Jason Simon Hangs With Puppets in 'Good Hope Road' Video -- Exclusive Premiere

Brandon Harmon

Jason Simon, the lead singer and guitarist of psych band Dead Meadow, would like to show you his softer side with his new video for 'Good Hope Road.' The music takes inspiration from folksters like Bert Jansch, Leonard Cohen, Sandy Bull and Townes Van Zandt -- slow and steady and incredibly deep, with plenty of of reverb, intricate guitar work and bit of pedal steel. The video, however, isn't as serious, thanks to some unlikely co-stars.

"This video was shot entirely behind my house in a ramshackle uninhabited structure," Simon tells Spinner. "I had always been somewhat fearful to enter but taking my guitar and my dog Wilkie we went on in to shoot this video. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this barnlike structure was the home to several small, brightly colored, felt-covered individuals who shared my affinity for the great guest performances on the classic episodes of 'The Muppet Show.'"

The video was directed by Simon Chan, who also helmed 'Three Kings,' the Dead Meadow movie released last year. And as Simon tells it, the song was inspired by his past home of Washington D.C., where he spent many mornings on Good Hope Road, an actual street in the capital.

"Much like those classic guest performances of Johnny Cash or Paul Simon [with the Muppets], these 'puppets' add great counterpoint to the somewhat melancholic nature of the song," he says. "Most importantly of all, we had a real good time!"

Simon's self-titled solo album was released in September via Tee Pee. He'll tour on his own and with Dead Meadow in Europe this spring and both will hit Austin's Psych Fest in April.

Jason Simon's 'Good Hope Road' Video

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