Savoy Brown, British Blues Greats, Have New Album

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Savoy Brown in 2017. l-r: Pat DeSalvo, Kim Simmonds, Garnet Grimm

The veteran British blues band Savoy Brown will release Witchy Feelin’ August 25 on Ruf Records. Says founding member Kim Simmonds, the band’s guitarist, “On this album, I tried my best to get my voice in its power zone. I’m a baritone singer. I like listening to singers I can relate to, such as J.J. Cale, Mark Knopfler, Tony Joe White and Tom Rush. For my guitar playing, I still get inspiration from Otis Rush, Buddy Guy and all the Chicago players I grew up listening to back in ’63… but I always listen to new music too.”

Witchy Feelin’ is available for pre-order here.

Recording alongside Pat Desalvo (bass), Garnet Grimm (drums) and engineer Ben Elliott, Simmonds, according to a press release, “leads us into a world of dark nights, wild weather, women and whiskey: all perennial themes given a modern twist by this ageless bluesman.” He says, “The songs on this album have been two years in the making. I tried to write songs that had a personal point of view yet can be relatable to everyone. On ‘Vintage Man,’ I wrote about being the type of guy who doesn’t change as he gets older. I wrote about the power of love on ‘Why Did You Hoodoo Me.’ And with ‘Guitar Slinger,’ I wrote a song about seeing a great guitar player in an old country bar, as I did when I first saw Roy Buchanan in ’69.”

Regarding the title Witchy Feelin’, Simmonds says, in the press release, “Blues has always dealt with themes of the Devil, witchcraft and so forth, and I’ve always written along those lines. At least three of the songs on Witchy Feelin’ have that hoodoo vibe…”

Reflecting on the early days of Savoy Brown, Simmonds adds, “I had a vision. When I started the band back in 1965, the concept was to be a British version of a Chicago blues band. And the exciting thing now is, that vision is still alive. I’m amazed that I still have the energy inside me to play guitar, create music and write songs. I’ve never been a believer in holding on to the past. I don’t look over my shoulder and congratulate myself. I always want to climb the next mountain, and I’m very pleased with this new album.”

Tour Dates
7/14 The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, Ontario
7/21 Karlshamn Baltic Festival Karlshamn, Sweden
7/27 Mauch Chunk Opera House Jim Thorpe, PA
7/29 Fur Peace Station, Pomeroy, OH
8/22 Music on Main Street, Canajoharie, NY
8/25 The Salon 9 Wallis Beverly, MA
8/26 2 Left Feet Blues Festival, Simsbury, CT
9/15 Arcada Theatre, St Charles, IL
9/16 The Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI
10/6 The Tangier, Akron, OH
10/7 C2G Music Hall, Fort Wayne, IN
11/17 Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD
11/18 Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA
11/26 Sportsmen’s Tavern, Buffalo, NY

Watch a recent half-hour live set from Savoy Brown