Drummer John Morgan Kimock has always had a lot on his plate. He currently leads the percussive charge behind Phish bassist Mike Gordon and his father, Steve Kimock, for the group K I M O C K, but the projects left the younger Kimock searching for a sound that was all his own.

Enter JMMY, the newest collaboration between John Morgan Kimock and his longtime musical cohort, Alex Luquet (Coldfronts, Our Griffins), which sees Kimock getting more exploratory than ever before. “I’ve been fussing around with infusing acoustic and electronic music since I was in high school, and wanted to take the jump moving it into a live context. There is an overall “role expansion” for a drummer in this age. A lot of my drummer friends are creating these amazing hybrid kits and triggering walls of sound, melodies, and in some cases make as much sound as a four-piece band,” said Kimock. He adds, “JMMY is a chance to experiment with these types on concepts and bring it into other bands that I play in.”

JMMY plans to release their debut EP, Partial, later this year, and has a handful of shows on the books. For Kimock, the new project offers him musical freedom unlike ever before. “JMMY is like an incubator for me to re-establish some of my core musicality that I feel like I didn’t get to work on as much as I would have liked to in the past.”

He elaborates, saying “In the last couple years, I really overloaded myself with just saying yes to everything I could. I would learn like 50 songs over the course of a week to play one gig with someone. That happened like 2 or 3 times a month sometimes. It was fun and great experience, but sort of had me longing for some more focused music.”

Fortunately, by being able to pour himself into the music for JMMY, Kimock has found a new sense of enthusiasm for his other long term musical commitments. “I’m very grateful to be playing music with my dad, there is truly no one like him,” he says about the elder Kimock, and has only glowing comments about his role with Gordon. “Mike is one of the most positive musicians I’ve ever met, and a great person to lead a band. He’s got some really involved conceptual ideas before every tour. It’s a beautiful process that I think the fans really respond to. They know he is going to try exciting stuff every night, and that’s why they come to see him. As a drummer and composer its been really great to play with him.”

Still, as a musician, there’s nothing quite like crafting and sharing your own music. That’s the whole point behind JMMY, and the new EP Partial looks to be quite the exciting release. Watch a promotional video sampling the album below:

Kimock explains what to expect from the new album, saying “If we want to get right to it, it sounds like if Benevento Russo Duo and Lymbyc Systym had like a hamster baby. It’s just the tip of the iceberg. Lots of Fender, Rhodes, guitar, heavy beats and some synthy goodness in there.

“The EP is 4 songs and I think a very digestible amount of music for something new. Drumming-wise, Joe Russo and Andrew Barr are my favorites, and sometimes I would run into Adam Deitch, who has always been really supportive. Those three had the most influence on me, in terms of the drumming in the live music community.” With such great influences and role models, there’s no questioning that JMMY is poised for some serious sonic greatness.

For those interested, JMMY has two dates on the books, including a show supporting Congo Sanchez at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY on May 4th, as well as shows at the Arch St. Tavern in Hartford, CT on May 5th and The Funhouse in Kimock’s hometown of Bethlehem, PA on May 6th. Don’t miss out!

You can also check out JMMY on Facebook, and if you ask them, they just might share a track with you!

Check out Kimock’s busy tour schedule below:

w/ VOODOO DEAD –

4/30 – Republic New Orleans LA
5/1 – Republic New Orleans LA

w/ JMMY
5/4 – Knitting Factory Brooklyn NY
5/5 – Arch St. Tavern
5/6 – The Funhouse Bethlehem PA

w/ GRIMACE FEDERATION
5/13 – Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia PA

w/ EVERYONE ORCHESTRA
5/19 – Brooklyn Bowl Brooklyn NY
5/20 – Gypsy Sallys – Washington DC
5/21 – Live at the Lot Ardmore PA
5/22 – Musikfest Cafe Bethlehem PA

w/ K I M O C K
6/2 – Ophelia’s Denver CO
6/3 – Aggie Theater Fort Collins CO
6/4 – Fox Theater Boulder CO