The Sim Redmond Band

BIO
Since their inception over 10 years ago, the Sim Redmond Band has been steadily on the rise, forging new ground in roots music. Traveling around the globe, playing with the likes of moe., the Neville Brothers, the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, and Habib Koite, in some of the most beautiful venues in the U.S. and Japan, the world has taken notice. With 6 tours of Japan under their belt, SRB's unique blend of roots-rock, Afro-Carribean, and reggae music continues to spread like wild fire.
They are based in Ithaca, NY but their magnetic pole is Africa, particularly the sounds eminating from West & South Africa. This magnetic pole has served as a pivot for the Sim Redmond Band to spring into straight rock grooves and pumping reggae. The vocal teamwork of Sim Redmond, Jen Middaugh, and Nate Silas Richardson creates some of the richest harmonies you'll ever hear.

"Best Roots-Rock CD of 2006(Each New Day)"
-Jim Catalano, Ithaca Journal, Ithaca NY

"Best Roots-Rock CD of 2004(Shining Through)"
-Jim Catalano, Ithaca Journal, Ithaca NY

"Best Rock CD(Life is Water)"
-Finalist in Indie Acoustic Project's "Best CDs of 2001 to 2003"

"New Homegrown Band of the Year" - 2001
-Homegrown Music Network, Webane NC

"Best Local Band" - 2001 to present (except 2005, congrats Johnny Dowd!!)
-Best of Ithaca readers poll, Ithaca Times, Ithaca NY

"Best CD (all styles), Life is Water" - 2001
-Jim Catalano, Ithaca Journal, Ithaca NY

"Best Roots-Rock CD of 2000(Good Thoughts)"
-Jim Catalano, Ithaca Journal, Ithaca NY

"Favorite Band of 2000"
-Jim Catalano, Ithaca Journal, Ithaca NY

"Each New Day, the latest release from the Ithaca, NY based Sim Redmond Band is the type of album that should put anyone with an open musical mind in a good mood. If you let them, the sounds of this band can wash over you and make you feel something akin to that content half-awake bliss you feel after spending a few hours basking in the summer sun: warm, relaxed, yet undeniably energizing. Their infectious blend of African-influenced reggae-tinged roots rock combined with beautifully sung lyrics full of hope, love and lessons learned give the band a deeply honest, positive sound. With three talented vocalists in the group, Jen Middaugh, Sim Redmond and Nate Silas Richardson, you never quite know what kind of vocals you're going to get from track to track, but one thing is certain, they rarely disappoint. From the horn-filled reggae funk groove of "Potholes" to the almost orchestral beauty of "Lately," Each New Day is a portrait of a band who is skillfully crafting their own unique sound and doing it on their own terms. Not much for solos, this is a band where each member contributes greatly to the overall sound, and the whole is most definitely much greater than the sum of its parts. "
-Matt Brockett, Jambands.com

"The Sim Redmond Band makes early-morning music, served sunny-side up. Each New Day, the collective’s fifth album, draws cloudless, Vitamin C melodies from elements of reggae, Carribean and Afro-beat. Polished by the band’s seven-year tenure, coupled with a studio sheen that coats this album, the septet’s optimism is infectious, piqued by tight, polyrhythmic drumming and fortified by brass crescendos. Easy and overly melodic, Redmond’s hazy voice is complimented by the angelic tone of Jen Middaugh, the two harmonizing together above the reverberating, sonar grooves..."
-Jamie Lee, Relix Magazine

"With music fans debating the very meaning of the term “progressive” more than ever these days, we at the Sea believe that expanding the boundaries of listeners’ minds is just as important as expanding the boundaries of the genre. Enter the Sim Redmond Band, an Ithaca, N.Y.-based outfit that takes old-as-dirt musical forms and gives them a bright new shine. Progressive in the purest sense of the word? Yep. One critic referred to this five-man-and-one-woman collaborative as “roots rock with an African twist.” I can’t top that description, so I won’t even try. What I will tell you is that the band’s vocalist and multi-instrumentalist namesake has collected an energetic and talented group of players who deserve more mainstream attention than many of their more successful peers, including the overrated Dave Matthews Band. That will never happen, of course, but it’s no reason to pass up this appealing album. Jen Middaugh’s earthy vocals add touches of pop class, drummer and percussionist Asa Redmond turns in a worldly two-and-a-half-minute solo on “Ngoma” that’s worthy of power-metal skins master Mike Terrana, and the rhythmic music boasts an overall carefree groove that’s both intoxicating and relaxing. By the way, the Sim Redmond Band has toured Japan four times since its 1999 inception. Yet in America, these guys (and gal) have barely made it out of the Northeast. What’s wrong with this picture?"
-Sea of Tranquility, Nov. 2006

