Jason Simon Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 13th 2010 3:49PM by Mama Kath
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Jason Simon, an all around, fun loving, mystical dude, best known for his work with psychedelic behemoth known as Dead Meadow, shows us a softer acoustic side through songs of intricate guitar work and well thought lyrics. Shades of Bert Jansch, Leonard Cohen and possibly even a bit of the late, great Townes Van Zandt come drifting in and out of the otherworldly songs from his first solo release.

We caught up with Simon in advance of his appearance at this year's SXSW.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Softer acoustic side of psychedelic rock. Intricate guitar work and well thought out lyrics.

How did your band form?

It is an acoustic spin-off of Dead Meadow.

What are your musical influences?

Leonard Cohen, Bert Jansch, John Fahey, Townes Van Zandt, Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Burning Spear, GZA, RZA etc.

Is SXSW your first public performance as a solo artist?

I've been playing shows around LA for the last year. Dead Meadow is so much of a grand and bombastic sonic experience. I really wanted the challenge and the opportunity to attempt to create a compelling mood and vibe in a simpler more intimate manner.

I've listened to the one track on you Myspace and one on Dead Meadow. I do hear the similarity. How long have you been working on acoustic psychedelic?

Of course there is a similarity. There is no division line in my mind dividing one type of song from another. Dead Meadow is always a collaboration between the three of us but these songs cannot help but have a similar essence.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I love me some old Midnight Oil..."Diesel and Dust" has rocked me since the fourth grade. I don't know if that's a guilty pleasure..to me it just rocks...

Besides music, do you have another art you create in?

Dead Meadow will be entering the world of film with the release of our movie "Three Kings" March 25th!

Zombies or Vampires?

I'd have to go with Zombies but me true love is some H.P. Lovecraft tales of terror... featuring a creature from beyond our mundane dimension ready to squash out all of mankind like an insect...like great Cthulu or something. Or an interstellar being operating on some entirely different manner... like what Kurt Russell was forced to battle with in "The Thing."

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