| |
Simple Simon is a 3-piece Chicago-based band. The music is fat, raw, emotional, vocal, textured and to the point. Stylistically, their music is somewhere between the big "A" word and what CMJ would probably call Loud Rock. Regardless of the categories, here's some of what Simple Simon has done (how much ass they've kicked):
Simple Simon was formed in the very early 1990s. Their initial sound was what could be described as a hybrid of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine with a bit more RHCP than RATM. They released their first album, Funky Dog, in 1993, and started playing their brand of funk-meets-rock-meets-rap at venues all over the Chicagoland area, effectively taking the city by storm.
Their second album, Bitter Taste of Americana (1994), was released to critical aclaim and garnered them interest from multiple major and indie labels. The band's sound had moved a bit away from the funk side, more toward a rock-rap sound with some straight-ahead rock tunes thrown in for good measure.
Local radio was paying attention too, and Carla Leonardo (then the local music programmer at WKQX-Q101 in Chicago) put the band on two Q101 compliations. "Senseless" and "Self-Healing" got significant radio play in the region at least partially due to their respective appearances on Random Acts Vols. I and II.
In 1995, Simple Simon signed a distribution deal with Midwest Artists' Distribution to help get their products out regionally, and Focus was released. Their sound made another adjustment more toward the rock side of the spectrum. Simple Simon got their television debut on Hard Cover, a Chicago public access show made by area teens under the guidance of CTVN. They performed "Lost my Faith".
Not long after the release of Focus, long-time drummer, Dino Meo, was ejected the band due to creative differences. Fortunately for Simple Simon, another Chicago band, Absolute, had just parted ways leaving guitarist Barry Hoffman and drummer Tim Zimmerman without a band. Both joined Simple Simon.
After not too long, Barry left the band, bring the Simons back to their original 3-piece set-up of one guitar, bass and drums, with Mark and Tony still swapping vocals. Tim stayed with the band and Superstar was recorded on a farm in rural Michigan.
The rap aspect of Simple Simon was pretty much left in the dust with Superstar, a nearly pure rock album and a sign of things to come. The release of Superstar was celebrated with a near sold-out show at Metro in Chicago.
After a short but fruitful stay, Tim left the band due to scheduling conflicts, leaving Mark and Tony with the burden of having to find a new drummer and tech said drummer all the songs before gigs that were already scheduled. Then along came Kris Gutrich, a long time fan of the band and fantastic drummer.
Kris joined the band, learned all the songs (four albums worth of material plus a few select covers) in a matter of only a few days, and the newest incarnation of Simple Simon was born. With Kris on board, the band turned to a slightly harder sound, and King EP was recorded. King EP was released in 1997.
Simple Simon has and sold over 10,000 combined pieces of their four albums and one EP.
Simple Simon has been the support act for groups such as 311, The Smithereens, Tripping Daisy, Eve's Plumb, Dead Milkmen, Dandelion, Ex-Idols, Local H and many others. They've toured in and through 25 states and carry full sound and lighting production in their monster truck, Harv (pictured on the back of Superstar).
Simple Simon has appeared on 12 local and national compilation CDs including: Chicago radio station Q-101's Random Acts Vol. I & II, as well as the Chicago band compilations, Freefest 1994 and Freefest 1995.
Simple Simon is on a semi-permanent hiatus.
|
|
|
