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It's
all about the music, nothing else. Harlen Simple is a band
that will step over every invisible line in music just to push
themselves to another level. John Peterson, Erick Thomas,
Ken Morrow, and Travis Williams are not your run of the mill
bar band. This group is notorious for their two hour sets and
never preparing set lists. The band will play any song
from any genre that has ever influenced them. "We're
gonna play what makes our asses move," says Erick Thomas,
"it's so much fun just to throw it up in the air and see
how it falls. That's why we don't write set lists.
It's a hell of a lot more fun to see what you're feelin', and
whatever you want to play next you play next."
With
influences that go from Elmore James to Neil Young and Bob Marley,
you can hear it all meshed together as if it were thrown in
a blender with some tequila and beer and poured onto a stage.
With nothing but gut feelings and raw emotions, every night
on any given stage it's always a different show. This group
has somehow managed to pull all the emotions and feelings through
the amplifiers to hand deliver to any person within earshot.
The
varied background of this group has amazingly complemented each
other and has grown into a phenomenon all its own. Erick's
self taught style, Kenny's bluesy bass line, John's aggresiveness
on the drums all meld with Travis' forceful timber that can
be soulful or gritty. Each member of this group has grown and
can adapt his sound to match or complement that of the others.
This brings forth a unique blend of personalities and sounds
which has made Harlen Simple what is today.
This
motley group is known for pulling the shanghai on fellow musicians
when they are spotted in the audience. It is not a surprising
event to see various friends of theirs on stage with them dueling
it out with guitars or having a harmonica accompany them on
a song. That's the way this community of musicians operates.
They all love to play no matter where... no matter when — it's
all about the music. Take
in just one of their shows and you will understand.
It is
very difficult to put into words what you feel when you are at
one of their shows. It is something that just has to be
experienced. Whether it's a two hour set or a 45 minute
throwdown at a festival, it's something that is certainly worth
seeing to believe.
This
group is there. Their tone, their heart and soul are out
there for all to see and hear. As amazing as it is
to sit and listen to them today, just wait to see what they will
be doing tomorrow.
HS Trivia:
Where'd the name Harlen Simple come
from?
Langston Hughes' book, "The Life and Times of Simple"
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