#409 : Savoy Brown - City Night

2019 – Quarto Valley Records
By Phillip Smith; September 23, 2019

I’m happy to hear anything by the British blues-master Kim Simmonds and his band Savoy Brown.  Their latest release City Night, is no exception.  This is the fortieth album from them, and is another smash hit record.  With bassist Pat DeSalvo and drummer Garnet Grimm holding down the rhythm section, Simmonds takes charge as he does and delivers yet another round of stellar original straight-up, nose-to-the-grind blues.

Simmonds’ searing guitar licks, joined with a fearless driving beat, kicks this treasure-trove of blues-rock off with “Walking On Hot Stones”.  It is scorching and fantastic.  I love “Conjure Rhythm”, with its hypnotic hoodoo pulse.  “Hang in Tough” is a rugged rocker of hard-hitting blues which cuts to the bone.  A feel-good mood is set by title-track “City Night”, and fully enjoyed.   It’s so great to hear Simmonds wail on guitar. Simmonds nicely closes the album out with a heavy dose of blues in the fabulous “Ain’t Gonna Worry”.  

It’s amazing how Savoy Brown just keeps getting better and better with each release.  City Night is as good as it gets.  Blues fans are sure to enjoy this record.    

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Other PhillyCheeze reviews of Savoy Brown

Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown - Goin’ to the Delta - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2014/02/kim-simmonds-and-savoy-brown-goin-to.html

Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown - The Devil to Pay - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2015/11/kim-simmonds-and-savoy-brown-devil-to.html

Kim Simmonds - Jazzin’ on the Blues - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/09/kim-simmonds-jazzin-on-blues.html

Savoy Brown - Witchy Feelin’ - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/09/savoy-brown-witchy-feelin.html

#346 : Savoy Brown - You Should Have Been There! - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/08/346-savoy-brown-you-should-have-been.html



#356 : Savoy Brown w/ The Satterfield – Erickson Project - Oct. 7, 2018 - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/10/356-savoy-brown-w-satterfield-erickson.html


For more information about the artist, visit this website:  www.savoybrown.com  

Phillycheeze's Favorites from 2018

By Phillip Smith; Dec 29, 2018

        The Phillycheeze Top 20 of 2018 (in alphabetical order)

• Amanda Fish - Free  : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/353-amanda-fish-free.html

• Brother Dege - Farmer's Almanac : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/07/343-brother-dege-farmers-almanac.html

• The Eric Hughes Band - Meet Me in Memphis :  https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/04/331-eric-hughes-band-meet-me-in-memphis.html

• Fantastic Negrito - Please Don't Be Dead : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/06/335-fantastic-negrito-please-dont-be.html

• Geoff Achison - Sovereign Town : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/350-geoff-achison-sovereign-town.html

• Ghost Town Blues Band - Backstage Pass : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/06/336-ghost-town-blues-band-backstage-pass.html 

• Kevin Burt - Heartland & Soul : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/12/365-kevin-burt-heartland-soul.html

• Kim Simmonds - Jazzin' on the Blues : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/09/kim-simmonds-jazzin-on-blues.html

• Little Boys Blue feat. Kid Memphis - Hard Blue Space : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/06/338-little-boys-blue-wkid-memphis-hard.html

• Mark Harrison - The Panoramic View : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/10/355-mark-harrison-panoramic-view.html

• Matty T Wall - Sidewinder : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/351-matty-t-wall-sidewinder.html 

• Michelle Malone -Slings and Arrows : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/01/315-michelle-malone-slings-arrows.html

• Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip - Twentyfive Live @ Blues Baltica : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/08/348-micke-bjorklof-blue-strip.html

• Ms Zeno the Mojo Queen - Back in Love : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/11/361-ms-zeno-mojo-queen-back-in-love.html

• Muddy Gurdy : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/02/318-muddy-gurdy.html

• Shaw Davis and the Black Ties - Tales From the West :  https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/12/368-shaw-davis-black-ties-tales-from.html

• Sugar Brown - It's a Blues World : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/06/367-sugar-brown-its-blues-world-calling.html

• The Bennett Brothers - Not Made for Hire : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/354-bennett-brothers-not-made-for-hire.html

• Too Slim and the Taildraggers - High Desert Heat : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/05/334-too-slim-and-taildraggers-high.html

• Victor Wainwright and the Train self-titled : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/03/322-victor-wainwright-and-train-self.html

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#356 : Savoy Brown w/ The Satterfield – Erickson Project - Oct. 7, 2018

Veterans Memorial Building  

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; Oct 13, 2018

Sunday, October 7^th, The Artisan’s Sanctuary in Marion, Iowa presented Savoy Brown live at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids. I’ve been a big fan of the legendary Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown for quite a while, and was absolutely thrilled to have finally caught one of his live shows.  Playing as a trio, Simmonds was accompanied onstage by his bassist Pat DeSalvo and drummer Garnet Grimm, both of whom have been playing with the band for the past several albums and worked with Simmonds on prior solo albums as well. 

Opening for Savoy Brown was The Satterfield – Erickson Project, composed of master guitarists Billy Satterfield from Chicago, and Craig Erickson from Cedar Rapids, bassist John Hall, and drummer Tim Crumley.  I loved their fabulous tribute to the great Otis Rush (April 29, 1935 – September 29, 2018) with “I Can’t Quit You”.   It was indeed a real treat to hear.  Their performance of the classic Allman Brothers song, “Whipping Post” had me totally captivated too.  The dual guitar jam was magnificent. 

Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown grabbed my attention quickly, opening their set with a pair of wonderfully swampy blues-rockers: “Hoodoo Me” and “Living on the Bayou”, both tracks from the recent 2017 Witchy Feelin’ album.  That is such a terrific album, and those were definitely excellent songs to lead off with.  Digging a little deeper, Simmonds delivered the goods with “Poor Girl” off the 1970 album Lookin’ In.  This was followed by the deliciously heavy electric blues of Willie Dixon’s “I Ain’t Superstitious” and Bukka White’s “Shake ‘em on Down” from the 1967 Shakedown album with Simmonds breaking out the harmonica.  It was a pleasure to hear the title track of the 1972 album Hellbound Train too.  The groove was intense and hypnotic.  Simmonds wound things to a close with “Memphis Blues”, and the cool slide boogie-induced riffs of “Tell Mama”.     

The music was superb and I walked away from the venue wearing a smile.  I would love to see more shows like this in the future for Cedar Rapids. 

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* all Photos by Phillip Smith

The Satterfield - Erickson Project

Billy Satterfield , Craig Erickson

Billy Satterfield, Craig Erickson, John Hall

Craig Erickson

Billy Satterfield

Billy Satterfield

 

Tim Crumley

 

Craig Erickson, Billy Satterfield, John Hall

 

Satterfield - Erickson Project

Craig Erickson , John Hall

Craig Erickson

John Hall

Billy Satterfield

Tim Crumley

Savoy Brown

Kim Simmonds

Kim Simmonds , Pat DeSalvo

Kim Simmonds

Pat DeSalvo

Kim Simmonds

Pat DeSalvo

Garnet Grimm

Savoy Brown

 

Kim Simmonds

Savoy Brown

Kim Simmonds , Pat DeSalvo

Pat DeSalvo

Kim Simmonds

#346 : Savoy Brown - You Should Have Been There!

2018 – Panache Records

By Phillip Smith; Aug. 11, 2018

Savoy Brown’s latest album, You Should Have Been There! is a colossal dose of live electric blues. Originally recorded in February of 2003 at The Yale in Vancouver, this album features front-man Kim Simmonds joined by guitarist David Malachowski, bassist Gerry Sorrentino, and drummer Dennis Cotton.  Loaded with lots of extended jams, this delightful six-pack of songs gives a solid hours’ worth of listening.     

The record opens with some serious hard-driving blues with “When it Rains” off the 2003 Strange Dreams album. Simmonds then dovetails “Where Has Your Heart Gone?” in quite nicely for an exquisite eleven and a half minutes of intoxicating slow jam and guitar play.  From one of my favorite Savoy Brown albums, 1970’s Looking In, we hear the funky blues of “Poor Girl” which spins the tale of a young woman who’s fled the country life to be surrounded by the bright lights of the big city which chews her up and eventually spits her out.  I love how Simmonds lets loose on guitar with this one.  It’s an absolutely searing performance. You Should Have Been There! closes with the ominous 1972 “Hellbound Train” which boasts an amazing guitar solo from Malachowski. 

The energy of this performance certainly transcends through to the recording. You should have been there.  I should have been there.  We all should have been there.             

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Links below for PhillyCheeze reviews for Savoy Brown / Kim Simmonds :      

Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown - Goin’ to the Delta

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2014/02/kim-simmonds-and-savoy-brown-goin-to.html

           

Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown - The Devil to Pay

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2015/11/kim-simmonds-and-savoy-brown-devil-to.html

           

Kim Simmonds - Jazzin’ on the Blues

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/09/kim-simmonds-jazzin-on-blues.html

           

Savoy Brown - Witchy Feelin’

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/09/savoy-brown-witchy-feelin.html

Savoy Brown - Witchy Feelin’

2017 –Ruf Records

By Phillip Smith; Sep 9, 2017

It’s been fifty years since the first Savoy Brown album, Shake Down, hit the streets in England, and Kim Simmonds shows no signs of slowing down.  The man is definitely on a roll right now.  Besides his brand new solo instrumental album Jazzin’ on the Blues, which is absolutely wonderful by the way, he has the all new off-the-hook Savoy Brown album Witchy Feelin’ out now too.  It is a smoldering hot eleven track plateful of electric guitar-blues.  Returning to the studio with Simmonds is bassist Pat DeSalvo and drummer Garnet Grimm, both of who have been playing in Savoy Brown since 2009. 

A strong impression is made when I hear the intoxicating Texas blues of “Why Did You Hoodoo Me”.  The driving rhythm and searing guitar seals the deal.  The hypnotic hook and swampy slide of “Livin’ on the Bayou” lures me in like the song of the sirens.  It’s beautifully played.  I then get a big smile on my face when he breaks out more bodacious slide singing about one of my favorite places, “Memphis Blues”.  Simmonds pumps a delightful dose of psychedelia into the amazing, “Thunder, Lightning and Rain”, making for an exquisite listen.  “Can’t Find Paradise”, the anthem of the album is rockin’ and contagious. It’s terrific.

Witchy Feelin’ certainly ranks up there among my favorites of the year.  

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