Jonathan Ramsey

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

Saint Louis has many great places to hear Irish music, folk music, and singer-songwriters. I have to admit there’s a place in my heart for Hartford Coffee Company.

Hartford Coffee is nestled in Tower Grove South, a block south of Arsenal and Tower Grove Park, at the corner of Hartford and Roger streets. The owners are very sensitive to the needs of the coffeehouse’s patrons, many of whom live in the surrounding neighborhood. There is a play area with a flat panel playing kid-friendly telly fare. There are tables near wall outlets, and a large “bar” with ample outlets for computer-toting workers and students.

Well, this Saturday, 23 May, they will have your own Jonathan Ramsey performing Irish folk and original songs starting at 7PM. That’s right, kids. Text your BFFs and Tweet your intentions of heading out for a night of fun at Hartford Coffee!

I’ll see you there!

Jonathan Ramsey Live
Irish Songs of Hope, Life, and Shame
Hartford Coffee Company
3974 Hartford Street
Saint Louis, MO 63116
(314) 771-5282

Come on. Come on. Please, please come down to Saint Louis for the White Album 40th Anniversary Tribute Show at Natural Fact Deli in Webster Groves. My friends Rachel Brandt and Brad Johnson of The Nancy Boys will join me to help perform the entire iconic double album from “Back in the U.S.S.R.” all the way to “Good Night”. It’ll be a Fab night of dedication to Beatlemania. Proceeds from the show benefit LiveFeed, the Saint Louis charity dedicated to ending hunger one show at a time.

Rachel Brandt, whose delicate, bluesy piano and vocals, will take on roughly a third of the classic White Album songs. The next night, she’ll hit the Saint Louis scene for another show –of her own soulful originals- at Cicero’s in University City.

Brad Johnson normally –in a matter of speaking- fronts the Saint Louis rockers The Nancy Boys. You can find them, of course, at many of Saint Louis’ rock and pop haunts. Catch the band delivering their own pensive rock sound at Ten Mile House, on Friday, 21 November.

I, Jonathan Ramsey, contrary to rumours fueled by the media, have not abandoned society to spend the rest of my days with a long beard, dancing with wolves and fairy shoemakers. No. In fact, I can be caught regularly in Saint Louis and the region, peddling Irish folk, post-modern standards, and my own twisted originals. Regulars at Castletown Geoghegan and O’Malley’s Irish Pub know. For this one night, I’ll spread the late-60s counterculture-infused cheer of the Beatles’ White Album (AKA The Beatles The Beatles) with Rachel and Brad.

So, head off to Natural Fact Deli, join the fun, and help feed Saint Louis children. Proceeds will help purchase food for area pantries and kitchens.

Natural Fact Deli
20 Allen Ave
Webster Groves, MO
314-961-2442

Google Map.

Saint Louis, and Soulard in particular, has a new Irish Pub, and 3am establishment. Patrick McKeane’s features live music, and the array of stouts and lagers that you would expect at any respectable Irish public house.

Besides a new venue for crack and music, Patrick McKeane’s Pub is giving back to the community with its patrons’ help. Right now, you can contribute to the Patrick McKeane Scholarship Fund.

Go check out Patrick McKeane’s Pub at:

3152-54 Osceola
St. Louis, MO 63111

Check out their website at http://www.patrickmckeanespub.com/.

Thanks to my friend Summer for tipping me off.

This is rough. It’s a camcorder take, from a weird angle, with posters upstaging me. We made no attempt at getting great audio. For that, I would have taken the audio from the board. We really just wanted to see how it would turn out, ad hoc. We also wanted to see what an index finger looked like up close on YouTube.

We’re going to work on it, but here’s a rough, homemade at a venue video. Thanks to my wife and daughter, who had plenty else to contend with, but nevertheless took a minute to set this up and let it roll.

I know you’re laughing, Clavey!

Come out to Belleville for a night of all ages fun, and some new songs, at beautiful Castletown Geoghegan.

CTG is a great, family-owned restaurant/public house in downtown Belleville. Come out and make this a great night!

See you out there!

Friday night, come up to the Borders, at Mid-Rivers Center in Saint Peters. This is an early show, as well as ALL AGES, so bring the kids, and enjoy a coffee or tea along with me. The show starts at 7PM, and this Borders always rocks, so to speak.

Saturday night, join me and your friends, at O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 1900 Cherokee Street, in the Lemp Neighborhood of Saint Louis. The pub has a nice, laid back atmosphere. You can talk to your friends in the front or back pub, enjoy a little dinner, early, and sing along with me after 9PM.

So, call your friends, and meet up at Mid-Rivers or O’Malley’s, this weekend! See you there.

That’s right! I can’t believe I hadn’t posted it here, yet. Tonight, I’ll be in Belleville, Illinois, at the lovely Castletown Geoghegan for an ALL AGES, NO COVER show. If you haven’t been to Castletown Geoghegan, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s a nice place just to enjoy a pint, or a soda, and you can partake of some very nice Irish and American fair. [I'm quite a fan of the fish and chips!]

So, Metro East and Saint Louis Metro folk, call your friends, and head over to Castletown Geoghegan for a night of fun, and help me rock Belleville.