Steve Kimock & Friends Bring Psychedelic Jams to The Ridgefield Playhouse on September 25

Jam band guitar wizard Steve Kimock & Friends bring their 25th anniversary tour to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Wednesday, September 25 at 8pm.

Kimock, who also plays with Voodoo Dead, is the co-founder of the legendary Marin County jam band Zero and was part of the post-Grateful Dead Furthur tours in the ‘90s. But for a good long while—25 years!—Steve Kimock & Friends has been his primary outlet. He will be joined on this tour by Jeff Chimenti (Dead & Company) on keys, Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green) on bass and vocals, and John Morgan Kimock (Mike Gordo, Oteil & Friends) on drums for a night of psychedelic jams, deep improvisation, swampy funk grooves and crystalline rock and roll!  This show is part of Pepsi Rock Series powered by Xfinity. Make it a great night out with dinner and a show! Visit Eddie’s Pizza & Pasta (24 Prospect Street, Ridgefield) the night of the show and enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine with your entree when tickets are presented! Media partner for this event is WPKN, The Real Alternative.

The quintessential San Francisco jazz guitarist, Steve Kimock moved to the city by the bay in the mid '70s and began playing guitar in a folk rock group called The Goodman Brothers and gigging around with a variety of groups including The Underdogs with flutist Martin Fierro with whom he would later form Zero. Kimock is widely embraced by fans as one who carries the free-form torch of improvisation, through an extensive catalog of original material in his own bands, as well as through live performances with so many esteemed musicians. Kimock has performed alongside the likes of Bruce Hornsby (and can be heard on two of Hornsby’s releases), John Cipollina, Jerry Garcia and all members of the Grateful Dead, as well as Peter Frampton, Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers, Buddy Miles, Buddy Cage, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Bobby Vega, Martin Fierro, Joe Satriani, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, Elvin Bishop, George Porter Jr., Steve Winwood, Derek Trucks, Ivan Neville, Grace Slick, Papa John Creach, Norton Buffalo, Amos Garrett, Warren Haynes, Hadi Al Sadoon, Stephen Perkins, Nicky Hopkins, Freddie Roulette, and many more. He has often been compared to Jerry Garcia, who often noted Kimock as an influence.        

Kimock’s ability to articulate tone, melody and emotion into music combined with technical brilliance has earned him the title “Guitar Monk” (Relix Magazine) for his commitment to guitar, and his ability to make it speak with its own original voice. His variegated brand of guitar, alternately subdued and vibrant, defies easy categorization. At times prog-rock/jazz-inflected and at others gypsy-straightaway, his crystal clear tone has been captivating audiences for more than thirty years.

A relentless innovator as well as player, Kimock's focus leads to guitar and amp craftsmanship. Over the past few years, he collaborated on a series of highly collected custom Two-Rock “Kimock Amplifiers” as well as a coveted ergonomic Scott Walker brand guitar - built in stereo. His passion and devotion to performing live improvisation is matchless, and his unparalleled ability to embrace and capture a theater musically is the stuff of legends.

For tickets ($47) call or visit the box office, 203-438-5795 or go online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org.  The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.