JD Simo with Don Kelly "Folsom Prison Blues"

JD was playing at Roberts Western Wear in downtown Nashville. GREAT! The bass player is Slick Joe Fick.

[@NecroSonic1]

For anyone wondering this video is the place on youtube where guitarists go to realize how little talent they have.

[@MrTonemaster]

Best most versatile, most genuine and underrated guitarist out there.

[@andreasarneth607]

100% right

[@keithclark486]

Underrated? Gotta disagree ' I think that would be me, that's why you've never heard of me.

[@2skyland]

JD playing in Don Kelly's band is the only reason I used to go downtown and fool with all the traffic and tourists.

[@seangillen920]

Straight into the amp too. This guy's the real deal.

[@19walter51]

He is and good at it!

[@denieledwards6893]

THAT DOESN'T MAKE HIM THE REAL DEAL JUST HIS PLAYING.

[@eddiem4868]

I'd go see this guy plays anyday

[@ebathurst9216]

@@denieledwards6893 that’s what they’re saying, he didn’t rely on effects to sound the way he does. He uses a few now and still sounds great though

[@denieledwards6893]

SURE NO WORRIES

[@hearpalhere]

That is some explosive guitar work! Guy's playing is pure fire.

[@snow_monkey]

my face is melted

[@druwk]

Prime time! Have watched this clip many times. Blown away every time! Whole band is SO TIGHT! JD, hats off to you sir.

[@Dustyfingers]

I thought I was a good guitar player then I went to Nashville from Chicago. Holy shit How is that possible?! He has incredible taste and chops. Thanks JD for keeping the sound alive

[@MusicMan642]

JD is a guitar stud.

[@mrsockmonkey1969]

Stood 5 ft from JD one day and watched him destroy a les paul and two vintage Marshall plexis. It was a religious experience.

[@johnhodge3676]

JD gives a great lesson here on bizarre and creative things to do on lead & rhythm. So refreshing especially when compared to a lot of the cliché stuff that goes on in that town.

[@FenderDawn]

+John Hodge Yes true, I wish the Nashville music scene was more like Austin. I prefer talent over a good looks and "poptastic" studio produced sound.

[@gsmeeuwsen]

Wow, just WOW! JD's chops and phrasing are insane!!!

[@lojicdotcom]

One of my favorite videos - these guys are awesome! I love that JD plays straight into the amp - what a talent.

[@PFA57]

The way a Telecaster was meant to be played

[@highstick100]

My wife and I were in there in June and had finished watching Rachel and Hoot and were ready to hit another bar. We'd been chatting with a neat Brit and he said "Hang around, I'll buy the beer if you don't like this next group"...Simo and Don Kelly! He's awesome as is the bass player. Saw him a couple of nights later when we were leaving the Ryman...He was lugging that big upright bass up the hill!

[@MrCfralick]

Bass player's pretty damn impressive!

[@SuperCrackerjacks]

C Fralick You are right!

[@TheNicoscerri]

Joe fick. One of the best out there.

[@mr.sandman1177]

Simo is a beast. We saw him in Charlotte, and he was superb!

[@chriscaddick1914]

drummer is a guy called Artie Alinikoff - played with Don Kelly for years so im told and the bass player is called "slick" Joe Fick. If you watch the Johnny cash movie walk the line that's him playing bass for Elvis!! Meet them both a few times - nice guys

[@FenderDawn]

Hey thanks! I have had lots of people asking about the bass players name...

[@ebeep]

Good lord, perfection. I live for tele tone.

[@FenderDawn]

It is sweet...my my...I never get tired of this vid!

[@tmgwarrior72]

just noticed jd doesn't do finger picking or hybrid picking, he just has superhuman speed and accuracy with his pick... being that everything is picked is probably why his licks sound more aggressive with more punch than other Nashville guitarists... hope I can be that good one day

[@jayhollinger4958]

I heard in an interview with him that he had to learn all the country licks asap and he didn't have the time to learn all the picking styles, so he made it so he can use his normal picking style, but faster to get the quick country licks/runs. Dude is unreal. Seen him play many times. Back to practicing for me ha. Cheers.

[@ambrid5837]

Good eye.. had I just listened and not looked I would have thought he was hybrid ickin

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

Freakin freak I can’t stop listening to this Pure awesome ness.

