Artist description Joel crosses musical borders from jazz to rock to folk-based pop. Simpson's intimate voice along with his witty storytelling urges listeners to hear original music, as if for the first time.

Music Style Rock

Musical Influences U2, REM, Woody Guthrie

Similar Artists U2, Matchbox 20, Jimmy Eat World, Everclear, Goo Goo Dolls, Weezer.

Albums Placid Adolescent Worms

Press Reviews JOEL SIMPSON "Placid Adolescent Worms", Randomosity Records 1998 Placid Adolescent Worms is a hefty mix of 15 super melodic songs that border on the experimental and alternative realm of rock and roll. Songwriter, Joel Simpson, seems to never run out of ideas. Spanning from soft to medium heavy, the nature of composition is extremely vast and I have to admit that many songs including track 4, "Unraveled", track 7, "Lisa Bonforte (Everytime I Heard Your Name) and many others are already branded in my subconscience, leaving me helplessly humming a melody or lyric line from the album at any given time, during the past few weeks. If anyone has ever heard the music of Canadian band, Crumb ( a groundbreaking alternative band in the early 90s), I can attest, the similarities are there. Simpson has an uncanny talent for creating catchy riffs and chorus lines, such as in the previously mentioned songs, and also, I'm Still Thinking, That Stranger Was You, and the great ballad called I Will Be that includes tastefully odd chord changes (which is one determining factor that sets Simpson's style apart from the normal song with predictable chord sequences found often in music of this nature). You would think that near the end of a 15 song album, the goods would become scarce, but not on Placid Adolescent Worms! The short but sweet, I Will Find A Way, the spiraling By The Order Of The Drum and the festive, Good Things successfully manage to keep the excitement well alive... and the creative juices... both lyrically and musically, ooze at every turn. Musicians on this album include: Joel Simpson (vocal, guitar, bass), Dan Heinz (drums, percussion), Mark Bresaw (clarinet), Dave Meseth (trombone), Mike Pavlik (trumpet), and Shawn Kieran (tuba). Very very well done! By Jori Pierson, Editor in Chief for MEUN Magazine http://www.muen.net/ http://www.angelfire.com/zine/muen/cdreviews/simpsonreview.html Last night [December 17th], I had the pleasure of enjoying a double billing of Margo Jean and the Rubes [actually with guest Rubes--EVEN3] and EVEN3 featuring Joel Simpson. For those of you that are not familiar with these two groups you are in for a treat. Margo Jean and Joel are brother and sister. Both have their own bands and are featured artists on Randomisity Records. Margo Jean and the Rubes are a Tuscon based band that are billed as Rockabilly. However, when you hear their unique songs you will find roots in blues, rock, and pop as well. EVEN3 is a Chicago based trio that combines a unique blend of rock, blues, jazz, and pop to form a distinct sound all their own. Joel Simpson has written or co-written all of their material and the songs are rich with meaningful words as well as musical interest. The EVEN3 line-up of Paul [drums & back-up vocals], Kevin [bass & back-up vocals], and Joel [guitar and lead vocals]. The show started with Margo Jean's music and it was an awesome performance--even more so when you consider that this was the very first time this band has ever been assembled. Margo Jean's voice is hard driving yet with a sweet edge. She joked with the crowd and kept their interest peaked. The entire first set was devoted to her bands material. EVEN3 performed as a trio for the balance of the evening. They played material from their Randomisity Records release "Placid Adolescent Worms" as well as material from a CD soon to be released. They also did a few covers of songs that they like. They added the EVEN3 stamp to each of these. Joel Simpson is a very accomplished guitarist and provides the lead vocals as well. With Kevin on bass and Paul on drums they are syncopated to perfection. I appreciate the technical difficulties of playing complex parts and EVEN3 never takes the easy route yet their performance appears to be effortless! If you haven't had the opportunity to hear these two great bands, you owe it to yourself to pick up their releases. Both are a available through www.randomosity.com. You may never get a chance to hear them both on the same billing at Tracey's again but you never know. At least you can see one of these great acts if you are so lucky as to live in the Chicago or Tuscon area or get the chance to travel there during their performance schedules. Listen up as soon as you can--and enjoy these two bands! - Steve Ekblad. Steve Ekblad Home Page http://www.wssh.net/~wattsup/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Joel Simpson By Nick Green It would be interesting to see what Joel Simpson could do with a whole studio full of instruments and some really great mixing equipment at his disposal. The dozen or so songs on Placid Adolescent Worms that seem made-to-order for live performance are harmless enough, but it's the studio-engineered oddball instrumentals (the industrial pastiche "Dance Of The Placid Adolescent Worms") and quirky genre pieces (calliope and circus music in the opening of "By The Order Of The Drum") that ultimately give the album its charm. http://www.illinoisentertainer.com/2000/February/Around_Hear256.shtml - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Location Chicago, IL - USA

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