Iggy Pop, Chris Whitley, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Peter Tosh, PJ Harvey, Ry Cooder, Kate Bush, Psychedelic Furs, Keith Richards, Gilberto Gil, Ali Farka Toure, Tinariwein, Habib Koite, experiencing and sharing music with musicians in Brasil (Pelo Cover, Timbalada, Cortejo Afro, etc), India (Ishwar Lal Mishra, Sunanda Patnaik, Kedia Bro’s), Nepal (Sukarma), playing & sharing music in Israel and Egypt...
-below: GREEN REVOLUTION music video, song recorded live @ Top T Festival, Buzau, Romania in May 2007....
below: TSMSF video BLOG tour Romania, 2007:
below: Thomas Simon WalkAbout, (5 part) docu-musical travelogue. Selected to 5 international film festivals in N.America. - catch the rest on myspace.com/thomasfilmscore part TWO (Salvador, Brazil):
below:Dreamed Of You (LOVE ALIEN < pre TSMSF formation) - music video, directed by Stephen Barnwell...
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
The new ep "The Gathering" is done!!... pre-released here to all our myspace friends for FREE DOWNLOAD before the official release in late August.
The album also includes Musiciens Sans Frontieres version of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. To hear it, or download the whole album (also 4 FREE), go to MSF's site on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/tsmsf
MSF was just invited to perform at the Guitar Masters Festival, a 3 day open air event at the Pat Garrett Amphitheater in Strausstown, Pennsylvania (8/30/08 - 9/1/08), featuring the Deodato Group, Rick Derringer and more... further details TBA
Jillie & Thomas performed last at the Make-A-Wish Foundation Charity Event at Webster Hall, late spring. Kudos to Eric Vega and meetup.com!
March 2008:
Thomas recently recorded in Indonesia and is currently utilizing all the sounds, world rhythm samples, he recorded in combination with the alternative rock & xtc to create a new blend of MUSICIENS SANS FRONTIÉRES.
Live Shows and touring will resume in the summer.
- The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Committee placed Thomas
Simon Musiciens Sans Frontieres on the Official Ballot for the 2008 Grammy Awards in
the following categories:
Category 1 - Record of the Year
Thomas Simon Musiciens Sans Frontieres - Affection
Category 7 - Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocal
Thomas Simon Musiciens Sans Frontieres - Affection
more:
MUSICIENS SANS FRONTIÉRES are
Rock Alternative Experimental Ecstasy
- working on shedding geographical and musical boundaries.
"Remember Me" off "Sattelite" was written in memory of Marla Ruzicka, an American activist, who worked in Iraq and Afghanistan to raise awareness and money for the victims of U.S. bombing raids, rallying in Washington numerous times, before being killed in Bagdad in 2005 at age 28.
and our music video "Green Revolution" came about because there's
no more time for pollution
no more time for lack of evolution...
- we will be out and playing soon....stay tuned!
below are some of the current write up's...
peace in the universe -
Jillie & ThomasMSF
--ZIARUL Clujeanului, Transilvania, Romania, - May 17th, 2007:
An alternative to Bregovic
... The band’s powerful recital started around 10pm and it lasted until midnight when the audience called them back on stage for an encore. For the audience this was an opportunity to sense the difference between Romanian and American bands and Thomas Simon’s sound was exceptional. Stage presence was also at the highest level..."
--Sound Monitor, Australia: ...an unusual mix of Dead Can Dance tribalism, Nine Inch Nails darkness, Moby funk...indie and Ennio Morricone squalls.
--B24FUN Bucharest, Romania, - May 25th, 2007
How globalization can be anti-globalist
-Thomas Simon - producer, film maker, musician and composer – toured the U.S., Canada, (and beyond)... and here he is now with his “Thomas Simon Musiciens sans Frontieres” formula playing in the Bucharest club Utopia... the band is a great indie rock traveller. On stage, Jillie Simon is the feminine voice that counterbalances Thomas Simon’s... She is always almost painfully sensual and most of the reviews describe her as being “the light in the dark atmosphere” of the band’s music. She has a delicate voice that seems to penetrate dramatically... The band is more than just a geographical wanderer, they also stroll through different musical territories – critics mention the Dead Can Dance tribalism, the Nine Inch Nails twilight, Moby’s funk, etc....This means that, as their French name discloses, they are diligently tearing down frontiers; only that which they globalize is not commercial waste. ....
--Willamette Week Online, Portland, Oregon, - Dec. 26th, 2007: Thomas Simon - Musiciens Sans Frontieres...
Pretty easy to imagine Musiciens Sans Frontieres as an actual offshoot of Doctors without Borders, with band members parachuting into war zones... Art should...inspire.
--ISCHLER WOCHE, St.Wolfgang, Austria - May 18th, 2006
GOTH & GRUNGE AT THE GRABOVSKI
... The Vienna born New York Multi Media Artist has reached a lot of acclaim with his experimental progressive fusing of Goth and Grunge. By creating a sensitive web of space and rhythm, Simon leads his listeners, with a noir-ish style, through the myriad of his musical works.
--MONITORUL DE CLUJ, Transilvania, Romania, - May 15th, 2007:
MUSIC WITHOUT FRONTIERS
.... The Thomas Simon MSF concert marks the first event by a New York cult band in Romania, bringing with it something of the old CBGB spirit, a New York club famous around the world.
... the “feel” of the place is being kept alive by the music of those who performed there, from the Ramones to Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Television, Blondie, Talking Heads, Sonic Youth or Thomas Simon.
--ZIARUL Clujeanului, Transilvania, Romania, - May 15th, 2007:
Frontiers Are Falling Down!
"Their music is very energetic and diverse, and also very interesting because of the singer’s cool stage presence.
