nightlifesux.com : Siouxland’s Nightlife Authority

If you find yourself strolling along Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame you’ll see names like Aerosmith, Dylan, Hendrix, Simmonds… Simmonds? That’s right, Kim Simmonds, the enduring front man for the famed British blues/rock band Savoy Brown, has earned his place among Rock and Roll royalty. From his humble beginnings in small clubs in London to sharing some of the world’s biggest stages with international stars like Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and Fleetwood Mac, Simmonds has helped form the British rock sound prevalent in so many artists today. In the mid 1960’s Simmonds and the Savoy Brown Blues Band were not only one of the first racially mixed bands to tour, they were also one of the first blues band to record.

Rock legend Kim Simmonds

Thursday night, area music lovers were treated to a special performance as Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown graced the stage of the Sioux City Live Music Club. The white-hot power trio ripped through two killer sets of new tunes and classic Savoy hits for the large, seasoned crowd. Simmonds set the tone for the evening with the opening tune “Long As I’ve Got You” from their 2007 CD “Steel”, stating that as long as he has you, the fan, life is good. The band continued to warm up the crowd with a few more new tunes before bringing them to their feet with one of Savoy’s biggest hits “Street Corner Talkin”.  Simmonds proved why he remains in demand 43 years after his debut, with tasty guitar licks and thought-provoking lyrics. After a break which allowed fans to catch their breath, the second set rolled on with Simmonds showing his versatility with some sharp harmonica skills. The harp play lead into one of the highlights of the evening with a smoking rendition of their 1972 hit “Hellbound Train”. As the band completed the second set, the raucous crowd hit their feet demanding one more. Simmonds and the boys obliged the loyal fans with the slide guitar-driven encore of ”Tell Mama”.

At the close of the show a weary Simmonds recognized the efforts of the non-profit music club stating, “I hope this idea spreads across the country. All of our hearts are in the same place tonight”. That is the beauty of the shows put on by the recently formed Sioux City Live Music Club…the love of music instead of money. The grass roots organization has played host to several top shelf acts since forming last summer, and from the looks of the satisfied Savoy crowd, there is alot more to come. For more information check their website, www.myspace.com/siouxcitylive, or call 712/251/6432.