Rams Head The Blog

Seamlessly blending traditonal world sounds from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and more with funky rock beats makes Ozomatli an act worth catching.  Their music is upbeat, lively, and suggests positive political activism.  Comprised of nine ethnically diverse members, Ozomatli embraces music as a multi-cultural language that transcends borders both on and off the stage.  The band has been known to throw free concerts, jam with local musicians, and host musical workshops in locations such as India and Nepal.  It is obvious Ozomatli draws from many world influences and is committed to supporting musical growth across the globe.  What does Ozomatli have in store for Baltimore?  You’ll have to come out to see… perhaps a casual jam thru the crowd as they did at Bonnaroo 2005:

Ozomatli hits the Rams Head Live! stage on April 27th.

The Strokes’ leather wearing, Casio-toting rock and roll frontman is cruising through Baltimore on the electric rainbow of his solo release, Phrazes For The Young. This critically acclaimed debut combines Casablanca’s signature vocal style a la The Strokes with a heaping cup of synth rock, a healthy dash of new wave vibrations, almost-mathy guitar solos, and just a dash of 80’s inspired pop-electronica in perfectly peppered blips and bleeps.

Julian Casablancas at Rams Head Live, March 30

As Casablancas channels the Reagan’s decade of Tron, B.A. (Bad Attitude) Baracus and, Kurt Russel why should his video for for ‘11th Dimension’ be any different. Check out Julian stirring up Big Trouble In Little China:

My prediction: song of the summer of 2010. At the very least, the CD of the summer… in my ‘89 Corolla… windows down…. hand cranked. Boooooop Booowip!

Ok Go, most memorable as the syncronized treadmill troup, are coming to Rams Head Live… syncronized with the release of their newest video for “This to Shall Pass”. With nearly a million views in 3 days, this one sledgehammers 2006’s “Here We Go Again”…. No, literally throws a sledgehammer through a television screen! But not to worry, there are plenty of paper airplanes, spinning marbles, paint cannons, flourescent flags, flying umbrellas, and teddy bears with golf clubs to soften the violence. And to think, it only took them 4 MONTHS to perfect this RGM (Rube Goldberg Machine).

With a live show as creative and kooky as their videos we can’t wait to see what the boys have up their sleeves for you, Baltimore!

Ok Go w. special guests Earl Greyhound, Robert Francis
May 9 at Rams Head Live

Greetings from the Ramosphere!…Ok, lame… whatever…moving on, pretend it didn’t happen.

This week we’ve got some very exciting digs for you from Naptown, to BMore and out to the Pier Six Pavilion so you can rock the docks!

First up, we are thrilled to announce the coming of Michael Franti & Spearhead with special guests The Wailers on Saturday, May 29 at the Pier Six Pavilion. This one goes on sale 2/25 @ noon. One Rams Header recently attended a Franti show and this is a small portion of that testimonial.

“It was just such a party, so much fun, he comes into the audience and dances with people, takes pictures. The man was just runnin around the verizon center with no shoes…can’t wait to see him again.”

 Even more noteworthy, the music from these two acts, while highly acclaimed within the industry, is extremely attentive to global issues and concerns. Bring on equality, bring on peace and happiness, bring on relevance…just bring it.  And please, for the love of art, check out the new Wailers logo in the top left corner of their website. Beautiful.

Next up, we’ve got Landon Pigg at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis on Tuesday, March 16. He was a shy guy from Nashville, Tennessee and, well…he’s still a shy guy from Nashville, Tennessee. He’s also mad good at Chemistry and Algebra.  He sounds like a strange character to hit the stage but don’t be fooled. This personality lends itself very well to putting on a good show and creating some very viable and poppy, singer-songwriter tunes. Check this stud out in his vid below.

Finally, at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, we’ve brought you a favorite dig that’s usually too expensive to catch the real thing. 2U: The World’s Greatest U2 Tribute hits the stage after being snowed out twice.  The stars have stopped criss-crossing and are looking to be re-ALIGNED for Saturday, April 17th.

