Rams Head The Blog

These days you can’t turn on your radio without hearing singer/ songwriter Charlie Mars. He has two singles being played right now on the radio-“Listen to the Darkside” and “Meet me by the Back door”. He’s a southern boy from Mississippi with charm and talent.  Charlie has been playing music since the age of 14. All the ladies love him and the guys want to be him.

Mars hits a groove that does not hit any specific genre. His songs have sexy melodies, soul and groove. It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting in a room with friends, jamming out in your car or sitting at work listening to your ipod. His songs make you want to shake your booty or whistle along to his tunes.

“Songs hit boiling points at unexpected moments; their melodies remain subtle but always present. Because they are so rhythmically textured, while at the same time spacious, songs reveal new things upon each listen” says Charlie Mars.

Charlie Mars is becoming a favorite to the Maryland area. You might have heard him on XM Radio, WRNR, WTMD, or open for Bob Schneider at Rams Head On Stage. The first time I met Charlie was at the Rams Head show. He walked up to the box office around 9am with a blueberry muffin in one hand and his guitar in the other. He told me, “You know that I’m opening for Bob at this show, but the next time you see me at Rams Head On Stage I will be the headliner”. I didn’t put this past Charlie because he has so much passion about his music -his shows are just amazing! Not only does he sing catchy songs, but he’s a great storyteller. During his show, he usually tells a few good stories and has the crowd interact with him.You will see hands in the air, and people singing along- “ If you want to come over and get high and listen to the Darkside of the moon”. And, no I’m not talking about Pink Floyd.

Charlie will be performing at Rams Head On Stage Thursday, January 7^th .This could be YOUR special night to ‘Get Charmed By Charlie.’  All ticket buyers to the January 7^th show will be entered for a chance to win dinner for 2 with Charlie prior to the show.  That’s right – You + your best bud + Charlie + dinner = 1 kick butt night at Rams Head.  You can pick his brain about his songwriting, get the dish on that video with Mary Louise, or whatever come to mind. Get your tickets today and be entered to win!

 For Tickets:

www.ramsheadonstage.com or Call the box office: 410.268.4545

*Looking to pre-game before the Charlie Mars show? Get there early and stop by the Rams Head Tavern for dinner ( the performance package- you can receive 1o% your meal and that same night is the  Scotch Ale Beer Release Party @ Rams Head Tavern from 4pm-6pm.$4 special event glasses with $1 refills.

What if WRNR’s Alex and Rob were humanity’s only hope? EEEEEEEEK! Scary, right?!

Pontypool, which has been called by some a zombie movie (I disagree), or a horror movie (not really), is more of a rhetorical thriller. It’s a movie about words. Words themselves become what Pontypool novelist and screenwriter, Tony Burgess, refers to as “predatory metaphors” that never die, but just keep coming at you and appearing at every opportunity trying to possess you, infect you, and infiltrate your subconscious.

Although the word associations I made in trying to figure out Pontypool were wrong, that very process of word association was exactly what the movie was about.

Now this may make Pontypool sound like some highfalutin talkfest which meanders toward some esoteric point beyond the horizon of entertainment.

Quite the contrary – Pontypool is a white-knuckle funhouse ride taken through the wild white north of the Canadian hinterlands. Pontypool is at times poignant, scary, hilarious, entertaining, and yes… thought-provoking.

Fiercely independent Canadian director, Bruce McDonald (Hardcore Logo, The Tracey Fragments) delivers something that you rarely witness at the theater – a unique film. Pontypool has been nominated by the Toronto Film Critics Association for Best Canadian Feature of 2009 and is critically acclaimed internationally. That’s impressive for a movie that was shot independently in 15 days, and hasn’t been widely distributed.

Those who know me will tell you that I hate telling people too much about a movie before they see it. There are so many spoilers out there on the web about Pontypool, and it sort of sickens me. So unless you need to know everything about a film before you see it, I want to caution you about reading too much regarding this masterpiece. You have a chance of seeing something very special without having it all revealed to you in some carelessly written movie review.

