• Farewell Barney McKenna: Dubliners’ Last Original Member Dies at Age 72

  Irish Culture, Irish Music, Music 06.04.2012 No Comments

  

  Barney McKenna of The Dubliners. Photo by Jim McCann (2005). Permission: CC-BY-2.5

  Barney McKenna, the last surviving member of the original Dubliners lineup, died around lunchtime yesterday in Dublin. McKenna, along with Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, and Ciarán Bourke, began the Ronnie Drew Ballas Group, 50 years ago this year, 1962, as the folk revival was blossoming. Drew’s unhappiness with the name, and Luke Kelly’s reading The Dubliners by James Joyce, led to the name change. Ever since, The Dubliners has enjoyed a large and devout following. Many of the songs I know, even ones that my granddad taught me, I know because of the Dubliners. They, along with the Clancy Brothers, and numerous others, reminded the Irish and Irish diaspora what a rich treasure we have in our musical heritage.

  Amongst his many contributions to traditional Irish Music, Barney championed the GDAE (violin, mandolin) tuning of the tenor banjo (usually CGDA) in Irish music.

  

  Tags: banjo, barney mckenna, celtic music, Irish Music, irish tenor banjo, singer

• Flogging Molly Cover Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’”

  Better World, Music, Other Musicians You Should Check Out 09.02.2012 No Comments

  

  Flogging Molly, our beloved friends of Irish Punk, contributed this recording of “The Times They Are A-Changin’” to the new tribute to 50 years of Amnesty International, Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International. The lads’ version shows classic Flogging Molly style, Dave King opens the first verse gently, Dylan-esque, over acoustic guitar, penny whistle (Bridget Regan), and finally mandolin (Bob Schmidt). Of course, he scream-counts the full band in for the second verse. FM fans won’t miss the beloved punk-beat, and instruments’ staccato on-beat punchy segue back into King’s denouement. Of course, this sentimental moment is broken by the classic Molly version of the punk big finish.

  This has always been one of my favourite Dylan songs, and would performed it live toward the end of the night. The Elders, as well, have used this as a mainstay of their live shows; an appropriate cover to complement their now-vast catalogue of original compositions.

  What’dya think?

  Note: All links to Amazon are affiliate links.

  

  Tags: amnesty international, bob dylan, celtic punk, covers, flogging molly, irish punk

• Santorum – C.U.M.

  Music 25.01.2012 No Comments

  

  Rick Santorum: Conservatives Unite Moneybomb

  The Jonathan Ramsey Institute’s department of We Couldn’t Make This S**te Up has uncovered another precious nugget. In an Andy Kaufman-esque commitment to character, GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has begun a campaign that is its own parody, Conservatives Unite Moneybomb (that’s right, C.U.M.). Perhaps, Santorum hopes to succeed Stephen Colbert, or even Jon Stewart. Maybe it’s like K.A.O.S., or the Man From U.N.C.L.E.

  Perhaps, if I’d watched pro wrestling as a kid, Santorum’s kayfabe with Dan Savage would be easier for me to understand. Or is it less?

  Check it out at RickSantorum.com, before his handlers wake up and take it down.

  

• U2′s “One”: Important Turning Point for The Band

  Music 22.12.2011 No Comments

  

  Just read American Songwriter’s “Behind the Song” article on U2′s introspective, and vulnerable, One from the album Achtung Baby. This is a great story of a huge fork in the road for the band, especially for Bono and the Edge.

  I greatly love this passage:

  On an album filled with irony, sex and self-deprecation, “One” cuts through to the heart of a relationship. Each verse poses new questions – Is it getting better? Did I disappoint you? Have you come here for forgiveness? – without offering any answers in return. Keeping things deliberately vague, Bono lobs his inquiries into thin air, aiming them at his band, his spouse, the Edge’s estranged wife, or maybe even none of the above. The addressees don’t matter. “One” isn’t about love, after all; it’s about resignation.

  .

  Check out the whole article at Behind The Song: “One” on American Songwriter.com.

