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It's about time -- Steve Kimmock!

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11/5/2005 11:58 AM

Rudolf, Man of Peace

It's about time -- Steve Kimmock!

The latest issue of GP magazine had a good write up on Steve Kimmock. It's about time.

I first got interested in Kimmock after hearing an interview with Jerry Garcia when he was still alive in which Jerry was asked who his favorite guitarist was. Without any hesitation he answered Steve Kimmock. At that time Kimmock was virtually unknown and to this day really only has cult status in the music business.

And I think it is a sad commentary on American Radio these days. You have greats like Kimmock who are all but ignored by the mass media. And what does radio choose to play? Whoever they can find that wins the latest contest for mediocrity.

I was glad GP explained Kimmock's tone a little bit. He apparantly uses a Dumble 50 watt OD amp and plays lots of slide. I've had many discussions over the past few years with other musicians about Kimmocks tone because it really stands out as being exceptional. If you think Eric Johnson is the premier tone man then you haven't yet heard Kimmock. And of course, in Kimmocks case it's probably 20% Dumble and 80% player talent.

Anyways, a pat on the back to GP for publishing some worthy news about this all too neglected talented artist.

11/5/2005 3:35 PM
Pierre Debs	I find his compositions and playing boring, very boring.

11/5/2005 7:21 PM
Rudolf, Man of Peace	Yes and I find you very boring as well. You never post more than a sentence or two. You rant and rave against things but provide little substance. No wonder you can't understand Kimmock. He's too complicated for your simple mind.

11/5/2005 10:05 PM
Mark Lavelle	Sorry, but I agree with Pierre - at least if "Eudemonic" (which I just listened to) is at all representative of his work. He may be a very fine player, but the compositions are monumentally boring, to me. I don't mind at all if you think differently, but I don't understand why you feel the need to slam Pierre for disagreeing with you. There really aren't any absolutes in art...

11/6/2005 2:25 PM
Cosmic Debris	You have to listen to his live stuff. Kimmock is primarily a jam band phenonmenon. In the studio he is so so. But live, he can't be beat IMHO. The Jam Band thing really goes all over the map. Some good some bad.

11/7/2005 5:28 PM

Eudemonic is a studio album. I looked at some of the reviews and it rates only average. I think Kimock is a bit out of his element when he is in the studio. Also that album was inspired by the death of a very close friend of his. Maybe that resulted in a more subdued introspective Kimock.

If you want to hear the real Steve Kimock that Garcia said he loved then listen to either 1) "East Meets West" or 2) "Steve Kimock Live in Colorado." If neither of these albums do it for you then maybe you just don't like Kimock. Certainly not a crime.

Keep in mind that Kimock is into composition similar to writing symphonies -- only rock oriented. His songs start out very slow, and then slowly build, until they reach full force knocking you off your seat. It's not unusual for a Kimock song to last 20 minutes.

If you only like listening to standard three minute heavy duty rocking songs produced for the masses that get your blood flowing instantly (i.e. AC/DC comes to mind) then you probably won't like Kimock.

If your wife constantly complains that you get thru sex in minutes flat then you probably won't like Kimock. It's a mindset thing. If you like having sex with your wife for hours at a time and you like slowly building to climax then you will probably like Kimock.

If you guzzle a glass of fine wine like it's Ripple rather than sipping it to savor it's taste, then you won't like Kimock.

I can't see how anybody who heard the best that Kimmock has to offer could call his music boring. Kimock has one of the best rhythym sections ever. Live, his band is as tight as they come. These aren't my words but the words of other reviewers. I concur.

And finally, it's the jam band thing. The Grateful Dead started it and bands like Kimock continue it. I always thought the Dead sounded better Live than Dead. The Dead's studio albums were so-so IMHO. I think a similar thing is going on here.

11/8/2005 12:30 PM

a) Long form music is not a problem for me at all – I go to hear the S.F. Symphony 6-7 times a year and almost never doze off!

I even like a lot of Philip Glass & his ilk.

b) The best playing in the world can't make a boring composition more than a little interesting, IMO.

c) I'm not really into the jam band thing. I like jazz better (but there's a fair amount of boring jazz out there, too).

The two CDs you mentioned aren't on Rhapsody, but I will give a listen to some of his live stuff before writing him off entirely...

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