"There are times when I get an unsolicited disc across my desk that makes me sit up and take notice. Each New Day, the third album by the Sim Redmond Band, was indeed just such an album. My husband had me listen to a copy of a new song he had recorded, and we weren’t sure whether my disc player was working. I popped in the first CD I could find on my desk (the aforementioned Sim Redmond disc), and both of us looked at each other and said, “That’s really good! Who are these guys?” Needless to say, we spent several hours spinning this one, and it was the first one that my husband put into the player when we had another couple over for dinner, with the preface: “You’ve got to hear this.” The combination of reggae, folk and roots rock can be difficult for any band to pull off, but this one adds a hot brass section and some tasty strings to their already accomplished guitars, keys, bass, drums and percussion. But it is the silky vocal harmonies of Jen Middaugh and Nate Silas Richardson against Redmond’s lead that oil the whole works. Based in Ithaca, N.Y., the Sim Redmond Band has been playing within the New York/Pennsylvania region for the past seven years. They also have toured Japan four times and will be returning again in early November. They have had major radio airplay there and continue to draw fans. “Hanshin Tigers,” the last cut on Each New Day, is sure to be a hit in Japan because it chants, “Hashin Tiger, Icheban.” It’s about the oldest professional baseball team in Japan, and Icheban means “number one.” But this track isn’t pep rally material. It sounds as melodic as John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” If Each New Day is any indication of where this band has been and where it’s going, it is no wonder that the Sim Redmond Band was dubbed the New Homegrown Band of the Year in 2001 by Homegrown Music."
-Janie Franz, Marked Magazine

"Sim Redmond Band's music oozes over your brain like a comforting blanket with its sunny sound and earthy rhythms rooted in reggae, folk, and world music. The warm vocal harmonies and heartfelt lyrics are the extra flavor on top of their hypnotic musical dish. Bubbling bass and drums will put you in a trance while sparkling guitar opens your mind to the peaceful world this band has created. Well established in the NY-PA area, Sim Redmond Band has made recent trips to Colorado, New Mexico and the southeast"
-Homegrown Music Network

"On their latest disc, "Life is Water", this band is showing amazing signs of tremendous growth. Those not familiar with the sound of the band will take comfort in my easygoing description of the breeze. Reggae meets Americana in rolling soundscapes designed for floating bliss! That simple! The hypnotic bounce of this record is immaculate. Designed to make you dance all night, the band will never dissappoint in this category. The amazing vocal and lyrical gifts of Uniit meet up with Sim and the rest of the boys in shape-shifting utopia. If you have not seen this band, this record is a good start for your listening pleasure." "
-Revolving Door

"The Sim Redmond Band's airy, bouncing roots/Afro-Carribean/reggae music comes together in a colorful, almost dreamy sound. Uniit Carruyo's angelic voice harmonizes romantically with Sim Redmond's earthy tenor. Redmond tinkers on a Zimbabwean hand piano called the mbirs on several numbers like "Tangisa" and "All is not Lost," giving them a spacy world beat. But don't be turned off by the world-beat label. The Ithaca, NY, band may feature the sounds of West and South Africa, but vocally they've got a folk sound that explores truth, dreams, and love. The album's most rocking track, "Bird Reggae" features a heavier beat than most of its lite folk tunes, but still floats on Carruyo's sweet vocals. Seeing this band live, I imagine concert-goers will be in for some lively beats, creative rhythms, audience twirling and plenty of wide-eyed smiles."
-Richmond Style Weekly

"Would you believe that prior to reviewing this CD I had never heard the music of the The Sim Redmond Band? Now that I have, I feel I should be arrested and charged with self-neglect. Life is Water begins with "Tangisa", one of four instrumentals on the album adapted from traditional Zimbabwean Mbira music. On a number of songs, including the title track, bandleader Sim Redmond and vocalist Uniit Carruyo trade lines in the verse, adding a call-and-response element to their sound. The majority of the material on the recording is tender and genial. It's easy to digest given the band's contagious optimism. The reggae-influenced "500 Miles" is born of these ingredients, floating over the foundation forged by drummer Asa Redmond and bassist Dan Merwin. Guitarist Jordan Aceto rounds out the quintet's lineup, adding texture to Life is Water's moist ventures. The band's lyrics are thought provoking, often preferring to pose questions rather than preach the gospel according to Sim. In "After Sense", Carruyo asks, "Do you know your secrets are safe now?/Do you know your words have shelter?" Images of nature also pervade, as in the opening stanza of the docile "Rolling Back With You": "When you call my name, you always call me kindly/And all my fears just melt away like snow on a warm spring day." Also of notice is the percussive "Chifte Telli", one traditional adaptation guaranteed to put a smile on your face quicker than any makeshift GrassRoots drum circle (especially at 4:30 in the morning when you're trying to sleep!). The Sim Redmond Band has tapped into something, and something good. Considering how many "SRB" bumper stickers I've seen gracing the back of Volvos in the Ithaca area, the local population is catching on."
-Jon Ulrich, Ithaca Times Review of "Life is Water"