Trust me on this one, Pontypool is best sampled with a clean palette. This is a movie that you will not only enjoy, but that will become a cinematic reference point for many movies you will see in the future.

The trailer below should be enough to peak your interest…

Directed by Bruce McDonald (The Tracey Fragments, Hard Core Logo)
Starring Stephen McHattie (300, Watchmen, Shoot Em Up, Fringe)
Produced by Jeffrey Coghlan

WHERE: RAMS HEAD ON STAGE, DINNER THEATER (eats and liquid treats)
WHEN: January 11, 2010
TIME: Doors Open 6PM, Program begins at 7PM
Tickets: $8 in Advance, $10 at the door. Click Here for Tickets.

See you then! And enjoy the show,
Pericles Lewnes & The Annapolis Pretentious Film Society

It’s that time of year… to say good-bye to the celebrations of 2009 and welcome in the new of 2010! Just think, 10 years ago tomorrow we thought that the sky was falling with Y2K, that our computers would never work again and that all systems would be down.

But instead of worry about years past, I think for many of us, we are reveling in the idea that 2010 will be brighter than ‘09… we’re all feeling hopefully optimistic about the year ahead.  For the Rams Head, 2010 is already looking great as we’re excited about our Pier Six Pavilion summer calendar and how that is shaking down (cliff-hanger).  We’re feeling good that a new deck will make an appearance at a restaurant in 2010 (another cliff-hanger).   Our marketing office is settled in at our new digits on West Street and we even just upgraded our Anti-Virus spyware (it’s the little things, right?).  But truly, we’re thankful for all of you… our amazing customers… who believe in our Food, Fun & Beer 364.5 days of the year (we do close for a 1/2 day on Christmas).   We look forward to bringing you a lot more FUN in 2010…

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE FUN FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE

LIVE MUSIC = FUN
Rams Head Live celebrates with Dark Star Orchestra, the return of the Cosmic New Year.  Your $64-75 ticket gets you  3 Sets from Dark Star Orchestra  including a rare acoustic set plus Donna Jean Godchaux as a special guest on vocals, and an extended opening set from Baltimore’s own, The Bridge.   Plus, a champagne toast, finger foods, party favors and more.  There’s discounted hotel at Baltimore’s Sheraton.

Rams Head On Stage celebrates with the return of Deanna Bogart.  Hopefully you already got your tickets because this event is sold out.   Be sure you don’t miss future great events (Valentine’s night to be announced soon), by signing up for our email blast here.  This event includes a gourmet buffet, dancing, party favors, your concert ticket & a champagne toast at midnight!

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EASTERN SHORE = ISLAND GIRL FUN

Anything Goes "The Force Be With You". Halloween 2009

2009 is almost over, 2010 is just beginning! Come bring the New Year at Rams Head Shore House in Stevensville, Maryland brings down the house with  Anything Goes (Rock/Pop/Funk).

FREE champagne toast at midnight, party favors and de-lish sounding drink specials:  $5 Peppermintinis | $3 Midnight Kiss Shooters | $3 Ball Dropper Shooters.

All sound like they’ll ensure a kiss for you at midnight!!

The Island Girls featuring both Kathryn and Lynn (plus the rest of the motley crew) can’t wait to ring in the New Year with you.

Rams Head Shore House
800 Main Street | Stevensville, MD | 21666
410.643.2466
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SAVAGE MILL = HISTORICAL HYSTERICAL FUN

Executive Chef Brent “Turbo” Shellem has put together a phenomenal dinner menu for Rams Head Tavern Savage Mill.  Sea Bass, King Crab Legs & Ribeye – yum!  Plus, the entire Rams Head menu will be available for those looking for something more diverse.  But anything with a drizzle of truffle oil is always a seller for me,  double yum!

Savage’s famous DJ Dance Party Friday night makes a rare weekday appearance for New Year’s Eve in the Rathskeller.  Dance to your little heart’s content and enjoy $2 Fordham’s & Old Dominion bottles til their gone (starting at 9pm).  Complimentary Champagne Toast at Midnight and the ever important party favors!!

