Bronco Simmons

“Away She Goes” is a trip into a man’s psyche. It’s a cathartic song that delves into some intense emotion. It combines the angst of Holden Caulfield with the attitude of someone whose frustration is a bit more focused and certainly less confused. The song lasts for more than seven minutes, which gives the band enough time to develop a story, or at least a kind of character study.

In my opinion, “Away She Goes” is a lyrical gem. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and attempting to interpret the meanings behind the words. The singer paints a picture of a lonely guy who struggles to pass the time because all he can think about is how he messed up his relationship.

As a listener, you become emotionally invested, which speaks to the ability of Bronco Simmons to write songs. Hinojosa builds up an illustration on his way to the chorus, which is really fantastic:

It seems I’ve reached the end once again.
There’s no use in tryin’, cause I don’t feel like lyin’ anymore.
It’s seems I”ve fallen for you once again.
There’s no use in talk, cause I don’t feel like feeling anymore.
I can’t slip away from you, once again.

There’s a comfortable beat (if you think garage-rock is comfortable, which I do), and Hinojosa raises his voice whenever he acknowledges that something is happening “once again.” Perhaps he’s pained to admit that he’s fallen into a pattern. It’s dramatic and quite captivating.

The song’s climactic end brings everything together: the name of the song, its lyrics, the universal idea that your recent romantic decision was a mistake and cause for regret. “I can’t stop my life cause I’m running in circles.” The cycle is repeated “once again.”

Our tragic hero seems to have reached the end once again, fallen for the girl once again, become unable to slip away from her once again. And (forgive me) once again, he’s warming up his dinner in the microwave, listening to David Bowie (RIP) and the Runaways, and watching TV in a dark room. What puzzled me (although I can let this slide) is that if he can’t escape, what end does he think he seems to reach over and over?

The actual conclusion of the song is predominantly instrumental, and you’re as caught up in the agony and emotion of our main character as he is. Maybe the explosion at the end suggests that our guy is going to move on from his torment. Perhaps he will finally be able to escape, and the musical eruption is an exorcism of the ghost of his relationship that’s been haunting him.

Whatever your interpretation, you’ll appreciate the purifying feeling this song provides. It’s a song to listen to if you’re going through something, or if you’re not.

It’s really just generally worthwhile, as are Bronco Simmons. - Indie Band Guru

Sometimes you hear a band for the first time, and it’s love at first listen for your eardrums. It does happen, but it’s rare. The more common occurrence is for a band to grow on you slowly with each listen. My experience with Bronco Simmons definitely fell into the latter category. I researched the band after first having heard of them through playing with Justin Casey’s new project, The Heckwithits. At the time, “Away She Goes” was the only song available for listening, and I thought it a good song and worth sharing. The band continued to release tracks over the following weeks, such as “Heavy Chandeliers” and “Younger Days”. I noticed their songs were lingering more and more in my hand, and I continued to grow curious as to what was coming on the horizon for the band. I discovered the answer earlier this week, when I found out that Bronco Simmons was releasing a new EP titled Younger Days.

It might seem odd for Bronco Simmons to sing of “Younger Days”, as the members are all in their early twenties. The truth is, though, that both the song and the EP deal with the struggles of growing older and facing new life changes and challenges. The band’s lead singer, Jorge Hinojosa, specifically discussed the band’s struggle regarding the decision to pursue music full-time. Music has been a passion of Hinojosa’s for many, many years. In fact, the roots of the band trace all the way back to junior high at St. Marks, when Hinojosa and his friend Dominic Garcia (bass player for Bronco Simmons) started playing together. It is my suspicion that much of the musical tightness of this band can be attributed to the long-term friendship between Hinojosa and Garcia. The duo is also the primary songwriting force behind the band.

As stated previously, the band wrestled with the idea of whether or not their main life pursuit should be music. In talking with Hinojosa, he discussed coming from an environment in which there is much pressure put upon individuals to succeed. He even stated that he did not want to let others down. Fortunately, Bronco Simmons feels very confident about the quality of their Younger Days EP. The band has every reason to feel confident, as this an exceptionally tight EP musically, where any one of the five tracks is worthy of being a single. The band’s 90’s alternative influences are worn on their sleeves. Hinojosa mentioned several acts from that period that were musical influences, ranging from the typical grunge favorites (Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana) to the acts that initially shaped the sound (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.). In spite of such influences, Bronco Simmons is no mere carbon copy of the grunge prototype. The band also incorporates elements of both garage rock and even prog-rock, which brings a definite new twist to a classic sound.

The horizon is looking quite bright for Bronco Simmons. Tonight, the band celebrates the EP release at The Door, with Blue Apollo and Conversa opening the show. Copies of the CD will be available tonight, and since the EP will not be available for streaming for at least another month, getting your copy now would be the wise thing to do. Plus, word is that the band puts on an intense live set. There’s only one way to know for sure though… - Ghost of Blind Lemon

Dallas rock band Bronco Simmons are gearing up to release their new EP Younger Days. Today we’re thrilled to premiere their addicting new track “Heavy Chandeliers.” The song delivers an exciting combination of the rock sensibilities of a band like The Hold Steady with the ‘fist in the air’ anthem style of Frank Turner. It rocks, it makes you feel good, and quite frankly, it’s one of our favorite songs we’ve heard this year. Check it out below and follow the band online for more leading up to the new EP. - Groundsounds

Expect an announcement very, very soon regarding the Ghosty Award ceremony. In the meantime, I figure it’s time to start shining the spotlight on some nominees. We’ll start with the nominees for Best EP. Since EP’s are short by nature, I’ll keep my comments brief as well. Feel free to vote in this category (and any other category), as I’ll keep the polls open until Saturday, November 19th at 11:59 PM CST. Here are your nominees:

Bronco Simmons, Younger Days

Fans of 90’s era alt-rock will not be disappointed in this collection of tunes that are equal parts rock and pop hooks. - Ghost of Blind Lemon

Bronco Simmons, a band whose Twitter page describes their musical remit as “garage rock for the people”.

