Nashville based guitarist/singer JD Simo is in the UK (March 2019) playing a run of shows with fellow guitarist Tommy Emmanuel CGP. JD recently released ‘Off At 11’ an album that finds him blending straight ahead blues with much more expansive material than incorporates a range of jazz/blues and jam band influences. The album is a fine introduction to JD Simo and well worth tracking down. We caught up with JD for the RGM Baker’s Dozen feature where he explains how guitar great Steve Cropper proved influential in his early days and a more recent love for Bojack Horseman.

1. What is your earliest musical memory?

Seeing the Blues Brothers movie. I guess I was 2 or 3 years old. I wanted to be IN it!! Steve Cropper in particular! I thought he was so cool. Still do!

2. Do you remember the name of your first band?

My first band was a Beatle band that me and three of my friends had in the 2nd grade. We were Beatle Flashback. We only performed in my parent’s basement.

3. Which current artist do you hear and just go Wow?

There’s tons! Funkadelic, Earl Hooker, Lightning Hopkins, Stevie Wonder, BB King, Captian Beefheart. I could list until you fall asleep listening to me!

4. Do you sit down to write songs or do you wait until your mojo comes to get you?

I wait for it to hit me. I can and have sat down to write but I always end up liking the ones that just happen the best.

5. Big venue or small venue - what's your favourite to play?

I don’t have a preference. I just love to play period.

6. Who is the one artist you wish you could share a stage with (past or present)?

Well in the past I’d say getting to jam with Miles Davis would be the ultimate! In present times, I’d really love to jam with either Herbie Hancock or Wayne Shorter!

7. Bowie, Prince, Sinatra, Elvis which departed great means the most to you?

Elvis. He was my first musical hero right after I was obsessed with Steve Cropper. I saw Elvis on television when I was 4 or so and I was beyond OBSESSED!

8. Is a saxophone solo ever ok?

Absolutely!! Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Cannonball Adderly, Ornette Coleman… I could go on and on.

9. Should music be free?

To an extent. I think like most things, moderation is key.

10. Can you remember the first record you bought and what have you bought recently?

I bought Elvis’ Heartbreak Hotel first when I was 5. I love the new Budos Band album and I recently got really deep into all of the Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd St Band.

11. What was the last song that made you cry actual tears?

I heard Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” the other day after watching the new Netflix doc on him and it made me cry.

12. Do you binge watch Netflix / Amazon / DVD box sets (any recommendations)? Do you have a guilty pleasure in Film or TV you’ll admit to watching and loving?

All the time!! That and listening to music is all you really have time for on the road. Our bassist Andraleia got me hooked on Bojack Horseman and I’m binging it now. I love House of Cards, all music documentaries and I’m a conspiracy addict. Anything about aliens, JFK etc. I’m in!

13. What is the most important thing to you that you can see from where you are right now?

My wife and my young daughter are the most important things to me.

UK tour March 2019

07.03.19 PERTH Perth Concert Hall

09.03.19 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre

10.03.19 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn

11.03.19 SALISBURY City Hall

20.03.19 LONDON Royal Festival Hall

21.03.19 SHEFFIELD City Hall Ballroom

22.03.19 MANCHESTER RNCM Concert Hall

24.03.19 CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange

all dates with Tommy Emmanuel

Featured

December 12, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #46 The Last Hurrah (!!)

December 12, 2023

These days, with a seemingly inexhaustible amount of music available at the click of a mouse, it is easy to miss things in our search for instant gratification. The art of getting to know an album over repeated listens, allowing it to slowly reveal itself, is in danger of being lost. A case in point is the aptly titled ‘Modern Nostalgia’, the latest release from The Last Hurrah (!!), a project helmed by Norwegian musician/producer HP Gundersen. ‘Modern Nostalgia’ blends a distinctly European (Serge Gainsbourg/Marianne Faithfull) approach with the California sound of Gram Parsons and The Byrds, utilising a variety of singers and instrumentation along the way to reveal its charms. With this in mind, we caught up with HP Gundersen to learn more about HP and his collaborators in The Last Hurrah (!!).

December 12, 2023

November 28, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #45 Joby Fox

November 28, 2023

Northern Irish singer, songwriter and humanitarian Joby Fox was in London recently for two shows in support of his excellent album ‘I Once Was A Hawk…Now I’m A Dove’. RGM was lucky enough to be at the second of these, and you can read a review here. While Joby was performing his promotional duties, he took the time to complete a Baker’s Dozen for RGM. Topics included his favourite records and artists that inspire him while we were reminded that one invention is particularly vital.

