Tag: simo

As far as I’m aware SIMO, the band, no longer exists and it’s now just JD SIMO going out as a solo act. This is the band’s second full album release from 2016, and it is one hot deep blues/funk groove monster.

Opening with a cover of Elmore James’ Strangers Blues is an inspired choice as it adds some serious swing to an old blues standard. Two Twin Woman sees SIMO really letting the slide drive the tune over a somewhat dirty funk blues. Cant Say Her Name is some real deep down south heavy blues with killer guitar from JD. I Lied has a killer riff and this track really grooves. Please is pure old school R’n’B, done southern style. Great song! Side 1 closes out with Long May You Sail and is a heavy psych blues, which the second album heavily draws on.

Side 2 starts up in Allman’s style with some solo slide at the intro to I’ll Always Be Around, after all this album was recorded at Allman’s HQ: The Big House in Macon Georgia. Becky’s Last Occupation is my favourite track on the album as it mixes Zeppelin style heavy riffs with that deep southern groove. I’d Rather Die In Vain is the heaviest track on the album with vocal and guitar mimicking each other. JD just rips it up on this piece. The album closes out with Today I’m Here, and we slow things right down with a nice acoustic country blues instrumental. If you like your blues southern fried and heavy this is for you.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

The album that was released before this one, Let Love Show The Way, was a huge surprise for me. It totally blew me away as I loved their brand of roots blues and funk. So I was expecting big things from Rise & Shine, but with a lot of bands around at the minute, they didn’t want to repeat themselves and wanted to keep the creativity going – even if it takes away from the success they already received. This album is a lot harder to get into and it takes a lot of plays for it to dissolve into your soul.

It’s a very groovy record, and on tracks like Meditation they nail it perfectly. Such a sexy vibe, a great melody, and some very subtle guitar with nice clean tones make this one of my favourite songs by the band. The track, Shine, musically has a Stevie Wonder Higher Ground feel to it but the lyrics are very old school RnB. The final track, I Pray, at times is the heaviest sounding piece on the record, and then it’s the most thought provoking track on the album.

This is a very varied album. If you give it time I’m sure you will be rewarded with a deep listening experience that at times goes from pure psychedelia, to soulful blues and funk.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.