"Almost two years ago, a young and vibrant group of optimistic artists hit the local scene with their interesting brew of danceable, folky world music. They call themselves the Sim Redmond Band. Two of the band members have played together for as long as they can remember. Brothers Sim and Asa Redmond first began playing music in their teens. After dipping their toes in the local scene with bands including Ginger and the Ducktape Band, fate brought the current lineup together. Bassist and percussionist Dan Merwin and guitarist Jordan Aceto were in place and beginning to feel something special happening. When Sim met fellow singer-songwriter Uniit Carruyo at an open mic night at Collegetown Bagels, the final ingredient fell into the stew. In early 1999, the band ran with this energy, entering the studio to record their first album, The Things We Keep. The songs have a spontaneous feel to them, introducing a fresh new sound and a band prepared to plunge into the local scene and beyond. The band's identity began to develop during those studio sessions, with Aceto's innovative, melodic styings on his self-built guitar (complete with a fork for a vibrato bar) floating on top of the tribal grooves of Merwin and Asa Redmond. The harmonies provided by Carruyo combine beautifully with Sim's melodies. Songs like "Me and Juge" and "Runaway Train," with its high-energy percussion break, exemplify the danceable grooves and thoughtful lyrics and are still part of the band's live repertoire. Their second CD, Good Thoughts, benefits from its more polished production and a more mature band, even after only about a year of playing. Tunes like "Two Holes in the Ground" showcasing Carruyo's seemingly effortless approach to singing, and "Glide," with its upbeat flow and plaintive lyrics, testify to this growth and present some catchy hooks and sing-along lyrics. Renowned cellist Hank Roberts guests on a few songs, along with a number of other local artists on everything from horns to violin. The Sim Redmond Band channels the diverse influences of its members, creating an original sound difficult to describe in a paragraph, let alone a concise category. With rhythms reminiscent of Paul Simon's Graceland under the guitar melodies influenced by the Zimbabwean songs of Thomas Mapfumo, the band creates a sound unlike the packaged pop heard on modern radio. Carruyo provided the most accurate description of their sound, summing it up as "everything-is-going-to-be-ok music." Good Thoughts is certainly an apt title for the band's CD, with the songs evoking images of the now seemingly distant summer. Preparing for the release of their third CD this summer, the band has already laid the basic tracks for eight new songs. Sim describes the new songs as "more of a group effort" and more groove-oriented. There will also be more from Carruyo, which is certainly something to look forward to. Each member continues to find a more comfortable voice within the band. Carruyo has a more active role, contributing more of her songs and her hauntingly beautiful voice. (Look out for a solo CD from her in the near future.) From the early focus on Sim's songwriting to a more collective approach, their sound is best appreciated in the live setting, where the band's warmth and contagious happiness comes through in Sim's consistently genuine smile."
-Ben Kupstas, Cornell Daily Sun, Ithaca, NY

"Released on I-Town records, The Things We Will Keep leaps right into rockin', percolating rhythms on the opening track 'Situation.' There is a cool percussion interlude on the bouncing groove number 'Runaway Train,' and the band kicks it up a notch for the straight ahead rocker 'Me & Juge.' The amount of time the Sim Redmond Band was able to devote to the recording is reflected by the crisp production quality and overall musicianship... The band's sound has evolved from its earlier folkish stylings and headed into more creative up-tempo rhythms. There is an aura beginning to build around the Sim Redmond Band and you can pick up on their rootsy rhythmic vibes..."
-Stu Fox, Ithaca Times, Ithaca NY

"In the past year, the Sim Redmond Band has developed into one of the best young bands on the local scene. Led by singer-guitarist Sim Redmond, the band generates a nice mix of African-inflected grooves and sinuous folk, with the occasional country touch thrown in for good measure. 'Situation' gets the CD off to a nice start with chimey guitar lines from Jordan Aceto. In a similar propulsive vein are 'My Family' and 'Story of that Star,' while a new version of 'Blue as the Ocean' sounds like it could easily have fit on one of Dire Straits' early albums. The rhythm section of bassist Dan Merwin and drummer Asa Redmond keeps the grooves percolating, and as an additional color, Masonfly singer, Uniit adds some nice harmonies to Redmond's warm voice. On the mellower side are 'Waiting for the Birds' and 'These Dream s,' with the title track bringing the CD to a nice close in waltz time. Redmond's optimistic lyrics privide plenty of fodder for thought, too. Definitely to keep an eye on in the next year."
-Jim Catalano, Ithaca Journal, Ithaca NY

"Clearly stepping out of the acoustic folk tradition, Redmond posesses strength as a composer, with catchy hooks and phrases that linger long after the song is over. Think early Dylan, think Robbie Robertson, JJ Cale, Dave Van Ronk, Van Morisson, and one can even hear a tint of some muse called up by James Taylor from time to time."
- Gene Ira Katz, Ithaca Times, Ithaca NY

"Impeccably recorded at Ithaca College and REP Studios, The Things We Will Keep is an intoxicating sonic stew that mixes together folk, blues, reggae, and Afro-Cuban influences in a highly melodic, delightful and danceable way. Redmond is ably backed up here by talented vocalist Uniit. Redmond played the various infectious kalimba grooves sprinkled all over the record. Redmond's songs are like hopeful musical mantras, the words simple and direct. I especially liked the tribal and Latin flavors of 'Runaway Train,' which kicks along on a Talking Heads drum roll and crystalline guitar lines. ...much like Paul Simon..."
- Bryan VanCampen, Ithaca Times, Ithaca NY

"Male vocalist of the year, 1999"
- Ithaca Journal, Ithaca NY