“But there’s one thing that we’ve all decided / guns and lives both come dirt cheap”
New single “Every Five Minutes” here
“Good music isn’t a matter of life and death; it’s more important than that, so it is great to come across an artist who can take you on a deep dive through layers of sonic meaning… the room he leaves himself to move, to twist and turn, ebb and flow, stop and start, peak and dive within such often-brutal sonics is breathtaking. Jeff Symonds does more than write songs; he examines life’s minutae and turns the every day into the profound, the humdrum into the revelatory, and the personal into the relatable.”
— Dave Franklin, The Big Takeover / Dancing About Architecture
Jeff Symonds is a Bay Area multi-instrumentalist who has shared the stage with hundreds of others and appeared on dozens of artists’ recordings. He has played bass, keys and guitars for over 30 bands for over 30 years. He has played over 500 shows in 37 US states and Europe, from national television to your backyard.
riverrun, his first solo release, and the follow up EP Three Portraits, are out now. Also check out his Dylan covers EP, The Deep Dive. Jeff’s next record coming later in 2024! Its first single 48 Lines About 12 Men (For Craig Finn), is right here. And brand new single Every Five Minutes was just released— check it out above!
Marty Duda of The 13th Floor Music Blog interviews Jeff
Jeff on Tomes and Tunes with Arielle Silver
CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS FOR 48 LINES here and here. KISSIMMEE here, EMILY here, CAROLINE here !
Hey! These folks like Jeff: you will too!
RISING ARTISTS BLOG review of riverrun HERE
Classic rock meets Bob Dylanesque songwriting-- Qalt Magazine
“Jeff’s sound is full of youthful, hard-hitting energy, and his lyrics suggest a visionary mind.” -- Head Banger News
Jeff gives “Tell Me, Momma” a new freshness, full of his own style… and Every Five Minutes (Elegy Pt. 2) is a powerful and decisive statement about the problem of firearms, delivering a compelling, aggressive and challenging song. -- En Tijuana Hay Rock
The rhythm of “48 Lines” is excellent, and the voice gives it the special touch; it starts soft and ends with a lot of force. — Chamarock.com
Although “Emily: is a country-rock hit, you will be amazed by the soloing style which reminds me of iconic '90s hard rock acts. — Rock Era Magazine
“Emily” evokes many memories of an earlier time for rock n roll. - Katrina Yang, ThePunkHead
“Emily” is delicious, energizing country folk to enjoy with a group of friends, a rock song that is fun and fun. -- IN! Magazine
Unabashedly catchy, “Emily” sounds best cranked up in a convertible, but will work anywhere you listen to music. — Vents Magazine
“Emily” evokes many memories of an earlier time for rock n roll. Electric rhythm, fuller backing vocals, and a fuller, live-band sound with a storyline that is entrancing while remained an emotional distance with its storytelling.— Phork.xyz.blog
riverrun is great…or whatever word is above great in the complimentary pecking order. — Dave Franklin, The Big Takeover
“The legend of an artist who has traveled, created and mastered performance. That is what can be heard almost instantly listening to Jeff Symonds. His latest album Riverrun is full of those years on the road, guest performances and a gig curator, all rolled in one… Remember that great track from Get the Knack by The Knack? It was called My Sharona, and had just the catchiest upbeat tempo you wanted in any single. Jeff Symonds seems to have taken notes, because his new single Emily is as catchy as that one, with a whole other mix of effects.” -- sinusoidalmusic.com
“Kissimmee is a rock song with quite a classic/heartland rock feel to it – I could just imagine myself driving along dusty American roads listening to this track and found it to be very evocative. The guitar melodies were great and I liked the little piano motifs – Jeff’s vocal style suits the music very well too.” — Jane Hawkins, York Calling
“Throughout the record, what stands out above everything is the way Jeff Symonds is able to weave together words in ways that relay actual stories to those listening.”— Kendra Beltran, Rising Artists Blog
“Musician Jeff Symonds released the superb album riverrun, in December 2020. It is a wonderful classic-rock album that needs to be heard!… ‘Out of Here’ is a standout song. The driving nature instantly grabs the audience’s attention. We adore ‘Shades Of Grey’ from the staccato guitars to melodic bass and charismatic vocals; it is a brilliant track.” — FVM Music Blog
“A tasty classic rock and roll record full of exciting and glorious tunes about the transition from childhood to adulthood and the difficulties and lessons it brings. Symonds play more or less every instrument on the record confirming the musical talent that he is.” — YMX Music
“Riverrun is a true classic. The old-school double album is filled with great hits that you will get lost in… ‘Emily’ is pure rock and roll gold with powerful guitar riffs and pounding drums effortlessly fused in a toe-tapping melodic arrangement.”— The Other Side Reviews
Riverrun is a colorful bouquet of amazing rock music… the finest sounds of Americana, Classic Rock, Blues Rock, Alternative Rock, Rock'n'Roll, Alt Country, and much more. Each song on this 13-track piece has its own theme and mood. And yet, there is coherence, and Riverrun works as a whole. It is an album without big twirl because it does not need it... a musical work for roadtrips, for the campsite, for open air festivals, and for dreaming of summer.” — MangoWave music reviews
“Jeff’s holistic approach to the recording process proves a virtuosity laced through his punk rock cred. The enthusiasm of his drum performances alone would be worth the price of admission, but luckily, that's just the beginning.” — Matt Jaffe
“"Riverrun" is a masterful debut full of vintage sounds and fresh ideas. Listening from start to finish will take you on an honest journey, full of unbelievably catchy melodies and delightful stories that you won't be able to help rocking out to.” — Megan Slankard
"Riverrun is an actual record, and not just a bunch of songs thrown together haphazardly… it eloquently illustrates what it means to put time and devotion into one’s art. Jeff’s raw talent is unmistakable.” — Joe Deveau
“Jeff Symonds’ music is varied and intriguing. A musician who knows music and doesn’t just get stuck in a genre.” — Edgar Allen Poets
“Inspiration struck and Symonds decided to release his first solo album at age 50. Since then, he hasn’t looked back.” — MendoWerks Magazine
“Jeff toca virtualmente todos os instrumentos no riverrun - bateria, teclas, baixo, guitarras - junto com alguma ajuda inspirada de alguns de seus amigos mais próximos. Riverrun features an incredible 13 songs, which go through a variety of styles such as classic, prog rock and country (in 'Florida', the album's opening track), a dancing pop ready for ballads and radio (“A New Place') and something more acoustic (as in 'Music I've Forgotten'). It is worth mentioning once again, that he plays drums, percussion, electric, acoustic bass and vertical bass, piano, B3, synthesizers, electric and acoustic guitars, and vocals . — Os Carotos De Liverpool
JEFF RELEASES THE DEEP DIVE— A TRIBUTE TO ‘66 DYLAN
