Tommy Simmons

"And finally, the real treat came when Tommy sang us a haunting little song about a friendly ghost named Joseph" ... - Jet City Stream

It’s always refreshing to come across an artist who takes something familiar and makes it their own. Enter Tommy Simmons. This guitar-playing singer-songwriter is turning heads in a land where the story of “boy meets guitar” is over-told. Perhaps you’ve seen him playing around town; you could have seen him when he headlined the Crocodile, or it’s possible that you caught him supporting local acts Allen Stone or Cody Beebe and the Crooks. Maybe you’re planning to see him open for Tyrone Wells at Neumos on March 24th. In any case, you should make a point to get familiar with Mr. Simmons and his infectious tunes.
Tommy Simmons, a Washington native, is an independent artist with a few tricks up his sleeve. Apart from playing some high-profile shows, he has been hard at work recording his first full- length record (due out later this year). He started working on his self-funded project, a follow up to his 2009 release EP of Acoustic Awesomeness, in 2010 and has taken nearly 2 years to complete it.“We started tracking June of 2010,” Simmons explains. “We tracked in chunks, basically so I could pay for it… I didn’t take out a loan or anything. I would just save up five hundred bucks a month and then every couple of months we’d hit the studio. That’s how I was able to afford it. ” During the recording, Simmons was connected to producer Mikal Blue (known for his work with artists such as Colbie Caillat, OneRepublic, and Five For Fighting) and has been working alongside him to finish the record.

Simmons is a self-starter in more ways than one. If you listen to the intro of the song “San Diego” off of his EP of Acoustic Awesomeness, you wouldn’t know that he is a self-taught strummer, having had just a handful of lessons since he began playing the guitar ten years ago. His style seems to draw from classical and modern influences, and the range of his abilities is well represented on this particular song. Just when you finally wrap your head around the guitar, the vocals come in. What I find absolutely hypnotizing about Simmons’ music is his unique take on enunciation and rhythm. His words are breathy and expressive, leaving a hint of thoughtfulness that hangs on every pause.
- Inside Right Wrist

It took two years and more blood, sweat and tears than an ER room but local singer songwriter Tommy Simmons is finally set to release his debut album this Friday at the Tractor Tavern. Appropriately titled Someway, Somehow the album is full of soft acoustic undertones that would work well on any Jason Marz or John Mayer LP. Crystal clear vocals, flawless production, and string arrangements the likes of which haven't been heard since the Goo Goo Dolls song "Iris" makes this album sound like a million bucks. - Puget Playlist

The “singer-songwriter” tag has long held the stigma of its association with the oh-so-earnest introspective moping of its 1970s incarnation. On his first full-length album (following 2009's EP of Acoustic Awesomeness), Seattle-based Tommy Simmons doesn’t shy away from introspection and earnestness, as in “Joseph” and “San Diego”?but he also knows how to bare his teeth, as in the snarling “Potential” and “Velocity.” Plus, the songs are catchy as hell and very soulful.

No doubt thanks to Simmons’ relentless gigging up and down the West Coast, the performances retain a loose, live vibe, while the full band arrangements achieve the rare feat of actually improving upon the original EP versions (though the original “San Diego” intro isn’t featured here). There are also some delightfully unexpected touches: the opening track has a slight reggae lilt, “Potential” features funky clav throughout, and album-closer “Sing with Me” ends with a bit of New Orleans. All of this is topped off with Simmons’ unique phrasing and breathy-yet-smoky voice.

Finally, this may be the best-sounding release of the year; the sound is both warm and dynamic. You can comfortably crank this one up and sing along?and you might surprise yourself to find that’s exactly what you end up doing. Highly recommended. -KO - The Nervous Breakdown

"Tracks that range from cocktail soul so mellow it would make Robin Thicke blush to John Mayer–esque secretary rock. Is this edgy or revolutionary? Nope. But it is radio-friendly and packaged to make major commercial waves." - Seattle Weekly