Jonathan Ramsey

I would have loved to have done something productive, but I knew going in that 1 Feb would be a day spent away from home til after 10PM. Tonight I will put down a working (perhaps scratch) cut of a new song. I imagine these first weeks will involve an hour or so –or less- each weekday, then 2-5 hours total over the weekend.

As far as songs, I’m actually still writing much of the material. I have some songs I’ve written and lost, because I wasn’t fond of the first shots. Rewriting from scratch can be liberating. I’ve already gone through one approach to an idea. I have usually found my second tries much better than the firsts.

Here are a couple photos of my studio showing the equipment I’m using. It’s pretty minimal –PC, preamps, vocal mic on boom, instrument mic (behind piano), piano (to block view of the instrument mic).

As a quick update, I’ve managed to rearrange cables, placing previously errant ones behind the desk. My workspace is coming into shape.

I’ll post various ideas, working song titles, project titles, artwork, etc, as things progress. I’m also thinking of having you, my friends and fans, post artwork possibilities. We can even make a contest out of it. Maybe all fans can vote on the entries, and the winning entry goes onto the CD materials, and the winner receives a free copy, a t-shirt, and some fun DVDs, or something like that.

What do you think? Post a comment or send an email with your ideas!

Ardour - Open Source Recording Software

Over the weekend, I did much more cleaning and moving of stuff in our lower level. This included some rearrangement in the studio, as well. I’m not ashamed to post photos of the mess, but I’m afraid it would be confusing to anyone looking at photos of the studio to make out what’s in it! HA!

So, I’m hoping tonight will be a turning point for such, and I’ll post some photos of my studio. Maybe I’ll post one with the remaining rubbish showing, and some with it covered so the important bits are more obvious.

Writing continues, as well. I’ll likely include some songs written during the month of February. If I post scans of my drafts, it’ll become obvious that I really do write mostly whilst riding buses and trains.

Six More Days! Yea!

Tomorrow is Talk Like A Pirate Day 2009, and to celebrate, I’ve put up a new t-shirt design. In addition, use promo code PIRATEDAYTEE to save $3 on t-shirt purchases. That’s not a bad deal. So, head over to Zazzle to check out the tees available.

If you’re a Jonathan Ramsey fan, and an devout Pastafarian, or you just love talking like a pirate, how could you go wrong?

Cheers!

C’est moi, at Felix’s in Dogtown. It’s a small moment in Saint Louis Irish Music History, folks. Okay, it’s a song.

Check it out.

I read and hear so many wrong things about the proposed healthcare reform bill. I would love to find a reasonable response to it, but it doesn’t seem to exist. Faux News Channel spews so many false statements daily, that somewhere a counter must be spinning. There are way too many Americans that have been taken in by the scare tactics of those opposed to a reasonable option for the uninsured. First, the government isn’t “taking over” healthcare. That would, in fact, be “socialized medicine”. That’s what the U.K. has. It is not what France, Germany, etc. have. It is also not what we would have. There will be a new payer option, in addition to the big profiteers that many of us currently spend countless hours on the phone, trying to get medical expenses paid.

Check out this video. It takes liberties with the terminology, presumably to counter the falsehoods stated. I don’t really know, though, if the creator(s) don’t understand the difference between socialized med and the current plan, or if they’re being ironic.

Watch, though:

What d’ya think? Try to make intelligent comments. I will probably delete any totally ignorant ones.

Cheers!

This Friday, join me as I host the opening of the Genre Wars 2009 Pre-Party at Felix’s in Dogtown. Don’t think “Battle of the Bands”, that well-worn elimination gimmick. In Genre Wars, bands of various genres –metal, blues, folk, Irish, Tuvan throat song, what have you- perform songs from outside their respective genres. The audience gets to vote for their favorites. It’s great fun, of course.

Felix’s is a great place, in one of Saint Louis’ most exciting neighborhoods. When I played there in May, I had a great time, and met a lot of nice people. While it hosts many rock bands, it’s also a very intimate setting, allowing a lot of great interaction between the artists and the audience. You’ll feel like you’re in your own private show. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and ready to take care of you, whether you need food or drink, or help getting a taxi.

Along with Dave Jordan, I’ll host beginning at 9PM, playing a few short sets. In between, Josh Timbrook (post-modern experimental folk), Dyadic Effect (experimental, instrumental rock), and Stupid Dreamer (4-piece rock) will perform their own sets. It’s sure to be great fun!

Genre Wars
Friday, 19 June 2009 9PM – 1AM
Felix’s
6335 Clayton Ave
St Louis, MO 63139
(314) 645-6565
Get directions

Be sure to join in on the comments. I want to know what you think. Have you been to Genre Wars? Do you already have an idea which band you think will do best?

Yesterday, I learned about the John Halverson Bone Marrow Fund. After contacting the Fund, we agreed to have a bucket for donations, as well as donating 50% of all CD sale proceeds to the Fund, at Saint Charles Coffeehouse, this Saturday’s show.

Halverson is a father of three, living with leukemia. Recently, he’s found a match for a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, such procedures are costly, and he doesn’t have health coverage to pay for it. Friends of John founded The John Halverson Bone Marrow Fund to raise funds for the transplant. They will run yard sales, bake sales, and other fundraisers to help the cause.

So, come on up to the free show, and drop what you can in the bucket. Enjoy an evening of Irish music with your friends and community as we rally behind a neighbor.

Benefit for John Halverson Bone Marrow Fund
Saturday, 6 June 2009 8PM-10PM
Live Irish Music
Saint Charles Coffeehouse
3821 McClay Rd
Saint Peters, MO 63376

(636) 922-1566

Google Map

Saint Charles Coffeehouse is a bit less than a mile north of MO-94 on Jungermann, then east on McClay, on the north side of the road.

See you there!

This weekend, I’ll perform a special show, a late addition, at Saint Charles Coffeehouse. Open to all ages and with no cover, Saint Charles Coffeehouse is a great location for a first date or for a family evening out. They have great coffee, dinner, and baked goods. Of course, this Saturday, they’ll have some Irish and original music to enjoy with it.

Saturday, 6 May 2009
Saint Charles Coffeehouse
3821 Mcclay Rd
St Peters, MO 63376
(636) 922-1566

Website: saintcharlescoffeehouse.com