You can’t beat the price (FREE) for this dance party!   Be sure to line-up your safe ride home, 240-210-6688 with Columbia Taxi Service.

The staff at Savage is ready to show you why they were voted “Best of the ‘Burbs” by Baltimore Sun.  Don’t miss the opportunity to start your New Year’s off right!

Rams Head Tavern Savage Mill | 8600 Foundry Street | Savage, MD | 20763
301.604.3454

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ROADHOUSE = ROADHOUSE FUN. PLAIN & SIMPLE.

Dinner Specials:   New York Strip, Grilled Salmon, Chicken Marsala.  Chef Jimmy Donlin did things up right for this New Year’s!  All your choice for just $24.95

Music:  Collide (Alternative / Funk / Classic Rock)

Drink Specials:  Free Champagne Toast @ Midnight! $5 bombs from 9pm-close

Raffle:  Everyone that enters the Rams Head Roadhouse will receive a raffle ticket. At 11:30pm we will draw a winner for a $50 Rams Head Gift Certificate and 12:30am we will draw again, the winner will have a chance to pick a show at Rams Head Live and receive a pair of tickets.

Party Favors too!  Can I get kazoo please?

Rams Head Roadhouse
1773 Generals Highway
Annapolis, MD 21403
410.849.8058

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ANNAPOLIS = THE ORIGINAL FUN

Going to start with the best here folks.  Champagne Toast?  Nah.  This is a beer bar folks.  We’re toasting cheap beer style, Miller High Life pony’s!  Bring your own booty call, we’ll supply the pony to coincide with the midnight kiss!

But don’t let me get ahead of myself.  We can’t forget Chef John Jennings III and Doug Walden’s delicious dinner selections.  There are so many fancy ingredients in these descriptions that automatically equal mouth-watering options, but for the overview:  Sea Bass, T-Bone, Chicken Alfredo with a serious twist!

We’ll also be highlighting some champagne special deals for the night to be sure you get your bubbly in before the ball drops.  Enjoy an entree and we have some great deals on Freixent splits, Moet & Chandon.

Rams Head Tavern Annapolis | 33 West Street | Annapolis, MD | 410.268.4545

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NEW YEAR’S DAY = HANGOVER FUN

We’re opening the doors and extending our brunch and breakfast options for you this New Year’s Day.

So, if you feel like this:  We’ve got just what you need!!  With the purchase any entree, enjoy a free Bloody Mary or Mimosa. OR, take advantage of our 30+ ingredient Bloody Mary bar (all you can drink for just $10 with the purchase of an entree)

Rams Head Annapolis, Savage & Roadhouse brunch : 11am until 3pm
Rams Head Shore House breakfast: 9am until 12noon

Spend Sunday Funday in a room full of blues with Roomful of Blues on January 31st! This is a horn-heavy American blues and swing band. Billboard called them “a tour de force of horn-fried blues…Roomful is so tight and so right.” Very nice, very nice. Spend a spontaneous sunday swinging your sweets and sweet hearts at this show. And if you missed the unbelievable show with Tom Principato Band a couple months back be sure to redeem yourself because they offer support along with Walter Jay and the Texas Flood and Whiskey Train!  This one is early so doors are at 4pm just in time for you to be home for your new years resolution bed time.  Tixs on sale tomorrow at noon here.

The English Beat drops by with Fishbone on February 24th. Enough said! Now lets be real. Be real son, be really real! These are two ground-breakers for Ska and not only ground breakers, they’ve always been around and their fans have always been their fans. No fair weather music lovers here. So if you’re gonna come to this one you either 1) Already know who you are. 2) Be prepared to be round some true music patrons that know what’s up. And if you don’t,  you betta ask somebody. Tixs on sale now here.

