Gideon Smith & the Dixie Damned
Encyclopedia
Gideon Smith and the Dixie Damned
Gideon Smith is a North Carolina
based musician. Gideon began singing with local bands in the Carolina music scene in 1989. In 1997, he formed "Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned" with friends Otis Hughes and Boo Duckworth; who were formerly of the PolyGram Records act, Animal Bag
. In 1998 they recorded a self titled EP which was picked up for distribution by 'Game Two Records'. Small Stone Records
signed Smith in 1999 after hearing the disc. In 2000, Smith recorded demos at Sun Studio in Memphis,Tennessee .
, Sheryl Crow
, Snoop Dogg
, and Lynyrd Skynyrd
) at the Rustbelt Studios in Detroit.
After the initial album release party was held at The Continental Club in New York City, the band went on to perform up and down the east coast. Touring partners included Raging Slab
and many others.
Drummer Boo Duckworth died from natural causes in his sleep on June 5, 2002. Smith took time off to deal with the death of his friend and band mate, and later continued to perform and record with revolving line ups.
The band's song "Draggin’ The River" was featured on an episode of the television series The Sopranos
in 2003.
Gideon Smith won awards from Creative Loafing
for Best Hard Rock artist in 2003 and 2004.
Smith performed at the "Relay For Life" benefit in Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee with guitarist Jason Griscom, and recorded songs at Burns Station Sound on the Muscle Shoals mixing board.
with producer Eric Hoegemyer and Phil Durr. Al Sutton returned to mix the album. Guests include former Big Chief guitarist Phil Durr, Scott Hamilton and Antiseen’s Jeff Clayton. The album expanded Gideon Smith’s style into a psychedelic and gothic rock vein. It was highly successful and songs were featured on Nitro Circus and Sons of Anarchy television programs. Despite the long wait between releases, the album brought Smith great acclaim and an even wider audience.
, The Allman Brothers, Black Sabbath
, The Doors
and other classic rock
acts. Blending the influences of Southern rock, blues, psychedelia, country and heavy metal, his music has been described as being traditional, yet very unique. He is credited as one of the architects of the modern Southern stoner rock hybrid-style. His baritone vocal style has been compared to Jim Morrison, Ian Astbury, Elvis Presley and Andrew Eldtrich.
"Southern Gentlemen" - Small Stone Records
"Dealin’ Decks" EP - Scary Records
"South Side Of The Moon" - Small Stone Records
"Right In The Nuts: A Tribute to Aerosmith" - Small Stone Records
"Everybody loves Antiseen (Tribute Album)" - TKO Records
"Snake Oil Supercharm A Tribute to Zodiac Mindwarp" - Sleazegrinder Records
"Sucking the 70’s" - Small Stone Records
"Sucking the 70’s II" - Small Stone Records
"30 Weight" - Small Stone Records
The album features liner notes by several contributors and artwork by Khaos Art.
Gideon Smith is a North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
based musician. Gideon began singing with local bands in the Carolina music scene in 1989. In 1997, he formed "Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned" with friends Otis Hughes and Boo Duckworth; who were formerly of the PolyGram Records act, Animal Bag
Animal Bag
Animal Bag was an alternative metal grunge band from Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, which was active from 1987 through 1998.-Career:...
. In 1998 they recorded a self titled EP which was picked up for distribution by 'Game Two Records'. Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
signed Smith in 1999 after hearing the disc. In 2000, Smith recorded demos at Sun Studio in Memphis,Tennessee .
Southern Gentlemen
After some line up changes, Smith recorded the debut album "Southern Gentlemen" at the Sound Farm in Indian Trail, North Carolina. The album was mixed by Al Sutton (who also worked with notable artists: Kid RockKid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
, Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, and Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
) at the Rustbelt Studios in Detroit.
After the initial album release party was held at The Continental Club in New York City, the band went on to perform up and down the east coast. Touring partners included Raging Slab
Raging Slab
- History :The group formed in 1983 when Greg Strzempka and Elyse Steinman, both guitarists, met in New York City. The two had a shared interest in the heavy rock sounds of 1970's style "boogie" rock and such contemporary punk rock groups as the Ramones and Black Flag...
and many others.
Drummer Boo Duckworth died from natural causes in his sleep on June 5, 2002. Smith took time off to deal with the death of his friend and band mate, and later continued to perform and record with revolving line ups.
The band's song "Draggin’ The River" was featured on an episode of the television series The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
in 2003.
Gideon Smith won awards from Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing
CL Inc. is the Tampa, Florida-based publisher of three city newsweeklies and their associated websites. Each of the papers focuses on local news, politics, arts and entertainment, and restaurants...
for Best Hard Rock artist in 2003 and 2004.
Smith performed at the "Relay For Life" benefit in Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee with guitarist Jason Griscom, and recorded songs at Burns Station Sound on the Muscle Shoals mixing board.
Books
Smith is the author of the book "Way Of The Outlaw Spirit", which was published in 2007 through the Lulu Enterprises publishing company. The book is a collection of philosophy and positive thinking.South Side of the Moon
In 2008 he returned to recording. Small Stone Records released the second full length album "South Side Of The Moon," which was recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
with producer Eric Hoegemyer and Phil Durr. Al Sutton returned to mix the album. Guests include former Big Chief guitarist Phil Durr, Scott Hamilton and Antiseen’s Jeff Clayton. The album expanded Gideon Smith’s style into a psychedelic and gothic rock vein. It was highly successful and songs were featured on Nitro Circus and Sons of Anarchy television programs. Despite the long wait between releases, the album brought Smith great acclaim and an even wider audience.
Musical style
Gideon Smith’s music has been compared to The CultThe Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
, The Allman Brothers, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
and other classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
acts. Blending the influences of Southern rock, blues, psychedelia, country and heavy metal, his music has been described as being traditional, yet very unique. He is credited as one of the architects of the modern Southern stoner rock hybrid-style. His baritone vocal style has been compared to Jim Morrison, Ian Astbury, Elvis Presley and Andrew Eldtrich.
Personal life
Gideon is known for his love of the martial arts, cars, motorcycles, ancient history and occultism. He is an outspoken proponent of world-wide religious freedom.Discography
"Gideon Smith & the Dixie Damned" - Game Two Records"Southern Gentlemen" - Small Stone Records
"Dealin’ Decks" EP - Scary Records
"South Side Of The Moon" - Small Stone Records
"Right In The Nuts: A Tribute to Aerosmith" - Small Stone Records
"Everybody loves Antiseen (Tribute Album)" - TKO Records
"Snake Oil Supercharm A Tribute to Zodiac Mindwarp" - Sleazegrinder Records
"Sucking the 70’s" - Small Stone Records
"Sucking the 70’s II" - Small Stone Records
"30 Weight" - Small Stone Records
Other Media
"F.T.W. A Tribute To Gideon Smith" - A Gideon Smith tribute album was released in late summer 2010 by Scorpius Triangle Records. The disc is a seventeen track collection of artists from the United States, Canada and Europe performing covers of Smith's music.The album features liner notes by several contributors and artwork by Khaos Art.
External links
- http://www.smallstone.com Small Stone Website
- http://www.myspace.com/gideonsmiththedixiedamned The Band's Myspace
- http://www.myspace.com/gideonsmith666 Gideons Personal Homepage
- http://www.myspace.com/gideonsmithtributealbum Homepage for the various tribute albums