Simpleton
late 1990s–2003
Houston rap-rock outfit fronted by rapper Brian Clements, previously of Taste of Garlic. Simpleton fused punk and rap into something described as "sophisticated, suave, sprawling and a little sleazy," drawing comparisons to the Meters and early Red Hot Chili Peppers. BC cited the Beat Poets and Hunter S. Thompson as primary lyrical influences. The band's earlier lineup for "What Do You Want to Do?" featured Simon Reynolds on guitar and DJ Sun on turntables alongside bassist Marc Armaos and drummer Beans Wheeler (also of Los Skarnales). By the time of their second album "Baby You're a Star," Jon Black had taken over on guitar, with Armaos playing upright bass. Label rep Thomas Escalante of Plethorazine Records championed the band, and they were featured on the Houston Press cover in summer 2002. Despite the buzz, Simpleton played only a handful more gigs before breaking up in 2003 — earning Houston Press's "Best Band to Break Up" nod that year.