READ MORE - Steve Kimock

STEVE KIMOCK’S NEW SOLO ALBUM LAST DANGER OF FROST NEW PROJECT KIMOCK, ON TOUR IN 2016 (release date: March 18, 2016) Even the most inspired and free-­‐thinking artist, one whose celebrated command of his instrument and musical expression underscores a strong sense of fluidity and freedom within the traditional structure of American rock music, can wake up one day with the desire – the need, rather – to flip the table, reshuffle the deck, and draw fresh cards for himself. And so we find Steve Kimock, a master of small band improvisation and champion of the national rock and dance band circuit for four decades, breaking new ground with his latest solo effort, Last Danger of Frost. “There are other spaces and experiences music flows into, fills, and conforms to: family, nature, travel, quiet study and contemplation, imagination, to name a few. For me, the balance of the music has shifted to ‘other,’” Kimock declares. As evidenced on Last Danger of Frost, the “other” morphs acoustic and electronic sounds, voiced by vintage guitars, synthesizers and bass. For instance, the “other” found him laying down an entire track using nothing but guitar feedback, manipulated into bird song and beats that he overdubbed into the ambient “Big Sky”.
Recorded in Kimock’s century-­‐old Pennsylvania barn last winter before a move back to California, Last Danger of Frost offers a daring personal expression that introduces innovative techniques the guitarist discovered in a solo setting. Kimock dismantles the rock band framework and takes a full stretch to create exploratory sounds and intimate compositions that may have been waiting to be revealed – or rediscovered – the whole time. “Music is the feeling you get when you listen to good music,” Kimock states. “That was my understanding when I got my very first cheapo acoustic guitar and, failing to tune or play it, entertained myself by sliding the bridge around to change the pitch. The non-­‐conventional technique and tuning concepts came early and easy. I listened and played without knowing anything other than that I was being transported to a beautiful new world by sound. Some half a century later I find myself in my barn, recording these sounds – in the absence of commercial style and convention, peer pressure and audience expectation... or maybe just in defiance.” In spring 2016, this music will be presented in an exciting, new, intimate ensemble called K I M O C K when Steve partners with John Morgan Kimock (drummer, composer, multi-­‐instrumentalist). The father/son duo has been composing further music over the past year, inspired by the record’s compositions and direction, orchestrating musical styles across genres and generations. Fans will encounter a listening experience that spotlights Steve’s remarkable tone in an intuitive flow of Eastern and Western folk music, heartfelt acoustic guitar, ambient electronic expressions, inventive covers, and contemporary compositions. Also planned for the new touring project is Steve’s longtime bass-­‐playing left hand, Bobby Vega, who will bring 30 years’ worth of chemistry and collaboration, deep grooves and rich tones to the mix. Add to that special guest vocalist Leslie Mendelson, with whom the duo has also been composing, and you have the makings of an inspired new project. K I M O C K invites audiences to lean in, listen and experience the symbiosis. For more information and to pre-order Last Danger of Frost on vinyl, please visit www.kimock.com. STEVE KIMOCK
A master of improvisation for over four decades, Steve Kimock has been inspiring music fans with his transcendent guitar speak, voiced through electric, acoustic, lap and pedal steel guitars. While one can say that his genre is rock, no one niche has ever confined him. Instead, through the years, he’s explored various sounds and styles based on what’s moved him at the time, whether it’s blues or jazz; funk or folk; psychedelic or boogie; gypsy or prog-­‐rock; traditional American or world fusion. Threaded through this expansive and highly nuanced musical landscape is Kimock’s signature sound, the prodigious product of his ability to articulate crystal-­‐clear tone, melody and emotion into intricately woven music crafted with technical brilliance. His passion and devotion to performing live is matchless, and his unparalleled ability to embrace and capture his audiences musically is the stuff of legend. Kimock co-­‐founded the jazz/rock band Zero in the ‘80s and KVHW in the ‘90s; since then, he has recorded and toured in various outfits under his own name. His collaborations with assorted band mates and groups have provided an everlasting wellspring of inspiration for the guitarist, and he has shared the stage with a seemingly endless array of international musical luminaries. After more than 40 years on stage, Kimock is more committed than ever to a jubilant spirit of musical diversity — the same spirit that has fed his desire to pursue an authentic relationship with the guitar since the day he realized his calling. Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1955, as a preteen Kimock spent plenty of time at the home of his aunt, Dorothy Siftar, a folk singer who played the Philadelphia Folk Festival with Pete Seeger and had an abundance of stringed and percussive instruments in her home. Around this time, Steve’s cousin Kenny returned from military service overseas and taught Kimock his first rock ‘n roll licks on a beautiful Gold Top Les Paul (which, incidentally and decades later, Kimock now owns). It wasn’t long until Kimock got his own guitar, a $10 acoustic that he began playing 12 hours a day, every day, and it changed his life forever. After playing in a series of high school bands, Kimock joined the Goodman Brothers Band, which first moved to northern California in 1974. Steve’s first home was a cabin in Marin, directly behind the Ali Akbar Khan School of Music. Every morning he woke to the sound of sarods and sitars, sparking his interest in the music of other cultures that colors his own compositions to this day. Kimock fell in with the Bay Area’s local music scene and began playing in a variety of outfits, including the salsa band The Underdogs (with flautist/saxophonist Martin Fierro). In 1979 he joined the short-­‐lived Heart of Gold Band with Grateful Dead members Keith and Donna Godchaux and drummer Greg Anton. In 1984, Kimock and Anton co-­‐founded Zero, an instrumental psychedelic jazz/rock/blues band that also included former Underdogs bandmate Fierro, bassist Bobby Vega, keyboardist Pete Sears (who was eventually succeeded by Chip Roland), and former Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina. It was during the Zero era that Kimock would define his fluid style of melodious improvisation. By 1992, Zero was regarded as one of the marquee Bay Area bands and architects of the infant jam band genre. The band began working with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and added vocalist Judge Murphy before going on an extended hiatus in the late ‘90s. During their initial time together, Zero released five albums including 1987’s debut Here Goes Nothin’; 1990’s Nothin’ Goes Here; 1991’s live effort Live: Go Hear Nothin’; the band’s 1994 major label debut, the live album Chance in a Million; and 1997’s self-­‐titled studio album, along with hundreds of live recordings. While still performing with Zero, Kimock began to explore new terrain with the looser, bluesier Steve Kimock & Friends, an ever-­‐evolving project that continues to feature a cast of acclaimed singer-­‐
songwriters, Hammond B-­‐3 players, rock guitarists and numerous other serious players Kimock has befriended along the way. Kimock spent the end of the century with KVHW, a much lauded though short-­‐lived quartet comprised of himself, Zero bassist Vega, drummer Alan Hertz, and former Frank Zappa sideman Ray White. KVHW toured nationally from January 1998 through December 1999, playing a repertoire that consisted of original compositions and songs from Kimock’s previous bands, as well as a number of Frank Zappa covers. In February 2000, KVHW morphed into the Steve Kimock Band, which featured Kimock and Vega (who was succeeded by Alphonso Johnson in 2001), along with a rotating crew of guitarists and drummers. Eventually, the lineup solidified with drummer Rodney Holmes and guitarist Mitch Stein. In 2001, they released Live in Colorado, followed by the 2002 double live album, East Meets West (culled from shows in San Francisco and Japan); and in 2004, the double live album, Live in Colorado, Vol. II. In 2005, the Steve Kimock Band released the lauded studio album, Eudemonic and toured nationally, anchored by Kimock and Holmes with keyboardist Robert Walter (20th Congress, Greyboy Allstars) and bassist Reed Mathis (Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Tea Leaf Green). In 2009, he formed the upbeat, gospel-­‐influenced, soul-­‐rock band Steve Kimock Crazy Engine, which featured legendary Hammond B3 player Melvin Seals; Kimock’s son, John Morgan Kimock, on drums; and accomplished singer-­‐songwriter and cello player, Trevor Exter, who was plucked out of the NYC indie music scene to fill the role of bass and vocals. In 2010, Steve & John Kimock continued their collaboration for the 10th anniversary of the sold-­‐out New York Guitar Festival, where they scored a silent film (Buster Keaton’s Cops), sharing the bill with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver). Once touted by Jerry Garcia as his “favorite unknown guitar player,” Kimock has also performed as part of Bob Weir’s Kingfish and toured in both 2007 and 2014 with RatDog, in addition to post-­‐Grateful Dead ensembles including The Other Ones, Phil Lesh & Friends, and the Rhythm Devils featuring Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. The guitarist has recorded and toured with Bruce Hornsby and worked extensively with Merl Saunders. Additionally, he has shared the stage with The Allman Brothers, Angélique Kidjo, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Miles, Derek Trucks, Elvin Bishop, George Porter Jr., Grace Potter, Grace Slick, Joe Satriani, Jorma Kaukonen, Keller Williams, Little Feat, Nicky Hopkins, Norton Buffalo, Papa John Creach, Peter Frampton, all members of Phish, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Stephen Perkins, Steve Winwood, Taj Mahal, Todd Rundgren and Warren Haynes, among many others. While Kimock’s curiosity and openness to the array of great musicians with whom he surrounds himself is nothing short of astonishing, the