** 2007 SAN DIEGO MUSIC AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST LOCAL RECORDING! **
"The accomplished, schooled musicians of the world cast condescending looks at what they see as the simplistic, musical under-achievers in the pop world while the pop artists look back and wonder what’s the point of playing so well if you can’t connect with the public. The musical innovators disdain the cowardice they see when artists trudge over familiar ground. The minimalist folkies see great danger in musical excess of any kind hindering the impact of the lyrics. The rock and rollers think all of the previously mentioned groups need to just chill the hell out and make some noise. It’s hard to find the middle ground in all of that, but every once in a great while an artist comes along that bridges the gaps between all of these approaches. Sting, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and Bruce Hornsby come to mind when I think of musical forces of nature that can somehow merge radically different musical sensibilities and create a cohesive, exciting and satisfying result. If this kind of meeting of the musical elements sounds good to you, I give you Simeon Flick and his latest CD, Reactive Soul." –Craig Yerkes of the San Diego Troubadour on CD Baby, November, 2006
"San Diego's Simeon Flick has a new CD out, his third, that is all over the map stylistically. In fact, his MySpace page describes his music as 'Alternative / R&B / Folk Rock,' which is probably as good a definition as exists. While a bit distracting, the thing is that every song is incredibly well-constructed; every arrangement works. And Flick is such a strong, expressive singer that the gear changes don't faze him a bit. That confidence and ability to switch from style to style and back again end up being one of Reactive Soul's strengths--the stylistic changes not only hold your attention musically, but they cause you to pay closer attention to each song to see how Flick will approach each new style." –Jim Trageser, North County Times, 9/28/06.
"I was sitting here at my studio surfing MySpace, in kind of a melancholic mood.when I came across Simeon Flick. [His] music put me in a reflective mood and I latched on to the sound instantly.As soon as I listened to [Indigo Child], I knew it would be the one I would turn to when I just wanted to chill out. Simeon is an embodiment of true musical talent and any connoisseur of music will enjoy [Indigo Child]. Music is in this guy's soul so be sure to keep your eyes open for his next CD--Reactive Soul." –Michael West in the Spring, 2006 issue of Revolt In Style.
"Within ten tracks, Flick bridges the gap between confrontational rock and intricate folk harmonies. Indigo Child isn't reliant on either style, but instead is anchored by a rhythm that effectively uses the dynamics of both oeuvres. Though undercurrents of melancholy run through many songs, the album doesn't give in to depression and woe. Instead, the themes of lost love and dying break away to words centered on hope and resolve. Soft tones and acoustic dexterity mark the rolling ballad "Good Graces,".the sullen restraint with which Flick delivers it is akin to the kind of emotion in U2's 'With Or Without You.' Other highlights include the rowdy closer 'Can't Wait Till I Die.' The cut's lines, all sung tongue-in-cheek, are well suited to the vintage rocker: 'Well I don't know if I've been here before / But I don't think I'll be back for more / So I say with a sigh / Can't wait till I die." –Mary Montgomery, Hometown CDs, San Diego Reader, April 14, 2005.
"Vocals that rival Jeff Buckley's and heartbreaking guitar mastery. Simeon Flick is a singer/songwriter who exists in a world of his own." –San Diego Indie Music Fest, 2005
"I remember introducing myself to Jason Mraz for the first time. He was still unknown and starving like everybody else. I just shook his hand, introduced myself, and told him I've been trying to do what he does for about 20 years, and that he had 'it'. He looked at me funny when I told him, 'You should be outta here by now. It shouldn't be long before the world knows you're big time'. The music [on Soliloquy] is different and not written for the attention of little girls. But I have the same thing to say to Flick: 'Dude, you're outta here'. [Soliloquy] is brilliant.Every single track is remarkable in its originality, range of material (it kicks Jason's ass in this department), chops, maturity in arrangement and production, and most important: serious mojo." –Frederick Leonard in the June, 2004 issue of the San Diego Troubadour.
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Simeon Flick is an independent heritage artist who writes and performs accessibly innovative alternative R&B music with an uncanny ear for maddeningly adhesive pop hooks. He has built a formidable reputation and a connoisseur following with his soulful voice, versatile musicality, engaging live performances, and inspirational songs with poignant, erudite lyrics.
Flick grew up listening to 60's R&B, 70's funk, 80's & 90's rap and hip-hop, classic rock of all decades, and 80's & 90's punk and alternative. He was in two vanguard underground bands in the nineties (CRUX and Sages of Memphis, the latter of which was briefly scouted by Interscope Records and had two songs placed on MTVs Road Rules), but had already begun to explore new frontiers with his solo material before arriving in San Diego in 2001. Since then he has released four pioneering solo CDs (Soliloquy, 2003, Indigo Child, 2004, Reactive Soul, 2006, and Piquant, 2010), fronted the band Alpha Ray (whose song Tremore was featured on San Diego radio station 91X's Loudspeaker local music show), has performed all over San Diego and has toured both coasts, garnering new devotees along the way.
Simeon is enjoying an illustrious career, having shared stages with the likes of No Doubt, Sublime, Fishbone, The Untouchables, School of Fish, Rocket From The Crypt, Three Mile Pilot, Heavy Vegetable, The Samples, The Skeletones, Skankin' Pickle, Excel, Voodoo Glowskulls, Ozomatli, Geggy Tah, Matt Nathanson, and Leftover Salmon. As a San Diego-based solo artist he has co-billed with Veruca Salt, Glenn Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket), Jimmy Gnecco (OURS), Noe Venable, Ari Hest, Brodeeva (G Love & Special Sauce), Saucy Monky, Transfer, Jakob Martin, Earl Thomas, Peter Sprague, Tom Brosseau, Gregory Page, Steve Poltz, Carlos Olmeda, A. J. Croce, Lisa Sanders, Berkeley/Hart, Anya Marina, Steph Johnson, Christopher Dale, Danielle LoPresti, Alicia Champion, Michael Tiernan, and Thomas Lee (Bo Bice). Simeon has done professional studio session work for and/or live gigging with Rob Crow (bass) of Pinback, Matt Nathanson (guitar), Jakob Martin (vocals, guitar), Strate Sound (drums & percussion), Singing Serpent Studios (vocals, guitar), The Grams (bass, percussion, vocals), Eddie Elliott (guitar, percussion, vocals), Sterling Waters (percussion), Tim Corley(bass), Lee Tyler Post (guitar, bass, percussion, vocals), Matthew Stewart (guitar, bass, drums, percussion, vocals), The Enchanted (guitar, bass, drums, percussion, vocals), Bad Science Fiction (bass, vocals), Tapwater (percussion), Christopher Dale (bass, percussion, vocals), and Barbara Nesbitt (percussion, vocals).
Simeon has been featured on San Diego radio stations 102.1 KPRI FM (which has played Many Moons, Choice, and Money Don't Make The Man from Reactive Soul) and Free 103.7 FM, and has appeared twice on KUSI TV. Reactive Soul was nominated for Best Local Recording at the 2007 San Diego Music Awards.
Simeon self-released his fourth solo album, Piquant, out of his newly inaugurated Blue Chair Studio in South Park, San Diego, in August 2010. Piquant bristles with intent, combining the punch of alternative, the confrontational lyricism of folk, and the rhythmic imperative of classic rock and R & B.
His goals are modest: To make a sustainable living through music, ease the human condition, and to sing like Merry Clayton on the Stones' 'Gimme Shelter'.