Also Coming To Pier Six Pavilion:

7/24 – The Big Bad Voodoo Daddy opening for The Beach Boys

4/20 – Ben Harper

7/30 – Dave Koz & Jonathan Butler w/ special guest Sheila E.

Also Coming To Rams Head On Stage:

3/15 – Murder Mystery Dinner – Deadly Housewives

4/1 – Pat McGee

4/22 – Raul Malo

4/27 – the church

5/21 – Tony Levin

5/27 – Tab Benoit

7/3 – Chuck Brown

8/21 – The Rippingtons

The English Beat

Who’s got the beat……Oh yes, the English Beat! The English Beat is a 2 Tone ska revival band founded in England in 1978. Their songs fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae, and punk rock, and their lyrics talk about love, unity, and sociopolitical topics.

In the 80’s they had popular songs like ,” Mirror in the Bathroom”, “Too Nice to Talk to”, “Hands off She’s Mine” and “All Out to Get You”. With songs like these, it was easy to see why this band became a popular act in the UK.

Once they the band started to get a lot of air play. They started to tour alongside of some of the biggest performing artist such as The Clash, The Pretenders, The Police, REM, Talking Heads, and The Specials.

The band grew their fan base by having such a high energy show. This band reached out to hundreds of thousands of fans across the world, communicating positive and freedom through their music.

In 1983, the Beat broke up and members joined other bands. But, their songs still touched the fans and lived on by record sales. Meanwhile, “March of the Swivelheads,” an instrumental version of the Beat’s song “Rotating Head,” was used in the climactic chase scene of 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” the band was listed in the end credits as “The (English) Beat”.

Years passed by and know one knew what was going to happen with this famous Ska band. But, in 2003 members of the The Beat’s original line-up, minus Cox and Steele, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall. Many had the same question, ‘Was the Band getting back together for good?’

Yes, the band still is touring! I guess you can’t stop the beat….. The English Beat will be coming to Rams Head Live with the band Fishbone on Wednesday, February 24^th. So, come get your beat on with the English Beat!

Fishbone

Fishbone formed in 1979, a year after the band English Beat formed. Fishbone is an American alternative rock band that plays fusion of ska, punk rock, funk metal and more. Fishbone is from the South Central Los Angeles area.

Fishbone was known for being one of the most diverse bands in the alternative rock genre. The band influenced many rock bands in the 90’s. I mean, who doesn’t remember the album, ‘In Your Face’ that was released in 1986.

Fishbone started to tour the country with the famous Hip-Hop/ Rock band, The Beastie Boys. They grew their audience by having lyrics that reflected many people in the 1990’s. Their lyrics talked about fascism, breakup of families, nuclear war, and the oppression in lower income housing projects.

After the bands first music video on MTV, “Freddie’s Dead”.(originally written by Curtis Mayfield). The band started their next tour with, Red Hot Chili Peppers and became nationally known in the burgeoning alternative music scene.

In 1993, the band releasing their album,’ Give a Monkey a Brain and He’ll Swear He’s the Center of the Universe’ focused largely on hard rock and heavy metal. And, the time of the album’s release, the band began to tear apart. Fishbone was then dropped by Sony Records.

Today, Fishbone members include singer Angelo Moore. (Angelo Moore was one of the first performers to “stage dive” and “Crowd surf” during legendary performances in the mid-eighties.) John Norwood Fisher (Vocals/ Bass), John Steward (Drums), Rocky George (Guitar; Former member of the Suicidal Tendencies from 1984-1985), Dre Gibson (Keyboard/Vocals) and John McKnight (Trombone/Vocals/ and Guitar).

The English Beat and Fishbone are two highly influenced Ska/ Rock bands that have been touring for over 30 years. Having these artists tour together and come to Rams Head Live is going to be incredible. And, you don’t want to miss this show.

The English Beat , Fishbone  and Outlaw Nation at Rams Head Live, Wednesday, February 24^th. Tickets are only $25 plus Tax. And, can be bought at www.RamsHeadLive.com