  By the way, Achtung Baby is available on Amazon MP3 for only $4.99, right now! Check is out on Amazon MP3

  

  Tags: bono, ireland, rock, u2

• Advent of Jonathan Ramsey: Irish Christmas & Holiday Songs for 2011

  Music 16.12.2011 No Comments

  

  Irish Christmas - 'Advent of Jonathan Ramsey: Irish Christmas & Holiday Songs for 2011'

  If you’re not keen on Christmas/Holiday/Xmas/Exmas Music, you might like my current project, “Advent of Jonathan Ramsey: Irish Christmas & Holiday Songs”. Don’t get me wrong, it has started off with pre-Baby-Boomer Holiday classics, “Hey Ho, Nobody Home”, and an Irish tenor banjo and mandolin version of “Un flambeau, Jeannette Isabella”. Between now and Boxing Day, though, I plan to release the rest of the EP, though, including more instrumentals (I put the “mental” in “instrumental”), and tongue-in-cheek blows at a holiday favourite, Ugly Christmas Sweaters. In 2012, expect a live Ugly Christmas Sweater Show. I hope you’ll be a little surprised, and not too disturbed, by the result.

  This project slowed to a halt, when two back-to-back weekends of theatrical productions –one my youngest daughter’s, the other, my entire family’s- and the respective dress reheasals took over. Jungle Book, and A Christmas Carol behind us, I’m back in the studio, finishing up more selections to dish out.

  Check them out on my Bandcamp page, and let me know what you think! Leave comments here, or on my facebook page. While there, be sure to “Like” me, if you like me.

  Cheers!

  

  Tags: christmas music, irish christmas music, Irish Music, recordings

• Music 15.11.2011 No Comments

  

  Kerry Cottage - serving Saint Louis' Irish Community

  Irish Saint Louis! Help Saint Vincent de Paul help fragile members of the Saint Louis community by shopping at Kerry Cottage the weekend after Thanksgiving. For your purchases, 10% of the total will go to Saint Vincent de Paul.

  Check out the cool Irish gifts at Kerry Cottage! I fancy the Guinness Rugby, Baby, but something brighter would be good too.

   

  Go to Kerry Cottage’s website or check out some photos after the break…
  Read more …

  

  Tags: homeless, irish gifts, Irish Music, kerry cottage, Saint Louis, shelter

• 11-11-11 End of World/New Peace/Whatever Cancelled for Y2K Violations

  Music 11.11.2011 No Comments

  11-11-11, this day whose numeric abbreviation is the same date for North Americans, Europeans, islanders, and other continentals everywhere, has been cancelled. The world ended, or whatever, 2000 years ago today. Stay tuned…

  

  Tags: 11, 11-11-11, armageddon, eleven, end of the world, nirvana

• John Hodgman Takes Saint Louis: The Shocking Aftermath

  Music 04.11.2011 No Comments

  

  John Hodgman, John Roderick of Long Winters, and Jonathan Ramsey and his lame attempt at looking serious

  John Hodgman seized the stage at Mad Art Gallery last night to the thrill of 250+ Saint Louis fans, who now all own fresh copies of his new book “That Is All”. The Art Deco building, a one-time police station to the denizens of Soulard, was full of song and story for two hours. Of course, Hodgman only took the stage after my opening song, and introduction, only to be usurped by John Roderick, who aptly laid down the ground rules for the ensuing hours of literary and musical enlightenment.

  More photos, after the fold… Read more …

  

• Jonathan Ramsey Opening for Improv Trick @ Lemmon’s – Saint Louis, MO

  Music 14.10.2011 No Comments

  

  Irish Music and Bill Chott's Improv Trick @ Lemmons Saint Louis, MO 2011-10-18

  Next Tuesday, come to Lemmon’s, 5800 Gravois, for an evening of Improv and Irish Music. I’ll perform a half-hour set to open the evening of long-form improv with The Improv Trick. The Improv Trick is the dream team of Saint Louis improv, begun by Wizards of Waverly Place‘s Mr. Laritate himself, Bill Chott.

  So, come join the fun, and help rock out Lemmon’s with me and The Improv Trick!

  Details

  The Improv Trick f. Jonathan Ramsey’s Irish Music
  Lemmon’s
  5800 Gravois Rd
  Saint Louis, MO
  Music: 7:30PM
  Improv: 8:00PM
  $1 Cover

  

  Tags: bill chott, improv, improv trick, Irish Music, lemmon's, mo, Saint Louis, wizards of waverly place

• QR Codes Fun #1

  Music 10.10.2011 No Comments

  

  Jonathan Hiding in the QR code

  I was messing around a bit with these, and seeing what I could hide in the QR code.

  

  Tags: fun, Irish Music, qr code

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