November 28, 2023

June 1, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #44 Jennifer Crook

June 1, 2023

With the release of 'The Broken Road Back Home' in late 2022, Jennifer Crook received some of the best reviews of her career, with Folking claiming it as "One of the year's best albums". Jennifer is no stranger to good reviews, and a high bar had been set with The Telegraph, Mark Radcliffe and Fatea Magazine praising her previous work. ’The Broken Road Back Home’ is a lovely record with a timeless quality that should appeal to anyone who appreciates good songs and a finely crafted album with excellent musicianship. The album recently received a limited edition vinyl pressing, so it seemed like the ideal time to catch up with Jennifer to learn a little more, and, unsurprisingly, we found her in the recording studio.

June 1, 2023

May 18, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #43 Dave Foster

May 18, 2023

Fans of Big Big Train and the Steve Rothery Band will need no introduction to Dave Foster. The guitarist and songwriter has been heavily involved with both in the last few years but dig a little deeper, and you’ll discover Dave’s solo career and his work with vocalist Dinet Poortman. ‘Glimmer’ is the second album from the duo and does a wonderful job of utilizing progressive instrumentation, including plenty of fluid, yet punchy, guitar playing from Dave, on a bunch of songs with striking pop sensibilities. Fans of the aforementioned acts, and a band we recently championed here at Red Guitar Music, League Of Lights will surely enjoy ‘Glimmer’ immensely. The album was released on CD/LP in April, with a digital release on May 19th, so go check it out. We caught up with Dave for a wide-ranging chat (anyone who starts out by mentioning Bob Seger’s Nine Tonight is alright in my book) about his musical tastes, career and choice in film (Wes Anderson is another big tick here at RGMHQ). Now if we can get him to elaborate on that Steve Vai story…

May 18, 2023

April 20, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #42 Jenny Don't and The Spurs

April 20, 2023

If you were very lucky, you might have caught Jenny Don’t and The Spurs on their recent UK tour, which included a show at the Ramblin’ Roots Revue in High Wycombe. The Portland, Oregon act were promoting their excellent ‘Fire On The Ridge’ release, an essential purchase for all lovers of old-school twangy country sounds delivered with maximum gusto and bags of attitude. Before they set out on the Europe dates, which will keep them busy through May, we caught up with bassist Kelly Halliburton who was incredibly generous with his time, resulting in a very cool edition of the Baker’s Dozen.

April 20, 2023

March 24, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #41 Jerry Leger

March 24, 2023

In 2005, nineteen-year-old Jerry Leger cut his first independently released album. Since then, the prolific singer-songwriter has recorded 10 additional albums under his own name, with the last 4 released via Cowboy Junkies' label, Latent Recordings. His latest release is a four-track EP 'Latent Uncovers' that features his take on songs by Lou Reed, Jeff Tweedy, Leonard Cohen and David Bowie. Red Guitar Music caught up with Jerry for a brief chat about his influences, and he reminds us it doesn’t get much better than Gordon Lightfoot.

March 24, 2023

March 23, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #40 Adam Masterson

March 23, 2023

London-born but New York-based Adam Masterson recently released his second album ‘Time Bomb’ digitally with CD/LP to follow on July 21st. It’s been two decades since his debut ‘One Tale Too Many’ but Adam has kept busy releasing various EPs, shared stages with the likes of Tori Amos, Amy Winehouse and Stereophonics and guested with Patti Smith and Mick Jones (The Clash). We caught up with Adam for an enlightening chat about the music business in 2023 and how buying a Tom Petty record from a beach vendor in Turkey proved inspirational.

March 23, 2023

March 20, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #39 Craig Gould

March 20, 2023

Craig Gould is an artist looking to make a difference. Following a run of singles, Craig will release his debut album ‘Songs From The Campfire’ on April 14th. The album is the centrepiece of Craig’s personal campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues, with ALL profits from the album and singles benefitting the CALM charity https://www.thecalmzone.net/. Please read on to learn more about Craig’s back story, the album ‘Songs From The Campfire’ and why he feels so passionate about this project. Singer. Songwriter. Storyteller. Campaigner. Craig is all these things, so it seemed an ideal time to get to know Craig a little better via The Baker’s Dozen here at Red Guitar Music.

March 20, 2023

February 20, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #38 Nigel Wearne

February 20, 2023

Welcome to the first Baker’s Dozen of 2023. We’ve revamped things a little and Australian singer/songwriter/guitarist and luthier Nigel Wearne kindly stepped up to the plate for the first at bat. Nigel recently showcased at the Americana UK Music Festival in London and completed an extensive UK tour alongside sometime duet partner Lauren Housley. Nigel talked guitars, songwriting, Aussie legends Cold Chisel, Tom waits and also gave us an insight into the making of his upcoming album ‘The Reckoning’.