Bronco Simmons began life at St Mark’s School in Dallas in 2007, though the band didn’t fully take shape until 2013. But it was at St Marks where singer/guitarist Jorge Hinojosa and bassist Dominic Garcia began jamming together, inspired by their mutual love of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They were soon joined by guitarist Brendan Freeman and keyboardist Cole Gerthoffer, with drummer Brian McClain added to the line-up just a couple of months ago.

They say of the EP: “The Younger Days EP is our introduction to the world, and we’re mighty proud of it. The writing of the EP felt natural; it’s definitely a representation of us being ourselves and having fun. The recording process was a breeze thanks to the help of our producer Frenchie Smith out of Austin, TX. Little by little the songs started sounding like they did in our heads… we are so happy with the final product. From the ear-worm of a chorus on Heavy Chandeliers to the elevating outro on Away She Goes, we feel that this EP captures all of our favourite sounds and we’re confident that listeners will respond in a positive way! This is just the beginning for us, so keep an eye because we’ll be back soon.”

The hype sheet suggests a wide array of influences for Bronco Simmons, from Queen and Rush to Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes via Dinosaur Jr and the Pixies. So give it a listen and see what you hear… - Songwriting Magazine

Bronco Simmons is a psychedelic garage band from Dallas, Texas, who are just releasing their new single, “Away She Goes”, and it’s a killer. There are these great riffs swirling around; great keyboards adding this other-worldly flavor; solid Chris Squire-like bass-lines; complex drums beats: then, the vocals come on, talking about “the world is better when I sleep”, referencing Bowie and the Runaways. What a great song. The Electric Prunes would have been proud. Or for those of you not born in the sixties, The Mars Volta are a good example. Bronco Simmons, comprised of Jorge Hinojosa- vocals, guitar, Dom Garcia – bass, Chris Hicks – drums, Cole Gerthoffer – keyboards, and Brendan Freeman – guitar, have on their hands a great “goodbye” song, with that great line “I don’t feel like feeling anymore”. Hopefully, we will here more from Bronco Simmons soon. This is a perfect reason I love music. Thanks guys. - Audio Fuzz

Bronco Simmons may be a goofy sounding name, but don't let it fool you. Instead of being an individual, the name is the moniker of the Dallas-based garage rock outfit who you should get familiar with. The band's sound is a refreshing smattering of rock that showcases their confidence as a band. We're premiering Bronco Simmons' "Younger Days," which is a throwback to the heavy alternative rock of the late '90s.

"The thought process behind Younger Days was to pair up a bass-driven groove with the accents of a piano, resulting in a pseudo-hip hop beat," bassist Dom Garcia says of the track. "And I say pseudo because it’s impossible to ignore the beefy guitars and soaring vocals laid on top. This song grooves like a mother and it rocks like one too!" - PureVolume

Bronco Simmons – “Away She Goes”: It’s always refreshing to hear a band where you know the passion is there and the talent is self-evident. In the seven minute epic that is “Away She Goes,” the swirling synths do a number on what our expectations for what a good old fashioned rock and roll tune can sound like. The Dallas band put out a song that frankly I was surprised by in a good way. I love finding hidden gems. - Tuned Up

While Austin gets a lot of Texas’ musical accolades, there’s always been a seen up North on I-35, be it Denton, Ft. Worth, or in this case, Dallas, which is the home of Bronco Simmons. I really dig this single off their Younger Days EP; it has the feeling of hook-laden indie rock, though I think the gruff quality of the vocals really gives off enough attitude to make it all interesting…worthy of repeated listens. Look for the release this coming May, and keep an eye on the young act from D-town. - Austin Town Hall

You know when I love a band; I will review more than one of their new singles. Well, Bronco Simmons has that, as the French say, I don’t know what; whatever it is, it needs to be marketed more. Bronco Simmons is one of those truly great bands. Made up of Members: Jorge Hinojosa- vocals, guitar Dom Garcia – bass Chris Hicks – drums Cole Gerthoffer – keyboards Brendan Freeman – guitar, and coming from Dallas, they really are great. They might not know it, but they are following in the footsteps of great bands like ? and the Mysterians. I love this band. They need to tour. Guys, come to Pittsburgh or especially Youngstown. We love great garage rock, and you guys are at the top of the game. - Audio Fuzz

Although the band has only released two songs as of yet, the band is keeping me curious as to what new song, EP, or album they’ll release yet. This band just might be one of the big musical sleeper hits of the year. - Ghost of Blind Lemon

While Bronco Simmons hasn’t released an actual album to date, the group has steadily been releasing songs this year. Imagine 90’s alternative with a slightly more pop bent to it, and that’s not a bad way to imagine their sound. Or, better yet, listen to their music and decide for yourself. - Ghost of Blind Lemon