[@michaelbentley4182]

Telecaster and J D - awesome

[@FenderDawn]

+Michael Bentley For Sure...!

[@projectmoon13]

JD Simo is the Gibson ES 345 stereo custom of guitar players! 😉

[@shreve38]

Killing it!

[@bigernmccracken5241]

Baddest slinger I ever saw on Broadway.....seen a few too.

[@maxscorpio1132]

I can’t get enough of this!

[@MrMusicguyma]

Whole band is solid at that very quick tempo . Nice bass solo JD has nice fills and nice solo. Good control weaving in and out behind the vocal.

[@IamKrisJones]

Wow! That was insane!

[@Skrelnick222]

That Bassist is a bad ass!

[@RaulSanchez777]

This is great... somewhere Danny Gatton is smiling :)

[@deanbanks3392]

This is a bucket-list video.

[@josephbeninati3991]

This is truly beyond awesome. I wish I could give all these performances a million likes!

[@Pomiferous]

Some of the best Tele tones ever TYSM

[@willyslagmolen6509]

What a band!!!!!

[@Prettynoise]

JD!!!!

[@BillSmillie-nz2xw]

Seen and met DK many times

[@bushpilots313]

Saw these guys in April 2012 @ Roberts. Awsome!!

[@elliotrandall]

I come back once every so often to just double check my memory….yep, still playing all that country shit without hybrid picking. I don’t understand. So nuts.

[@kygemini90]

The Bass solo - WOW!

[@JohnAllanification]

he knows how to get the best out of that tele ..

[@goldTopDeluxe]

Incredible

[@forresthunsinger8714]

I'm glad you're rockin the house in Nashville

[@JohnSmith-eq5el]

wow....

[@jackhammer9775]

Yep

[@FenderDawn]

Yeah he was smokin that night! I think I have a vid of him doing a song, but have yet to load it.

[@sayladobro]

Holy shit what a badass!!!

[@BobDaniel56]

Your best video yet!

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

Dude is incredible Holy shat town United. True bad ace main.

[@FenderDawn]

You know it!

[@chrislangdell117]

Awesome as always J.D. listen to that Bass player get some. God damn. 😆 love it.

[@folkestonehorror2723]

Let’s track that ‘58 slabboard down and get it back to JD...love the 335 but he played magic with that tele...

[@christophor108]

Awesome awesome

[@FenderDawn]

For sure!

[@TeiscoCurlee]

For any guitarists wondering how to play this version of the song, I've made a video lesson teaching a lot of the licks, please check it out if you're interested!

[@claytonmurrayguitar]

MY GOD

[@growtogether]

Freaking awesome

[@Jakeman90210]

God damn

[@FenderDawn]

You damn right!

[@AmericanGoalkeeping]

O

[@terryschnell3280]

great video from terry schnell

[@Ironworthstriking]

I love that JD sounded like Jimmy Page playing bakersfield country.

[@MrJosedejesusrojas]

DIS FOO IS ON A SICC ONE!

[@kustomhooligans]

I was wondering what he was going to do for the solo, great tribute! Now Im going to spend 6 hours tabbing it out so I can learn it, yay!

[@FenderDawn]

Good luck darlin' and I'd sure love to see it when you're done!

[@AlejandroMartin7]

Tremendo

[@CreamyBone]

got the spark

[@iahawk36]

Good lord, Simo makes me want to quit guitar...that guitar is ridiculous!

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

iahawk36 practice U can get there. Thousands of hours

[@circlecloud11]

Damn!!!

[@FenderDawn]

You damn right! :-)

[@crashcreole7]

great bass player,,,,,amazing guitarist ,,,,good band,,,,but no one quite lives up to those johnny cash rumbling balls and all vocals,,,great vid ,,,enjoyed

[@huntmich]

Holy $hitballs

[@JasonMcFly]

Tele, Coily, DR. Woww...

[@vscott1011]

Josh Zee brought me here

[@michaelbabb5781]

Slick Joe is slappin the fick outta dat bass

[@FenderDawn]

Mmmm...YUP

[@FenderDawn]

Yeah it seems like every guitar player I have seen with Kelly go pretty far. He finds the best people.....but Nashville is crawling with great guitar people.

