Review: Simo / Aaron Keylock, The Tunnels

Simo is an old school power trio out of Nashville fronted by JD Simo on six string, Elas Shapiro on four string and Adam Abrashoff on the skins. They opened the show with the mix set to loud – band already cranked up to show stealing set closing mode from the off – heavy, heavy power blues based rock played authentically just like it was played in the early seventies. Playing it authentically as they brought a definite funk feel to their songs, not just slaves to the traditional rock tempo, but wiling to experiment, to get loose and dish out something to dance to rather than just nod your head to with varying degrees of vigour depending on the tempo. Case in point Return, which sounded nothing less than a Blaxploitation theme song designed to appeal to the headbanging demographic.  All of the material bar one tune was so fresh it’s not been recorded yet –  a bravura move to be playing a set heavy with unknown songs, but the riffs were instantly likeable and the songs catchy enough to make the difference.

Simo has a great voice, so often lead guitar players are blessed with a set of pipes better suited to backing vocals (or even having their mic switched off), but he can carry out a tune more than well enough, and this was demonstrated on Light the Candle, a funky cut that featured Simo beating out the rhythm on the ceiling beams mid-song whilst singing a cappella. There have been plenty of comments suggesting Simo brings a touch of psychedelia to the tunes and that’s true to a certain extent, but rather than the psychedelia of the Nuggets bands this is psychedelia as it was interpreted by the Temptations or George Clinton – wah-wah guitar over a funk beat – Cloud Nine meets Muddy Waters. Simo mentioned this was the band’s 201st show of 2016 and they’ve a few dates left before taking a break and hitting the studio. Based on the material aired the second LP is gonna be a belter, fingers crossed Simo will be back to play it in full next year.

Much is made of both Aaron Keylock’s virtuosity and youth (read what he thinks here) and he’s been a busy guy, constantly on tour – indoors and outdoors – and recently in town supporting Joanne Shaw Taylor at the Fleece. As well as putting in the miles he’s also managed to find time to record his debut LP Cut Against the Grain – due out in the spring. Whilst Simo had the mix set to loud, Keylock opts for LOUDER and he and his rhythm colleagues (Jordan Haycock, bass & brothel creepers and shoeless Sonny Greaves, drums & black socks) cranked out Falling Again with belligerent intent. The reference point for Simo is Hendrix, but for Keylock Rory Gallagher is the reference point; bolshie riffs; slippery bottleneck and beautifully clean solos. Keylock’s songs are certainly serviceable but he doesn’t yet have the song writing nous to coral his undoubted talent into consistently catchy tunes. That said Sun’s Gonna Shine proves he’s gonna get there soon – a take away tune for new fans, its memorable melody and hook working their way in by the second chorus.

The band are dynamic throughout the set: Haycock a nonstop bass playing blur, who barely stopped pogoing between songs and could barely contain his energy, bouncing from his mic to the drum kit to Keylock and back again (often during one verse) all the while laying down melodic lines and taking up the riff or melody during Keylock’s soloes. Greaves is a powerful drummer, his energetic foundation providing a propulsive drive to the up-tempo cuts and a sympathetic back beat for the slower numbers (notable on Spin the Bottle, showing necessary restraint as Keylock picked out its pretty melody). As for Keylock himself, well, he certainly can play the guitar, more than adept with his soloes, he knows his way around a riff (Down a fearsome beast) and his slide work belies his age. There was some prodigious talent on display throughout and the band have a decent set of songs to work with but more importantly they have the talent and the work ethic to develop in to an important new force.

Pix by Doug Bearne