Music
Press
"Kim Simpson takes the art of weaving lyrics and guitar to a different level." - The College Times
"If you have never seen a Kim Simpson show, you’ve missed out...His songs and performances consistently rank in the upper regions of amazing." - Fade
"Kim Simpson is not just promising, he's already there... Terrific acoustic guitar picking and a light, smooth voice...One of the very best of the younger generation of singer-songwriters." - Music City Texas
"High-intensity acoustic guitar playing and brooding vocals...Simpson achieves his own unique blend of poetry and power."
- Dirty Linen
"Infectiously melodic." - NPR
"Impeccable." - Austin Chronicle
"A quirky set of folksy, indie pop tunes featuring strong songwriting with a sense of humor." - ADD Reviews
"Get ready for the Mad Dukes. They are off and running and are set to take over the music planet with a strong offering entitled 'Looking For That Girl.' The band makes a big impression on our 'most added' column this week and it appears that they are well on their way." - Larry Weir, New Music Weekly
Discography
The Mad Dukes EP (2007), EP
The Mad Dukes Sing and Play for You (2006), LP
"Looking for That Girl"/"One Man World" (2006), Single
"Joey Superteen"/"Song of the Times" (2006), Single
Photos
Bio
The Mad Dukes are Kim Simpson and Bill Doughty, an Austin, Texas-based duo specializing in an irresistible brand of roots-rock which they supplement with sharp, lyrical songwriting and engaging live performances. The group released their debut CD, "The Mad Dukes Sing and Play for You" in March of 2006, and it went on to be listed in the Austin Chronicle Top Tens issue (January 2007) as one of the best local releases of the year. The CD has also caught fire on independent radio stations across the U.S. In November 2006, radio trade publication New Music Weekly declared the Mad Dukes to be the year’s “Best New Adult Contemporary Group,” and in December, the band’s single “Looking for That Girl” hit #1 on the NMW Hot AC chart.
The group’s latest project, an eponymous EP released in November 2007, makes a particularly strong bid for the group as an Americana act worth paying close attention to. The EP’s lyrics travel from wartime topicality to misguided vigilante justice. Also included are an original tribute to the incomparable Doug Sahm and a cover of Rank and File’s forgotten 1984 country-rock classic, “The Sound of the Rain.” An additional feature of the new EP is the superb fiddle work of two of the duo’s friends, Darcie Deaville and Melissa Becker.
Simpson has maintained the Mad Dukes in various formations since he moved to Austin from Salt Lake City in the early 90s. In 2006 he recorded the entirety of the “group’s” debut CD by himself and assembled a new lineup after the fact for live appearances. The Mad Dukes have since settled into the productive partnership of Simpson and San Antonio native Doughty. "The Mad Dukes Sing and Play for You" and "The Mad Dukes EP" were both released by RippyFish Records, an independent label run by some of Simpson’s old friends in Salt Lake City. “I wanted to have a hand in showcasing Kim’s songwriting for a long time,” says label founder Jerry Allen. “He has that rare ability for writing music and lyrics that attract immediate listener involvement, and I know his work with the Mad Dukes, especially, is on the verge of being discovered in a big way.”
4/25/07 - The Mad Dukes, "One Man World," No. 2 (Hot AC Top 40, New Music Weekly)
3/21/07 - The Mad Dukes, "One Man World," No. 11 (Independent Music Network Top 30)
7/14/06 - The Mad Dukes, "Looking for That Girl," #1 (AC Most Added, New Music Weekly)
12/7/06 - The Mad Dukes, "Looking for That Girl," #1 (AC/Hot AC, New Music Weekly)
12/7/06 - The Mad Dukes, "Looking for That Girl," #2 (Hot 100, New Music Weekly)
11/21/06 - The Mad Dukes, "Looking for That Girl," #98 on FMQB Adult Contemporary (ACQB)
Winners, AC Best New Group at the 2006 New Music Awards in Hollywood, California (Nov. 18, 2006)
Links
