JD Simo today releases his new LP, Mind Control. Rather than simply roll up to those fabled crossroads of blues lore, Simo builds a bridge by hand. The Chicago-born and Nashville-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer connects the missing link between Motown and Woodstock as he fuses fluid and fiery fretwork with vital and vulnerable vocals.
Logging hundreds of gigs annually, he has collaborated with Jack White, Tommy Emmanuel, Luther Dickinson, Blackberry Smoke, and more. Not to mention, he graced the bills of festivals, including Bonnaroo, Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, and Mountain Jam. Phil Lesh, iconic co-founder of The Grateful Dead, invited him to join Phil Lesh and Friends.
He spent lockdown playing virtually, and from there his third solo album was born — the product of like-minded musicians using the creative process for therapy and the fun of playing music. The record, which showcases his growth as a musician and a songwriter, was written and recorded by JD at the House of Grease, Nashville, TN.
ABS recently premiered the video for the second single from Mind Control. “That’s When You Know You’re Down” is a guitar-driven, blues-based psychedelic rocker that echoes the avant-garde sound of early Captain Beefheart — affording the listener imaginative thrills.
Of the song, JD shared with us:
I wrote “That’s When You Know You’re Down” late one night after listening to a bunch of Captain Beefheart. It’s definitely got a lot of his influence. The riff itself is a take off of an old Magic Sam kind of thing. The song is a meld of those two worlds, I suppose. Love how it turned out!
Watch him perform “Go Away Satan” for Paste in Nashville.
Simo’s guitar work is unmatched, and his impressive and tasteful solos display his prowess with the instrument. JD is currently on a co-headlining tour with Boston-based blues band GA-20.
Tour Dates 2021:
NOV 5 FRI Chipper’s College Lanes Fort Collins, CO
NOV 6 SAT The Animas City Theatre Durango, CO
NOV 7 SUN Launchpad Albuquerque, NM
NOV 9 TUE 191 Toole Tucson, AZ
NOV 10 WED Rhythm Room Phoenix, AZ
NOV 11 THU Coach House Concert Hall San Juan Capistrano, CA
NOV 12 FRI The Siren Morro Bay, CA
NOV 13 SAT The Mint Los Angeles, CA
NOV 14 SUN Soda Bar San Diego, CA
NOV 16 TUE Felton Music Hall Felton, CA
NOV 17 WED Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music Berkeley, CA
NOV 18 THU Humboldt Brews Arcata, CA
NOV 19 FRI Wow Hall Eugene, OR
NOV 20 SAT The Jack London Revue Portland, OR
NOV 21 SUN The Crocodile Seattle, WA
JAN 7 FRI City Winery Nashville, TN
JAN 8 SAT Revolution Music Room Little Rock, AR
JAN 10 MON Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewery Oklahoma City, OK
JAN 11 TUE Tulips FTW Fort Worth, TX
JAN 12 WED Antone’s Austin, TX
JAN 13 THU Sam’s Burger Joint San Antonio, TX
JAN 14 FRI Continental Club Houston, TX
JAN 15 SAT DBA New Orleans, LA
JAN 18 TUE Buddha Live Fort Myers, FL
JAN 19 WED Culture Room Fort Lauderdale, FL
JAN 20 THU Tuffy’s Sanford, FL
JAN 21 FRI Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL
JAN 22 SAT Union Hall Lakeland, FL
JAN 23 SUN Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Ponte Vedra, FL
JAN 25 TUE Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC
JAN 26 WED The Pour House Music Hall Raleigh, NC
JAN 28 FRI Grant’s Lounge Macon, GA
JAN 29 SAT Vinyl at Center Stage Atlanta, GA
Connect with JD Simo:
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*Feature image credit: Adam Abrashoff
