Hey everybody….

I have to admit..I’m a little freaked out right now. Last week I spoke highly of Eartha Kitt in this blog and then she died. Hopefully… this is not the beginning of a “from-the-bunker” curse. But just in case… Pauly Shore.

On a lighter note, New Year’s Eve is almost over and it’s time to start thinking about 2009. We have several incredible shows coming up at Rams Head LIVE that may have gotten lost on you during the Christmas Crunch.

Coming soon: Scott Weiland, Thievery Corporation, The Black Keys, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Mr. Greenegenes, Dropkick Murphys, Hollywood Undead, and a special January tri-bill featuring 3 of Ska’s best party bands; The English Beat, Bad Manners, and The Pietasters.

For info on dates and times, check out www.ramsheadlive.com but make sure you call before coming to the show because you never know which one of these bands took it from the curse.

Thanks, and see ya next week (hopefully).

P.s., we are not making light of Ms. Kitt’s passing… she was an amazing talent an amazing lady, and sooo much better than Lee Merriweather. (You better watch out Lee)

Rams Head Tavern-ANNAPOLIS

33 West Street Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Rams Head Tavern-SAVAGE

8600 Foundry Street Savage, Maryland 20763

Rams Head Roadhouse

1773 Generals Highway Annapolis MD 21401

Rams Head Shorehouse

800 Main Street Stevensville, Maryland 21666

That’s right folks, the Rams Head has a Plunge Team!

We’ve been in support of the Special Olympics of Maryland this year, first with their Raven in a Pear Tree event (12/8/08 at Rams Head Live)  and now with the Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday, January 24th 2009.

Join the Rams Head for it’s Inaugural Plunge year!!

Here are the top reasons to join the Rams Head Plunge Team:

1.   All the free stuff:  complimentary Damon’s lunch, Official 2009 MSP Plunge Sweatshirt, Plunge photo gift, Exclusive Hosptitality Area with Rams Head Team

2.  A post party at Rams Head Shore House or Rams Head Roadhouse with drink specials galore.    Hello, have you met my friend Fordham?   Ride over on the party school bus for just $10.

3.  The ability to See & Touch GREATNESS in the form of SUPER PLUNGERS, the crazy folks who plunge 24 times in 24 hours and raise $10,000 each!  (RADIO) Theo, Stash, & Dave Hill from 98 Rock, (POLITICS) Frank Kratovil, (RAVENS) Adam Terry, Michael McCrary, Coach Rex Ryan, (ORIOLES) BJ Surhoff to just name a few!

4.   Water Temperature.   In mid-December, water temperature was holding steady around 39/40 degrees.  Why not start an over/under on final water temps… 

5.  Have you seen those commericals that end with the words PRICELESS; yeah, you know you have.   I am certain that there will be more than one PRICELESS moment for each of you during this special day!

Don’t be lame and watch from the comfort of your couch this year; join us and be part of the action. 

 Join us for The World’s Largest Plunge. Period.  www.plungemd.com Search for “Rams Head”

…hey everybody Merry Christmas! I saw B Magazine’s list of the top unsigned artist album’s this week, and was excited to see both Caleb Stine and Ellen Cherry on the list. We like them too, and in fact, they are going to be part of a special showcase at the club January 3rd. We know a lot of you will be out of town, but we figure it will be the perfect thing for those of you sticking around to do: it’s only $10, and its great music. I have done several shows with both these acts and they never fail to disappoint. Make sure you check them out! Alright…my local radio station at home is playing nothing but Christmas music and I am really enjoying it. Here is my new playlist of my ten favorite Christmas songs, as of today anyway.

1) Mr. Heatmiser – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

I love this song, and I love these characters. Just saw them again on one of the countless clay-mation Santa movies, and i think they are hilarious. BBVD makes it swing.

2) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Chris Issak

Speaking of swinging, Issak hits it out of the park (sorry, I couldn’t resist) on his rendition of this classic. Fun and upbeat.

3) Santa Will Find You – Mindy Smith

More of a ballad than the previous two, but Smith’s voice shines here. Beautiful song; one of the few that I think could be a “new classic.” Should be in a Disney movie.

4) I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas -NO IDEA

…and I’m too sick to Google it. But I love this song too. Maybe its just the fact that my 20 month old has latched onto it, but its everything Christmas songs should be; innocent, fun, goofy, etc. My favorite line: “my mommy tells me/the hippo will eat me up and then/my teacher tells me/ hippos are vegetarian.” Aw, they don’t make em like they used to.

5) Frosty the Snowman – Jimmy Durante

Speaking of classics…I love this one. I think its Durante’s devil-may-care intro (that sounds like your drunk uncle gogged out on egg nog) that sets this apart. It is THE only version of the song for me, and one of my pet peeves is when a hot female singer-of-the-day tries to make it too pretty. Give me drunk Uncle Jimmy any day.

