Kimock makes 'Crazy' music to keep things fresh

Friday night at The Pour House, things are probably going to get interesting.

Steve Kimock brings his latest collaboration to the stage and just like every other project he's worked on, it is nothing like anything he's done before.

It's called "Crazy Engine" and is a so-called mixture of quirky pop, electric blues.

Co-collaborators include Hammond B3 player Melvin Seals, who spent 20 years with the Jerry Garcia Band. Singer/songwriter and cellist Tevor Exter joins the group from the New York City indie music scene and contributes to bass and vocals. Rounding it out is Kimock's own son, John Morgan Kimock on drums. Not just playing in dad's band, the 20-year-old is already making his own name. By age 18, he scored a record deal with Rope-A-Dope Records.

"For some time now, for a couple of decades anyway, for the average ensemble it is a mutual chemistry thing," Kimock said.

"It doesn't really matter what you're trying to do with the music thing. The actual result is a result of the players involved. Get everyone involved in an improv thing, which is what I want to do. The difference between what I've done, it's the chemistry involved. It's very fresh energy with a lot of experience behind it, which is not particularly common."

For more than 30 years, Kimock has brought together original ensembles of musicians producing one-of-a-kind musical experiences. These improvisational productions have influences in classic rock, jazz, rhythm and blues and soul. With a variety of early influence, Kimock's projects have had a lot to draw upon.

"I think everybody kind of has two sets of influences. There's always something that is currently bouncing around in your head. And then there's the formative listening stuff. The formative stuff is the hardest to get away from," he said.

"For me, it would've been pop music, but quirky pop music, The Beatles and The Beach Boys, and second-generation electric blues guys like Jimi Hendix, Eric Claption, that crowd. I'm leaving out 100 of them," he said.

"This is a weird one, but I got into listening very early on to Indian classical music. Those were the three big ones. That kind of continues to this day. All kind of jazz influences in there in the middle somewhere, too, like John Coltrane and Miles Davis."

Influences like these, mixed with his talent, have earned him the title of "Guitar Monk" from Relix Magazine. He also was named "favorite unknown guitarist" by Jerry Garcia in Rolling Stone magazine months before he died.

"The gold ring at the end of that is getting a moment where everything stops," Kimock said on performing. "You can get in the flow state with it, when times stops. It's a wonderful thing. There are moments that come up, where there's actual magic in it. It's not really defined in the music; it's the energy."

Kimock's tour will be recorded and available for purchase.

If you go

Who: Steve Kimock Crazy Engine and Melvin Seals.

When: Friday 8 p.m.

Where: The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway.

Cost: $18 at www.etix.com and all Cat's Music and Monster Music locations.

Hear The Music: www.kimock.com.

Info: 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com.