February 20, 2023

September 21, 2022

The Baker's Dozen #37 Kaya Stewart

September 21, 2022

Kaya Stewart will release her second album ‘If Things Go South’ on September 30th via Bay Street Records. Kaya released her first album via Warners while still in her mid-teens back in 2016 and is now an industry veteran at just 22. Co-written and produced with her father, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics, Daryl Hall, Tom Petty), it is Kaya at her most authentic, expressive self.“This record is one-hundred per cent who I am now,” she declares. “This is the Kaya I was working towards all along.” RGM caught up with Kaya to learn a little more about her and the influences that helped to shape the new record.

September 21, 2022

July 15, 2022

The Baker's Dozen #36 Gareth Dunlop

July 15, 2022

As the world seemingly came to a grinding halt due to a global pandemic, there was still plenty happening in Gareth Dunlop's own Sycamore Studios in Northern Ireland as he produced impressive releases from Foy Vance and Lee Rogers. He also found the time to complete a very fine album of his own in ‘Animal’. Gareth is now busy on the road as a solo performer and as a member of Foy Vance’s band, but we were able to catch up with the singer/songwriter to get a few thoughts on the lockdown, an early love of Lynyrd Skynyrd and his fledgeling attempts at being in a band - which will sound very familiar to some of us. So, over to Gareth Dunlop for the latest edition of the Baker’s Dozen here at Red Guitar Music.

July 15, 2022

October 29, 2021

The Baker's Dozen #35 Lee Rogers

October 29, 2021

Northern Irish singer-songwriter Lee Rogers might have seemingly taken a break from producing new music in recent years but today (October 29th 2021) marks the digital release of his ‘Dark Notions’ EP (those who prefer their music in a physical format will be able to snag a 10” vinyl in the near future) and Lee has a new album and touring plans in place for 2022. Needless to say this seemed like an ideal time to catch up with Lee and RGM found a man passionate about life, family and his music. From The Police via Cosmic Village to ‘Dark Notions’ RGM gets to know a little more about Lee Rogers.

October 29, 2021

October 8, 2021

The Baker's Dozen #34 Bob Madsen (The Grafenberg Disciples)

October 8, 2021

For the latest edition of the Baker’s Dozen here at RGM we caught up with Bob Madsen. Bob is a songwriter and bassist with a long list of musical ventures under his belt including 41POINT9 (with Brian Cline) and a project entitled Operation Paperclip with Tony Carey (Planet P Project/Rainbow). Bob’s latest release is The Grafenberg Disciples with singer Hans Eberbach that enables Bob to explore a host of pop, rock, jazz and funk influences. The first single from the album ‘No Words’ is a tribute to the late Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart with proceeds going to Cedar Sinai Special Research Program For Glioblastoma. Needless to say it seemed like an ideal time to discuss the record and get Bob’s thoughts on a host of other things including an exciting upcoming project with an artist who’ll always get the RGM team to sit up and take notice.

October 8, 2021

September 23, 2021

The Baker's Dozen #33 Jamie Telford (My Glass World)

September 23, 2021

The latest from My Glass World ‘Still Life With Machine Gun’ finds Scottish singer/songwriter Jamie Telford expanding on his piano playing roots in search of a more wide-ranging sound. Jamie has plenty to say on environmental and social issues, while the sound is warm and jazzy due to the sax and trumpet contributions of Sean Read. The result is an album (complete with an unexpected Bowie cover) that rewards repeated plays. RGM caught up with Jamie for a chat about his influences and the state of the world in general.

September 23, 2021

September 22, 2021

The Baker's Dozen #32 John Fiddler (Medicine Head)

September 22, 2021

John Fiddler co-founded Medicine Head back in 1968 and signed to John Peel’s Dandelion label. So that’s a place in rock history right there, but they also had the likes of John Lennon, Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton singing their praises (not a bad list). I could also mention their 1972 album was entitled ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ a year before Waters, Gilmour and co. It’s been a decade since John released an album, but with ‘Warriors of Love’ set for release on September 24th 2021, RGM thought the time was right to catch up with John to find out a little more about what influences the “labour of love” that is Medicine Head, the state of the music business, Bob Dylan and guitars.

September 22, 2021

September 7, 2021

The Baker's Dozen #31 Al Ross

September 7, 2021

The latest edition of the Baker’s Dozen finds Al Ross chatting to RGM about his earliest musical memories, the demands, frustrations and opportunities that came to light recording the ‘Blue Crystal’ album during the pandemic and his love of vinyl and classic film. Al Ross & The Planets can be a little tough to categorize with blues, classic rock and country influences delivered with a dash of soul that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. You can check out their second album, ‘Blue Crystal’ on September 10th 2021, via Wienerworld on CD and download.

September 7, 2021