Last Friday, at The Brindley Theatre in Runcorn, Mama’s very own axe-wielder, Simon D’Vali, took us on a deep dive into the magic behind his guitar effects rig. In this exclusive video, Simon walks us through the tools and techniques that shape his sound, giving fans and fellow musicians alike a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship behind every soaring solo and atmospheric rhythm.
Simon’s musical journey has taken him through the heart of West Yorkshire’s pub circuit, playing with renowned covers bands like The Manhattan Project. His recent years have seen him bring his talent to the melodic Neo-Prog band This Winter Machine, contributing his signature guitar work to their third album, Kites—a release met with great enthusiasm from the prog community.
With influences spanning across classical, rock, metal, blues, punk, pop, and soul, Simon’s approach to guitar is as dynamic as it is meticulous. Fans of Genesis (no surprise there), Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden, Marillion, Tool, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Eric Johnson will find familiar echoes in his playing, shaped by a formidable rig that includes Tyler Guitars, PRS Guitars, Friedman Amps, Neural DSP Quad Cortex, and Boss & Roland Effects.
But Simon isn’t just about technical mastery—his stage presence and charisma have introduced a problem for the band. It turns out he’s suspiciously better looking and undeniably cooler than the rest of them. In response, we’ve done the only reasonable thing: celebrate it. Expect a Simon-heavy gallery to accompany this video, because let’s be honest—why wouldn’t we?
So, grab a seat, hit play, and let Simon show you exactly how he builds that electrifying Genesis-infused sound.
EDIT: Erm, just because the AI loves Simon, it doesn’t mean we actually have a photo gallery of him and just him! So er, no. No gallery! I said NO GALLERY!
EDIT 2: Okay, the AI won. Simon gets a gallery. His own gallery. The only member of Mama, past or present, to receive his own unique gallery, showcasing colourful guitars and fancy shirts. Apparently, the shirts come from China. He told me.
Photos mostly by Dave Broome. Probably.
EDIT 3: I lied. Some photos by Geoff Oldfield too!
