Newfoundland’s own roots/ country artist, Ol Billy Bob Boy just released his debut album, Sweltering Sun on May 30, 2020. We caught up with him for our newest segment of Five Questions With, so check that out below, and give the album a listen!
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Sure! My name is Bill Simms and I perform roots/country music under the name Ol Billy Bob Boy. I am a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the beautiful province of Newfoundland.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.
I’m very excited as I just released my album, Sweltering Sun. The music draws deeply from roots and traditional country music with the upright or “doghouse” bass being a foundation of the music. I used a simple drum setup, acoustic guitar, fiddle and vocal harmonies to get the old-timey sound I was looking for. Lyrically, I enjoy working tongue-in-cheek humour into my songs and adding a unique perspective on the topic I’m writing about in order to get a fun reaction out of listeners.
For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance? Do you have any upcoming shows?
My performances feature a mix of high-energy, foot-stomping tunes as well as some slower, more vulnerable pieces. My goal is to keep a bit of variety in the music and to get some laughter and maybe even a few tears from the crowd.
I had a CD release show booked at The Tranzac in Toronto, but it’s was cancelled due to COVID-19. Instead, I did an online release show on May 30.
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
I would suggest the song “Carrie Ann”. It showcases my writing style and is a fun, up-tempo, feel-good tune that’s perfect for the sunny days just ahead of us.
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/artists?
I am a big fan of Corb Lund, Little Miss Higgins, Old Man Luedecke and The United Steel Workers of Montreal.
I have also been fortunate enough to perform as a side musician with many Canadian artists that I have a deep respect and admiration for, including Abigail Lapell, Raine Hamilton, Piper Hayes, Sarah Beatty, Gillian Nicola, Shawn William Clarke, The Heavy Horses, Sherman Downey and Matthew Hornell.