JD Simo- No Respect

[corpse]

A group of us went to see JD Simo in Atlanta Thursday. He has a tremendous stage presence, and really had the not-particularly large crowd (that was dissappointing) totally engaged. On stage he is all business, but afterwards he has an intresting trick- one he let the cat out of the bag on. He came out to the show floor and was super friendly, and engaged- he geeked a bit. Nobody spilled wine on him, which was good Bill. Only then did he go in the back and come out with a brown case.
Then came the big secret- once Candy comes out that's all anybody is interested in.

But I don't understand why he would say that everyone is only interested in the 1960 Tomato Soup insane sounding LP?

JD is really charming and kept up the conversation and signed autographs for a while.

He was there until the last person said good bye and then drove home to Nashville.

But I don't get the whole 'everyone only wants to check out my guitar' bit? JD is just great.

 

[roadrunner]

As I've heard a lot of great players, including JD, say, "The mojo's in me, not the gear." In JD's case, it couldn't be more true... he can make anything sound good, I've seen him do it a lot of times.

Candy's a special guitar, one of the best sounding bursts I've ever heard. It's a bit of novelty (ok, that's an understatement! It's a total novelty...) to see someone like Joe B. and JD out there playing these great instruments live. It's a great thing this is happening though, gives everyone that's bought a ticket to the show a rare experience. It's something to hear these guitars thru the great amps these guys play them thru... definitely not to be missed.

I'm sure JD was kidding when he said people only come to see the guitar, and not him. Candy's a great guitar, but the mojo is DEFINITELY in JD! :dude:

Thanks for posting and cool pics!

 

[Rev.WillieVK]

JD is the real thing, a man that apparently effortlessly gets guitars to sing/growl/moan/cry with pure emotion. He can blow away an audience whether he is playing a Burst, a Tele, or a freakin' broomstick. :biggrin: He's worked long and hard to be as good as he is, and we are the beneficiaries.

BUT when you are in a crowd of hardcore guitar geeks, you've been geeking out on gear and amps and pedals, the talking slows, and a real '58-'60 Sunburst Les Paul gets pulled out - of course the crowd shifts attention to the rarely-seen-in-public guitar and away from the man that made it sound so great.

Reminds me of the old Chet Atkins quote:
Onlooker: "That guitar sure does sound good"
Chet, after setting the guitar down in a chair: "OK, how does it sound now?"

JD :dude: :salude

 

[JD Simo]

hahahaha... I was only kidding of course! Thank you for coming and all the kind words!! We closed out the tour last night with a sellout show here in Nashville and was only made sweeter by the great Tommy Emmanuel joining us for a few songs. What a night!!
I'm truly grateful for all the support we garner. I'm, like everyone here, a vintage gear geek deluxe and it's an honor to have the opportunity to play such fine instruments and in turn share them with audiences. It's a truly humbling thing!
10 days off before we join back up with Gregg Allman so I'm going back to my record playing and laundry for now (how rockstar haha) but thank you again for coming and all the sweet words!
Hope to get to play for you again!!
Stay Groovy!!:dude:

 

[poe]

. Yeah, I enjoyed visiting with JD too....

 

[JJ Blair]

There's an old story about Glenn Campbell noodling on a guitar before a session, and somebody saying, "That's a great sounding guitar." Glenn is reported to have put the guitar down and said, "How does it sound now?"

 

[sikoniko]

There's an old story about Glenn Campbell noodling on a guitar before a session, and somebody saying, "That's a great sounding guitar." Glenn is reported to have put the guitar down and said, "How does it sound now?"

Funny how stories change when retold. The version I heard was that it WA Chet Atkins. Either way, its quite true.

 

[corpse]

It is rare anywhere to get to hear as raw a performance- mind you I didn't say unpolished- as JD takes it to a whole new level- anymore. That Crybaby is JD's pedalboard. Everything else is volume & tone knob, and manual dexterity on a wah which is alternatively stroked and tap-danced on. LP into Marshall- sans Echoplex (best I could see or hear).
There were a couple parts where I couldn't believe what I was hearing frankly (I am sorry JD- this is not deliberate suck-up stuff)- one solo he just slips into a Hendrix-y lead that I am positive on Axis Bold as Love is Hendrix on lead and then either Echo or board manipulation played in reverse. And I watched this guy.. just do it. Wow. Then he's just singin' along, of course playing a call-response thing- just wild.
Great band- there was tremendous interplay, particularly during the solos, with the drummer- different. The bass player carried the rythym work. He was great.
So last observation- this is primarily a guitar-oriented show- right? Now on JD's CD there are alot of well done vocals- whatever. I am pretty jaded about studio work. The last song id 'A Little Help from My Frioends'- G-D-A- JD sings. Really sings. WTF is this guy now? No wheedle-wheedle- just the chords and some great vocal work, alright, very evocative of Joe Cocker- but with a ton of respect- but really letting Candy and that white Marshall do what they are supposed to do. Wow great vocals.
I had a good time and all forty of us were treated to something really crafted in this age of over-processed music.
Man- I need to get out more....