6) Little Drummer Boy – Blind Boys of Alabama

OK…this is just the coolest Christmas song by far anyway right? I mean, if you were a fifth grade boy and the teacher made you pick one Christmas song you liked this would be the one you’d pick. Throw in the Blind Boys of Alabama doing this, and it becomes almost a blaxploitation theme song – check the way they sing “when we come.” Issac Hayes is definitely proud from his new place on high.

7) Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt

Again, I am not at all indicating this is a “best” Christmas songs list. I don’t like lists, and I don’t claim to even begin to know how to rank Christmas music. This is, however, the sexiest Christmas song there is. What a vocal performance from Kitt, who I know was a force majeure in her day, even though I only know her as Catwoman. Love the way she keeps upping the ante on what she wants from Santa. (I told you, long commutes with nothing but Christmas music, plus a couple sick days at home thrown in) Marilyn Monroe eat your heart out.

8)  Christmas Time is Here – Vince Guraldi?

From Charlie Brown’s Christmas special – every year, well-intentioned kids who are genuinely excited about Christmas butcher this song in school Christmas concerts. Its painful, but they take it so seriously you can’t help but smile. The enthusiasm is infectious.

9) Adam Sandler 0 The Hanukkah Song

I know – its not cool to think Adam Sandler is funny anymore, but this song is still funny. Hearing it again recently made me remember fondly that there was a time when Sandler was funny; kinda like seeing the Color of Money and remembering that there was a time when Tom Cruise was cool.

10) Carol of the Bells – The Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I have never heard this song. But Sarah the intern like it, and that’s enough for us.

Thats enough for now….in all seriousness, have an incredible holiday season, and be safe.

If you want an escape from the real world, into a sing-songy evening of cheesy tunes, sequins and flowing cocktails, you do not want to miss SUPER DIAMOND’s 2nd appearence at Rams Head On Stage.  Seriously.  

SUPER DIAMOND KNEELS AT THE ALTAR OF A POP ICON

Yes, Neil Diamond gives you visions of sequins, the 70′s and a really horrible haircut.  But, this band has been selling out shows across the country for years now.  While patiently the Rams Head family of venues has been waiting for the opportunity to host this surreal group from San Francisco.  

You’re sure to hear Neil Diamond’s top songs;

And who can forget the iconic tunes appearing in the 1994 hit, Pulp Fiction… “Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon” recorded by Urge Overkill .

SUPER DIAMOND CAPTURES THE ENDURING APPEAL OF NEIL

You don’t need to be a Neil Diamond *superfan* to come to this show; but, it certainly wouldn’t hurt if you showed up wearing sequins.

Click & enjoy then pass along to all your friends and spread some holiday cheer!

Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year…

To make sure everyone is prepared for “The Legwarmers” we at Rams Head have put together a little checklist…..

• Obviously…Legwarmers.  Available in any color imaginable.

• Big hair….achieved with large quantities of Aquanet and teasing. For an extra kick you can even throw in a side pony tail and some crimping.

• Anything Denim although acid washed is  your best bet

• NEON! NEON! NEON! NEON!…….Need I say more?

• Other 80′s possibilities include: sweat bands, track short(anything that  makes you looks like you should be doing aerobics ), bright make-up, fishnets, your favorite 80′s Tee (Back To The Future, Ghostbusters), tons of jewelry….ect. The possibilities are endless!
• You might also want to go home and practice singing into inanimate objects such as cell phones, cameras and beer bottles.

The Legwarmers
Saturday, December 20, 2008, 10:00 pm EST at  Rams Head Live!

See you there!

exerpt from SPIN Magazine's digital December issue.

The 90′s for me may have been full of teen angst, but there is no arguing that they were also full of Rock and Roll rebels. The decade’s early music scene was led by frontmen who designed and commanded a new frontier. A land of ambiguous lyrics and thrashing guitars – where middle fingers where always pointed at “the man” – where a young non-conformist like myself could find understanding and solace – away from the cruel, cruel world of pep-rallies and high school dances.

Okay perhaps that is a little melodramatic, but so were my teen years – weren’t yours?

My walls definitely weren’t plastered with Tiger Beat images of Mark-Paul Gosselaar. My heroes, and my heart-throbs, were those governors of “grunge”: Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, Layne Staley, and of course Scott Weiland.

So it is in my late twenties that I again don my purple velvet Doc Marten’s, in preparation for the Scott Weiland show at Rams Head LIVE (Jan. 27). Touring in support of his most recent solo work and back together with Stone Temple Pilots, Scott was featured in December’s issue of SPIN magazine. Inside, he confronts questions about bands, drugs, family, old age, and whether or not Velvet Revolver will see a second circuit. To read the full article, simply click on the above picture.

Oh, Scott. To see you in all your androgyny, slouched and writhing around your mic stand. As skinny as Iggy and as effeminate as Bowie. Through two decades you’ve maintained your curious coolness and come to Baltimore - as sexy as ever.

Enjoy this backstage interview with Colin Hay… but, first enjoy a few of his tunes.

[wpvideo NWkEqVy1]