"...folk, funk, rock and reggae, there's enough of a hook to be catchy, but enough style to stand out on their own. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if some lucky label scooped Simplified up..." Jeff Hahne - Creative Loafing 2008 The accolades tell the tale of Charlotte North Carolina's Simplified: Best Rock Album of 2007 for SMILE from The Charlotte Music Awards, almost a quarter million song plays and 8,000 friends and counting at myspace.com , and a sell-out show at the historic Visulite Theatre earlier this year seem only harbingers of greater things to come. In its short five year history, Simplified has developed into a musical and performance force with which to be reckoned. Hundreds of fans flock to shows in and around the southeast and the band is poised to begin touring nationwide in 2009, promising a bigger and brighter future for an already successful ensemble. Simplified's cleverly cool lyrics, original vocals and inventive music may give a slight nod to recent innovators, but the band's forte is its ability to boost itself into its own territory of style, shuffling confidently from folk to rock to funky jam without losing its, well, Simplified-ness. It's evident after only a listen or two, that Simplified's members truly possess a unique and endearing vibe. Clee Laster, the band's six foot seven front man, controls the reins on a remarkable vocal style featuring a nearly percussive timbre but heavy on the rock influence. Laster also plays a mean acoustic guitar, a perfect backdrop for the rich textures and ethereal string antics of electric guitarist, Chris Sheridan, who understands a simple,tasteful approach works best. Chris Lynch (bass) focuses brilliantly on a satisfying backbeat and Tim Lail (drums), confidently anchors the band, providing grounded, signature beats. Simplified takes up where genre benders stop short, expanding cleverly on music that sounds familiar, but is decidedly different. The music trips down a path of neatly packaged and delivered lyrics combined with innovative musicianship. Simplified is a spirited journey focusing on the undeniable adage of strength in numbers and it is this dynamic that is the band's most intriguing element. With a growing tour itinerary and a fan base that increases daily, Simplified is on the cusp of a bright quest, bringing a dose of magic and musical brilliance to new fans and friends worldwide.