music he made with his brothers in Zero feels like a return to the comforts of home. In 2006, Kimock and Anton reunited Zero, touring until the death of Fierro in March 2008. In March 2011, the band reunited for the 20th anniversary of the Chance in a Million recording sessions at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, as a benefit for Murphy, who was battling a grave illness. After more than 30 years since forming, Zero carries on today, as the band plays select shows and benefit performances in the Bay Area. In 2012, Kimock took the helm once again and hit the road with a new lineup, including Parliament Funkadelic/Talking Heads, Hall of Famer Bernie Worrell, drummer Wally Ingram, and bassist Andy Hess. The band played new original material while celebrating Kimock’s rich catalog of music. Kimock released a digital free live EP of the band. After taking some time away from his own band as part of Bob Weir’s Ratdog from 2013 to 2014, Kimock followed with the return of a rollicking, revamped Steve Kimock & Friends, widely regarded as the most exciting iteration of Kimock’s rock/dance band outfit since its inception. The ensemble, featuring bassist Vega, drummers Bill Vitt, Jay Lane and John Morgan Kimock, Dead & Company keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, guitar ace Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, and singer Leslie Mendelson, hit a joyous crescendo during the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary year, thrilling music lovers with great grooves and carrying on a musical legacy in a jubilant atmosphere. Though he still devotes countless hours to refining his craft, playing his instrument has never been enough for a man coined “The Guitar Monk” by Relix magazine. The result onstage is the culmination of Kimock’s dedication to the technical intricacies of both guitars and amplifiers. Going all the way from the fundamentals of musical theory to the most scientific details of the sound-­‐production process, there are few stones Kimock has yet to turn. Driving him forward is the knowledge that there is always more to discover – that and the fact that he loves guitar too much to do anything else. JOHN KIMOCK
Born into a musical family in Northern California, John Morgan Kimock began composing before he could walk or speak. Prior to moving to the east coast at the age of six, some of John’s early musical experiences included playing ceremonial drums with the Pomo Indians, accompanying Tuvan throat singers, and having his drums destroyed onstage at the Fillmore West by Todd Rundgren. For more than a decade, John has worked in the U.S., Europe, and Canada with many bands and collaborated with his father, acclaimed guitarist Steve Kimock, in various projects which included musicians like George Porter Jr. (the Meters), Bernie Worrell (founding member of Parliament/ Funkadelic), Bobby Vega (Sly Stone) Andy Hess (Black Crowes, Govt Mule), Members of the Grateful Dead, The Other Ones, Jeff Sipe, John Molo, Bruce Hornsby, Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Everyone Orchestra and many more. In 2006, Glide Magazine gave John their number five spot for second generation rockers alongside Sean Lennon, Jacob Dylan, and The Marleys. “In today’s world of music and musicians it is great and refreshing to hear and play with younger players who not only play great but listen to what is being played around them; truly a gift, John Morgan Kimock has that gift, and I love playing with him.” George Porter, Jr. John continues to play groundbreaking festivals, including a sold-­‐out concert at Lincoln Center with Steve Kimock co-­‐billed with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) scoring silent films for the New York Guitar Festival. John scored music for Brooklyn-­‐based dance company Airealistic and also scored Tinie Tempah's film about his sold-­‐out European arena tour, Discovering Destiny, directed by Jabari Johnson. John toured with Our Griffins from 2012 until 2013, sharing bills with the likes of Lost in the Trees, The Royal Bangs, Bad Suns, and Nightlands. In 2014, John was tapped by Phish’s Mike Gordon to play in his band, an ongoing touring and recording relationship. Currently John is bi-­‐coastal, spending time both in Burlington, Vermont, and Sonoma County, CA. He has been composing and developing new music with his father for their symbiotic new project, K I M O C K. K I M O C K tour dates: 3/2 Weds. HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, CA 3/4 Fri. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA 3/5 Sat. Mateel Community Center, Redway, CA 3/6 Sun. The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, CA 3/11 Fri. The Chapel, San Francisco, CA 3/18 Fri. Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA 3/19 Sat. Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River, MA 3/20 Sun. City Winery, New York City 3/23 Weds. Stage One, Fairfield, CT 3/24 Thurs. Bull Run, Shirley, MA 3/25 Fri. Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock, NY 3/26 Sat. Infinity Hall, Hartford, CT 3/29 Tues. The Hamilton, Washington, D.C. 3/30 Wed. Shepherdstown Opera House, Shepherdstown, WV 4/1 Fri. Woodlands Tavern, Columbus 4/2 Sat. Space, Evanston, IL Press: D. McNally (415 310 2448) [email protected].