Here's the lowdown: I fly several musical flags of convenience, with "Folk Punk Troubadour" being the most common. My agenda is pretty simple: it's live 'n' direct, no holds barred, featuring one guy and his guitar -- no tricks, no gimmicks, everything played sharp, hard, straight to the point.
My song targets range from idiot bosses ("I Fired The Dog," "I Get Paid The Same") to the idiot box ("Moral Decay On TV") and the abuses of power, big or small, that plague our daily lives...inspiring us to chuck it all, and leave the fools behind ("Move To Finland").
My lyrical faves include Greg Ginn, Ian Hunter, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, and Joe Strummer...so you get the idea. If you're happy with the status quo, you probably won't buy my records. Otherwise, crack open a beer, put your feet up on the couch, and feel free to check out the goings-on here.
My shows are like fingerprints: no two are alike. Some nights, I'll throw in '60s and '70s-style spy themes ("Action Budgie," "Samurai Budgie") and relevant covers, done my way ("Julie's In The Drug Squad," "To Have & To Have Not")...for a relevant working list, visit my site on nextcat.com/chairmanralph, and then click on the "Documents" link. In short, it all depends on my mood, the crowd and the room I'm working, in that order.
The Musical Rundown
You May Have Caught Me At...
Thanks to the stages that have been letting me do my thing since 2005, in no particular order: Hillsdale Annex (Hillsdale, MI), Manifesto! (Niles, MI), Bizarre Bazaar Festival (Grand Rapids, MI), Coldwater Community Resource Center (Coldwater, MI), The Darkroom (Chicago, IL), Expressions Cafe (Benton Harbor, MI), The Hillsdale County Coalition For Peace & Justice Festival (Jonesville, MI), Thunderbird Cafe (Jackson, MI), The Nomad Bookhouse (Jackson, MI).
For 2008, you may have caught me at:
Art In Motion (Niles, MI)
The Chocolate Cafe (St. Joseph, MI)
Expressions Cafe (Benton Harbor, MI)
The Krasl Art Fair (St. Joseph, MI)
The Livery Open Mike (St. Joseph, MI)
Manifesto! (Niles, MI)
Third Saturday, Three Oaks, MI
For 2008, you may have caught me at:
Art In Motion (Niles, MI)
The Chocolate Cafe (St. Joseph, MI)
Expressions Cafe (Benton Harbor, MI)
The Krasl Art Fair (St. Joseph, MI)
The Livery Open Mike (St. Joseph, MI)
Manifesto! (Niles, MI)
Third Saturday, Three Oaks, MI
The Literary Rundown
In real life, The Chairman is also an author, freelancer for local and national newspapers/magazines, rock 'n' roll packrat and eBay seller (biggreenfrog2002). His first book, UNFINISHED BUSINESS: THE LIFE & TIMES OF DANNY GATTON (Hal Leonard) -- the first real in-depth biography of the late, lamented instrumental guitar master from Washington, D.C. -- came out in 2003, and has remained a "bubbling under" bestseller ever since.
Other credits include the All Media Guide, DISCoveries, eHow, Goldmine, Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar, in which he's profiled many of blues, jazz and rock's most significant artists and performers.
Other credits include the All Media Guide, DISCoveries, eHow, Goldmine, Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar, in which he's profiled many of blues, jazz and rock's most significant artists and performers.