 

[j45]

Funny how stories change when retold. The version I heard was that it WA Chet Atkins. Either way, its quite true.

I've heard it told several times here on the LPF... the latest was just 3 days ago...and all were Chet Atkins...whether Glen or Chet... it's a well made point.

 

[corpse]

Yeah, I enjoyed visiting with JD too.... [/QUOTE]

Your visit was clearly better than mine. BTW your black custom was highly cool during the Gasoline Bros set. You and Rick both sounded cool on it. Looked awesome too.

 

[Emerald]

A group of us went to see JD Simo in Atlanta Thursday. He has a tremendous stage presence, and really had the not-particularly large crowd (that was dissappointing) totally engaged. On stage he is all business, but afterwards he has an intresting trick- one he let the cat out of the bag on. He came out to the show floor and was super friendly, and engaged- he geeked a bit. Nobody spilled wine on him, which was good Bill. Only then did he go in the back and come out with a brown case.
Then came the big secret- once Candy comes out that's all anybody is interested in.

But I don't understand why he would say that everyone is only interested in the 1960 Tomato Soup insane sounding LP?

JD is really charming and kept up the conversation and signed autographs for a while.

He was there until the last person said good bye and then drove home to Nashville.

But I don't get the whole 'everyone only wants to check out my guitar' bit? JD is just great.

Cool J.D. is a gifted player and the real deal in all respects. Here are some clips of him at Metropoulos amps shop. Great to see J.D. with his old Marshall and Metro amp!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHbpWBJK-tI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYrsVzZPY3s
Seems a really nice guy!
Emerald

 

[sikoniko]

I've heard it told several times here on the LPF... the latest was just 3 days ago...and all were Chet Atkins...whether Glen or Chet... it's a well made point.

Ya, I'm not trying to be 'that guy' correcting JJ. Sorry JJ, if you felt I was.

BTW - JD is a great player and one I enjoy listening to. I hope he continues to grow in success if that is what he wants. I say this as I used to know a guitarist that played for Rod Stewart and he basically said he would never want to deal with being famous... more trouble than it is worth. He liked being a hired gun because he got to play music for a living and not deal with the other stuff.

 

[poe]

Yeah, I enjoyed visiting with JD too....

Your visit was clearly better than mine. BTW your black custom was highly cool during the Gasoline Bros set. You and Rick both sounded cool on it. Looked awesome too.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I appreciate that... Was a treat to hear him play it and to meet you guys.... And I concur, the whole Simo set was super... Great guys, great players, great rigs...I'll definitely go again... And thanks JD for being so gracious...down the road bro...)

 

[Pat Boyack]

Funny how stories change when retold. The version I heard was that it WA Chet Atkins. Either way, its quite true.

In the version I heard it was a another famous L.A./Jazz/session guitarist who wasn't Glenn C. eace2

 

[Xpensive Wino]

In the version I heard it was a another famous L.A./Jazz/session guitarist who wasn't Glenn C. eace2

The way I heard the story, it was me. :worm

 

[renderit]

The way I heard the story, it was me. :worm

Yeah! I heard it was him^^^^!!!

 

[mbowen]

We are very Lucky to have so many great guitarists and nice guys like JD and Joe B and Ed K and Greg M and on and on ,hang here and share with us,Thanks Guys,:salude:salude:salude

 

[Mobile Willie]

When I finish playing and sat the guitar down people say it finally sounds good

 

[BoomGuru]

As I've heard a lot of great players, including JD, say, "The mojo's in me, not the gear." In JD's case, it couldn't be more true... he can make anything sound good, I've seen him do it a lot of times.

Candy's a special guitar, one of the best sounding bursts I've ever heard. It's a bit of novelty (ok, that's an understatement! It's a total novelty...) to see someone like Joe B. and JD out there playing these great instruments live. It's a great thing this is happening though, gives everyone that's bought a ticket to the show a rare experience. It's something to hear these guitars thru the great amps these guys play them thru... definitely not to be missed.

I'm sure JD was kidding when he said people only come to see the guitar, and not him. Candy's a great guitar, but the mojo is DEFINITELY in JD! :dude:

Thanks for posting and cool pics!

Came across this old post- I played Candy recently and it is a phenomenal guitar! She now resides across the pacific in Melbourne, Australia

 

[Highway Star]

JD is the real thing, a man that apparently effortlessly gets guitars to sing/growl/moan/cry with pure emotion. He can blow away an audience whether he is playing a Burst, a Tele, or a freakin' broomstick. :biggrin: He's worked long and hard to be as good as he is, and we are the beneficiaries.

BUT when you are in a crowd of hardcore guitar geeks, you've been geeking out on gear and amps and pedals, the talking slows, and a real '58-'60 Sunburst Les Paul gets pulled out - of course the crowd shifts attention to the rarely-seen-in-public guitar and away from the man that made it sound so great.

Reminds me of the old Chet Atkins quote:
Onlooker: "That guitar sure does sound good"
Chet, after setting the guitar down in a chair: "OK, how does it sound now?"

JD :dude: :salude

As Mick Jagger once said "it's not the song, it's the singer". Could be applied on almost anything. Especially guitars :hank