The BSM has got your back as usual with another metal solid show full of locals thrashing, ripping and shredding on Saturday, February 27th. This co-bill features Cryptic Warning and Anubis Unbound.  Both these acts bring the sound and fury of hardcore metal and feature some very solid lead guitars that set an awesome tone and direction for each track.  Enjoy $3 Buds, Bud Lights, Rails and $2 Natural Lights. The Condemned, Apophis and Crimson Orchid will open the night for ya. Tixs available here tomorrow at noon.

When Timbaland brings his Shock Value II Tour to Baltimore January 17^th, Baltimore will have a rare chance to see one of the true hip-hop legends and pioneers in action live.

 “Genius” is an overheated adjective when used to describe the talents of most producers, but it is appropriate for Timbaland, who has an impressive career dating back to his teenage years in Virginia Beach. When Timbaland — born Timothy Mosley in 1971 — acquired his first drum machine at age 13, he immediately began crafting beats and DJing at Virginia Beach clubs under the name “DJ Timmy Tim.” In high school, he approached a fellow aspiring producer named Pharrell Williams about forming a group, which the pair dubbed “Surrounded by Idiots” (SBI). The experience of making music under the SBI moniker proved critical to the careers of both Timbaland and Williams, who each went on to become the most sought-after producers in the music business. When SBI dissolved, Timbaland began making music for an R&B group from nearby Portsmouth, VA, called Sista, which was led by a young singer and rapper named Melissa “Missy” Elliott, with whom Tim had an instant chemistry.

 In 1995, his work with Sista attracted the attention of Elektra Records, which hired Timbaland to work with the teenage R&B singer Aaliyah who had just begun recording her second album for the label. Timbaland and Aaliyah re-mapped pop and R&B’s sonic landscape with 1996’s One in a Million, on which Timbaland set fluttering high hats moving in sensuous slow motion against the sound of chirping birds — an outré sound that yielded four hits and led to two million in sales. “I’m drawn to artists who are willing to work outside of their comfort zone”, says Timbaland. “Music, for me, is instinctive. I draw upon my natural environment for inspiration; what the average person sees as noise or distraction, I see as music. My style and passion for music inspires the artist to give everything they have inside. True artistry lies not only in creativity but in having the confidence to execute your vision and be a true forecaster of music.”

 For more than a decade, Timbaland has dominated the pop charts by producing an endless stream of hits for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, and Nelly Furtado. So prolific a hitmaker is he that in the span of a single year — 2006 to 2007 — Timbaland produced more than 10 international chart-toppers, including Furtado’s “Promiscuous,” Timberlake’s “Sexy Back,” and 50 Cent’s “Ayo Technology.” “2006 to 2007 marked a rebirth in my career”, says Timbaland. “I was so blessed to have had so many of my personal and professional endeavors come to fruition at once. I came back more determined than ever and I my fans accepted me with open arms; the connection my fans felt to my music was a result of the renewed sense of confidence I had in myself.”

 Timbaland’s touch extends to his own solo work — he scored three Top 10 singles alone from his 2007 solo album Shock Value. As he racked up the hits, Timbaland re-defined the possibilities of what pop music could sound like, from the bhangra-infused hip-hop of Missy Elliott’s smash “Get Ur Freak On,” to Furtado’s eerie, yet soulful “Say it Right,” to the orchestral R&B of Timberlake’s “What Goes Around Comes Around.” Unsurprisingly, he has been hailed by musicians and music critics alike as a sonic auteur in the tradition of such iconic, history-making producers as Brian Eno, Gamble and Huff, and Phil Spector. In fact the music industry’s praise for Timbaland has been so persistent for the past decade that the Village Voice remarked that “it gets boring, doesn’t it, acclaiming Timbaland’s genius for the tenth year in a row.”  Now, more than a decade after he launched his career as a DJ and beat-maker in Virginia Beach, he has done just that. “I’ve had amazing success in this business and will continue to be successful as long as my fans remain open to my innovation. I’m always looking to challenge myself and my listeners. That’s why I’ve had such longevity. Right now, we’ve moved into this new era of change across the globe. From politics to music we’re constantly evolving. As long as people are looking for something new, they’ll be looking for a Timbaland beat.”