Acclaimed blues rock band Savoy Brown, led by its seminal guitarist Kim Simmonds, will kick off its 50th anniversary year celebration with a show tomorrow night (15) at B. B. King’s Blues Club in New York City, followed on Friday with the release of a new album of original material called THE DEVIL TO PAY from Ruf Records. The New York show will be the beginning of a worldwide concert tour to support the new album, with shows in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
An Album Premiere of THE DEVIL TO PAY is now available on allmusic.com and can be streamed at:
http://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/album-premiere-kim-simmonds-savoy-brown/
With THE DEVIL TO PAY, the legendary British band continues to showcase Simmonds' love of the blues, his deep commitment to the sound and his quest to challenge himself in both his songwriting and playing. Featuring Simmonds on guitar, harmonica and vocals, Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drum, THE DEVIL TO PAY was written and produced by Simmonds and recorded at SubCat Studios in upstate New York. The CD opens with the smoldering "Ain't Got Nobody" and continues with the barreling "Bad Weather Brewing," "Grew Up In The Blues" and "Oh Rosa." The album is highlighted by his dexterous guitar work on cuts like the finger-twist instrumental "Snakin'," the shuffle-powered "Watch My Woman" and his emotional songwriting, from the bleary repentance of a hangover on "I've Been Drinking" to the reprimand issued to a cheating woman on"Stop Throwing Your Love Around.
Savoy Brown emerged during a golden age for blues bands that spawned the likes of Fleetwood Mac, The Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and many more. In addition to its dynamic live appearances, Savoy Brown gained acclaim from its records, including Savoy gems like "A Hard Way to Go" (from 1970's Raw Sienna) and "Tell Mama" (from 1971's Street Corner Talking) as well as "Hellbound Train" (from the 1972 album of the same name).
Throughout Savoy Brown's career, the band has featured a number of well respected musicians, among them Dave Peverett, Roger Earl and Tony Stevens, who went on to form Foghat, as well as players who have also been members of The Robert Cray Band, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie, Fleetwood Mac and others. Throughout, Simmonds has always remained true to his roots and reaped the rewards, performing in iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall and the Fillmore East and West, releasing countless albums, and later enjoying a well-deserved induction into Hollywood's Rock Walk Of Fame, New York's Blues Hall of Fame and Ontario's Blues Hall of Fame.
However, he has hardly been resting on his laurels. He continues to tour and record, including the recent Savoy Brown CD releases: the critically acclaimed VOODOO MOON (2011). GOIN' TO THE DELTA (2014) and the double live CD/DVD set SONG FROM THE ROAD (2013). THE DEVIL TO PAY is his 45th album release.
