumental ballad, Simmonds accompanies himself on rhythm guitar as he plays fluid lead melody. Lightly salted blues riffs make this a grand opener. Theme For Deborah has a Latin percussion line thanks to Ron Keck and Simmonds dances across the strings. Very nice. Surrender is one of my favorites on the release with a soulful guitar melody, accompanied by acoustic rhythm guitar. Excellent! Title track, Jazzin' On The Blues , finds Simmonds rapid firing jazz riffs over a solid melody, capped by his own blues harp work. Another of my favorites is The Maze with it's Bo Diddley beat, tight guitar riffs and glistening chords. Another track with a L...

I just received the newest release, The Devil To Pay , from Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown and I must say it's really hot! I have been a Kim Simmonds/Savoy Brown fan since high school and I've seen band changes both good and bad. Kim's dedication to keep rocking after 50 years and 45 albums is amazing and a testament to someone who loves what they are doing. Opening with Ain't Got Nobody , Simmonds leads right into a masterful guitar intro, the likes which of I haven't heard since his earlier release like Blue Matter and Looking In. This is a "slow blues" track and Simmonds absolutely blows the lid off right off the bat. The guitar phrasing on this track is some of the most beautifully executed work I have heard in years. Kim... excellent! Like I told you when I last saw you... certainly one of the greatest living blues guitarists today. Bad Weather Brewing is a moderate paced shuffle track with pure raw guitar riffs. Complimented by Pat DeSalvo on bass ...

I just received the newest release, Vicksburg Call , by David Gogo and he's blending more rock into his strong blues feel. Opening with Cuts Me to The Bone , Gogo is hammering right out of the gate. With Jay Stevens on bass and Bill Hicks on drums this track does rock. Gogo isn't fooling around with his slashing slide guitar soloing and grinding rhythm. Boogie guitar master, Kim Simmonds joins Gogo on Fooling Myself with his unmistakable guitar soloing style. This is a really cool track with some remarkable riffs. Another Canadian, Neil Young's The Loner has always been a favorite and Gogo does a really nice cover. This track has a moderately different arrangement from the original and a definitely non Young style guitar solo. Harmony vocals with Stevens add warmth and with the track slightly uptempo sounds quite fresh. There's A Hole is a quiet, bluesy ballad with Gogo on resonator and guitar and Shawn Hall on harp. Stephen Stills' Jet Set (Sigh) has a deepe...

“Where Blues Crosses Over” (Pronounced “Roof”) RUF RECORDS HITS THE BLUES CHARTS WITH TWO CDs NEXT WEEK New Records From SAVOY BROWN, ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD & JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR Out Now Label’s “Songs From The Road” CD/DVD Sets Chart With Joanne ...