Hi, I just finished reading the various news outlets on the Web and realize the absurdity of a lot of the stories…reading them (which I do every morning) you really do have to suspend your reality in order to go through the process. I’m starting to wonder if the National Inquirer has got it right….just invent the most absurd stuff.
Politics is always a hot topic on the Web and verges on the incredulous at times…have you checked out the lack of integrity in the British Parliament lately? And the excuses? Let’s move on quickly.
Entertainment stories can be quite bizarre….I didn’t bother to read today’s tale about the wife of Phil Spector releasing her own album…there seemed to be some sort of controversy….but it did look promising competition for “Green Aliens from Mars”.
Money articles are plain baffling and I’ve just found out that the M3 money supply is showing signs of slowing down. Now that’s too close to reality. I guess you can’t invent those stories….or can you?

After bombarding myself with life’s complexities in the outside world retreating to my studio to play guitar can be really cleansing….if you don’t now, you really should try playing an instrument….or try painting…you need extra passions as you grow older. They replace the youthful drunken nights!

A few weeks ago I played the Beale Street festival in Memphis and I had a great time.
My wife and daughter went with me because the Goo Goo Dolls were on the bill and they are big fans of that band. In fact I also took both of them to see the band when they played in my hometown at the beginning of their tour. So I’ve seen two Goo Goo Dolls shows in a month. I guess that makes me a fan as well. Lead singer Johnny Reznick is a nice guy and he spoke with us awhile. There show was unpretentious and rocking. Highly recommended.

Also at the festival was Jimmy Thackery. Jimmy plays superbly of course. Likewise with Coco Montoya. I never had a change to say “Hi” to either of them but I’m sure our paths will cross again soon.

Jeff Beck I could hear playing on a distant stage and as usual he sounded…well, like Jeff Beck.

Widespread Panic were doing a version of Smokestack Lightning that was very good. I wish I could have seen more of them.

I did say hello to Joanne Shaw Taylor and her band. Joanne is from the UK and she is working very hard going around the country gig by gig.

I’m happy to say I have some material written for the next Savoy album and I’ve already started to preview the songs live. It will certainly freshen up the show and excite me again to play my best. One of the new tunes is a jazzy blues/rock instrumental….the kind of thing I haven’t done for years. Look out for that in upcoming shows.

Why am I here? Is this where I want to be in life? Have I achieved what I set out to achieve? These are all questions we ask ourselves I imagine. People come up to me quite often and say “you are underrated” etc. What they need to know is that I am exactly where I want to be in life. We all are exactly where we want to be in life wether we know it or not. Of course, Earl Nightingale said that many years ago but I am happy to say I figured that one out myself.

I’m back to playing my custom made signature amplifier which is a Marshall based Class A piece of equipment. The company that made it for me has since gone out of business and I guess that makes the two models I have quite rare. I’ve put the Fender Twin amplifier back on the shelf again. I used the Fender for awhile because it made it hard for me to get the sound I require and forced me to not be complacent. Anyway, I’m inspired again and I’m hoping to be reaching for some new notes this year.

Here’s something to chew on: Life is simple. We all know the rules. We all know the questions and we can easily find the answers. Acting on them is the difficult part.

Some of the gigs coming up will feature the four piece line up and some will feature the band as a three piece conglomeration (Joe has conflicting commitments)…but we won’t tell you what those dates are…let it be a surprise…I look forward to the three piece gigs as that is what I have done these past five or so years…I compensate by playing harder guitar and I know a lot of people like that.

I totaled my car a couple of weeks ago….hit a deer on the highway at high speed…I’m lucky to be alive….my wrists hurt a bit though….bruised ligaments etc…thank heavens I was driving a Subaru….it took the hit.

Saw the Mick Jagger interview on Larry King the other night. Inspiring. He talked quite a bit about the luck the Stones have had to enable them to have such success. Serendipity does play a part in the run of things. I’d like to see Mick continue with a solo career but that always seems to stall and then he’s back again as a Rolling Stone. I remember seeing their first tour in the UK and I must have been one of the first guys in London to buy the bands first single “Come On”. I was a big Brian Jones fan. Mick Taylor was a great replacement of course. I hear Ronnie Wood is getting himself together. Long may the Stones roll.

There is currently an exhibition of my guitar paintings at the Earlville Opera House Arts Center. It will run through July 3rd. On that night I’ll play a concert in the theater. The concert starts at 8pm. At 6pm there will be an artist’s reception.
Come and see my paintings, watch the show and say hello.

Earlville Opera House Arts Center
PO Box 111, 18 East Main Street
Earlville, NY 13332
(T) 315-691-3550, (F) 315-691-4111
patti@earlvilleoperahouse.com
www.earlvilleoperahouse.com

One of the regular fans that I got to know from the “meet and greets”…. a man who has seen many, many performances….. has passed away. His friends called him Philly Frank. He died April 26th. His name was Frank Caccese. It’s sad and I’ll remember him the next time the band plays Sellersville, PA.

a lighter note…..may music make our lives brighter, always look to the future and don’t let the past catch up to you,

Kim Simmonds
NY