[@qzunie]

Smoking!!!!!

[@FenderDawn]

HOT!!!!!! Yes, yes it was!!!!!

[@brianenders2098]

Ive been playing guitar for awhile, but where would be a good book or website starting place to learn some new riffs lik JD? I just discovered him and love it

[@FenderDawn]

I have been playing for over 15 years and in the last 5 years my go to is youtube for lessons....lots of free good stuff on here and you can get pretty specific songs/licks/styles for free. Search JD and licks or style and I'm sure there are a few.

[@mirindarock]

The true

[@hiddencharges]

That JD dude can destroy a guitar.......good grief!

[@bsherbine]

Nasty

[@forresthunsinger8714]

JD, I'm

[@tonyz4292]

Fuckin blazin

[@edge2sword186]

Why do the best play Telecasters ? They always have a Gretsch or 2 laying around ,Too !

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

Oh no. I’m sorry. I bet your a total babe. U have to be one of the coolest chicks all time filming this kinda stuff. So awesome thank u.

[@FenderDawn]

Its all good! :-) Yes I am pretty cool....

[@elliotrandall]

Ummmm is that dude plugged straight into his amp??? TONE

[@DwainDwight]

Toecutter!

[@boco1951]

Why did the chicken picker cross the road? To get another beer!

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

Dude I love your vids man. This part of the Nashville scene is the best shit ever. It’s so cool guys like u can get the real music folks some exposure. Maybe guys like u can flip the bull shit bubble gum country into extinction. I really hate that shit. This is amazing greatness to the third.

[@FenderDawn]

Thanks and I agree. Oh and I'm a chick! :-)

[@bloozedaddy]

Sure... He's fast... Has great tone... Chops... An ear.... But other than that what does he have going on? I used to play The Stage a few doors down on Friday nights so I'd make sure to get downtown early to catch JD... Just like I did for Redd Volkaert and Johnny Hiland before him. He's a good guy by all accounts also Ed King Approved! 🤘.

[@FenderDawn]

Heck yes! I got to see Johnny also and got a pic and Signed cd to boot during the ole Riverstsges days... Man I miss Riverstages!!! Johnny the chicken picking kang!!!

[@eduardoprieto5267]

Flat picking good

[@fablup5360]

e che te lo dico a fà

[@jukeboxjiveuk1]

Hi,who's the drummer and Bass player please,thanks in advance.

[@FenderDawn]

I don't know. I have had many people ask about the bass player but I still don't have a name?

[@FenderDawn]

I do not know,Hope someone else does?

[@James57AOL]

he s stepin out on the vocals and got short periods off the groove but he holds it at times. the singer gave him the speech I m sure

[@MrMusicguyma]

I disagree with you. I beleieve it's a hallmark of the band that Don Kelly likes his guitarist to fill in every available sonic space. I don't think JD is the best Tele player I've every heard, but he gets out of Don's way pretty quick.

[@funkyjones]

Gee Jed...please show us how to do it right.

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

Let’s see your vid.... jd is a tele master. U have to be get in the Don Kelley band. Plus he’s versatile enough to do other styles masterfully.

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

He’s only been in every guitar mag in the country and one of the hottest guit players in Nashville , world guitar capitol. Dude u should apologize publicly or release a vid of yourself playing. U can’t touch this playing.

[@The_MidwestMisfit]

chicken pickin’ frickasee ! Greg Koch would be proud!

[@adylp7818]

I’m selling my guitar

[@makemelodies1]

jesus christ.

[@slavtsenov641]

the long haired guitar player seems to play all the licks he knows in one single song, sorry Johnny the song is totally destroyed. Too much does't work for me, sound more like circus music to me

[@countryguitar4u]

It's about the song not 10000 guitar notes. Should know better.

[@ronley123]

If you played this song as much as JD had in his time with the don kelly band you would be looking for ways to break through the monotony as well.......plus, thats what he was hired to do, be flashy.

[@countryguitar4u]

total overload, how bout laying back that would be different

[@michaelgranka7904]

Having watched the Don Kelly band many times , its the hot picking guitar players that go through this band that brings the crowds out night after night. We wanna watch them wail.