- Andras Kovacs from KUMM about Thomas Simon Musiciens sans Frontieres"
A BIT OF BACKGROUND...
Musiciens Sans Frontieres was born in the fall of 2005, and is co-fronted by singer-songwriter-actress Jillie Simon
"... garnering rave reviews and probably more than her share of stalkers..." - CMJ New Music Report.
"...exotic vocalist Jill (Simon) who spins together a chanteuse style of glimmer and fury and commands a stage presence of erotic force. ...Come see the excitement first hand. But be prepared to melt under the white light of (Jill's) voice and the blistering noise of Simon and the rest..." - Infinity Press
- - - The pair had previously founded the alt-rock band LOVE ALIEN, which toured Europe, the Middle East, Canada and the U.S.
- Martin Johnson wrote
"LOVE THAT FUSION: Their band is like a fusion of Screaming Trees and Sophie B Hawkins. They have a slightly grungy psychedelic sound, and Jill has a sensuous stage presence and breathy vocals that seem to owe a bit to performance art. It's an intriguing and original sound that is often riveting." - NEWSDAY
Rotating members of their bands have included: Alan Gevaert (Chris Whitley, dEUS); Brian Hardgroove (Public Enemy, Chuck D); Alex Alexander (Dido); Lior Shulman (Sheva); Amos Friedman (various artists); Les Warner (The Cult), Tony Bridges (Buddy Miles, Deodato); Tada Hirano (Blonde Redhead); Dave Eggar (Evanescence, Flux Quartet); Johnny Pisano (Ryan Adams, Marky Ramone); Rodney Ledbetter (J.Geils);
-Network of the World (NOW) UK said - “one of the most promising up & comers in the N.Y. scene”
- - Legends Magazine review of "In The Waves" by LOVE ALIEN "...a tasty mix of fuzzy, funky, jammy and grungy guitars and Jill's pure angelic voice... The music on the album is so good and Jill's voice is so pretty I had no choice but like it and listen again and again and again. If you need a positive and soulful change of pace, from your hard rock or hip- hop...give Love Alien a listen...mixes well with mellow grunge, Neil Young, Kate Bush, Phish and Tori Amos"
full review at: http://www.legendsmagazine.net/146/loveal.htm
Radiopositive/Positive Music Radio - " positive–conscious music with a message of unity and the power within each of us to achieve our highest potential", (currently featuring “Shine” and “Galaxies” from "In The Waves" -LOVE ALIEN )
- is now at the URL www.ncreview.com ( new consciousness review )
SOME MORE...
Thomas has composed music for a "Sesame Street" short (PBS) as well as for feature films in the thriller genre - "Black Wine" , which was in several film festivals, and "Sanctified" which will be released in 2008. He's also fused extensive tribal jams with big rock beats, occasional vocals and dashes of industrialized rhythms, on his Thomas Simon WalkAbout world experience.
To hear songs off soundtracks, go to myspace.com/ThomasFilmScore
Jillie has been cast as one of the principals in feature film "You Have the Right to Remain Violent", working with the multiple award-winning director Roberto Monticello throughout July. Past film-work includes a lead role in 6x Emmy Award winning writer/director William Electric Blacks's "Copy Shop" ( black comedy, not yet released), a role in "Confess" (starring Eugene Byrd & Ali Larter ), a recurring role on "As The World Turns" and she's been cast in a lead role in the upcoming indie feature "The Toussaint Project" (dir., Audley Haffenden) - start date, TBA.
For more info go to myspace.com/jilliesimon
-Jillie's work in the animated feature "MMovie", (Full Stealth Films), playing lead Bridget Pwnz and in a brief cameo, Lara Croft, is up and viewable at
http://mmovie.voig.com/
hello jill. I'm the fiance of the gentleman (Danny)that styled your hair this past weekend at Carstens. He told me you and he chatted about music,etc so I thought I would drop you a line. Your music is great! I love the eclectic, raw vibe of it. Continued success and please stay in touch :)
Thanks for helping us get closer to our goal of reaching 6,000 MySpace friends! When we reach our goal, WorldofGood.com will fund a grant for Njau Recycling & Income Generating Group in Gambia (a women's tailoring project in need of sewing machines for skills training)! See the "About Me" section for details: http://www.myspace.com/worldofgoodebay
Hey, thnx! Yeah, music is one thing, but always try to be involved as much as possible in things that truly matter.. Nice 2 b connected, sending ya lots of love & huggies.. Ciao!! xxx
Hey Thomas Sweetheart...it was fun blessing the stage with you and Jilly the other night at Webster...hope we're blessed with the opportunity to work together again soon:)
hey ho,
auf texorama.de sind jetzt die ersten Folgen vom
Hörbuchpodcast "Weiße Nächte"
(Dostojewski), den ich zusammen mit Meike Büttner lese. Bei
Folge eins steht wie man den abonnieren kann... Lieben Gruß
Tex
Hello wonderful new friend, its a pleasure to share friendship with you. You have a great page and heartfelt sharing, we enjoyed our visit. We are so grateful that you care about our world and are giving to the transformation of the consciousness of humanity into one world love. Wishing you love and joy of the heart always. Love Bart & Jody
Thanks for helping us get closer to our goal of reaching 6,000 MySpace friends! When we reach our goal, WorldofGood.com will fund a grant for Njau Recycling & Income Generating Group in Gambia (a women's tailoring project in need of sewing machines for skills training)!
See the "About Me" section for details: http://www.myspace.com/worldofgoodebay
THANKS! Taking 1 min. to forward this this link to your friends makes a real difference to artisans in Gambia!
Another effective way to help is by placing us in your "Top Friends"!