Jeremiah Birnbaum

PRESS:

"Raucous, bluesy alt-country." - New York Magazine

“Fans of the Band should check out this album, as it’s the real deal.” – Ryan Dembinsky, Glide Magazine

"Their music takes the listener on a journey. Captivating...soulfully emotional...The Ramblers are sure to please one of your desires." - New York Examiner

"I love The Ramblers! They just get better and better." - Shanta Thake, Joe's Pub Director

“A heartfelt tribute to the joy of music…shades of the E Street Band… It’s no wonder that Levon Helm brought them in as support act...just grab yourself a copy of Getting There.” - Mark Saleski, Blogcritics.org

“Recalls the sound of The Band as well as contemporary alt. country artists like Uncle Tupelo and Lucinda Williams.” - Nate Schweber, Patch.com

More...

Voted as "Best Foot-Stompin’ Roots Rockin’" of CMJ on ToastNJams: http://toastnjams.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/the-tnj-cmj-round-up/

#5 on TheJazzLawyer.com's "Five Artists to Watch from CMJ" list: http://www.thejazzlawyer.com/2010/10/29/cmj-2010-five-artists-to-watch/

"The Ramblers churn out a honey-laced law-runnin’ sound that unsurprisingly calls upon The Band. Several spins in, another familiar name also pops up with lead singer Jeremiah Birnbaum’s serene vocals reminiscent of one Reid Genauer, a number of tunes definitely have an Assembly of Dust vibe (see Always Another Way to Be Gone). Between their spunky country blues, patient soulful ballads and hands-on-waists boot tappin’ jamborees, the Ramblers are bound to find a niche of fans looking for some genuine American rock n’ roll. Considering that the going rate for the former generation of this like-minded sound is charging about $100 a ticket these days, the Ramblers might just bank out on this recession thing too." -Ryan Dembinsky, www.glidemagazine.com

"As smooth and palatable as the finest Tennessee sippin' whiskey, The Ramblers will be unleashing their very own distinguishable brand of soul music fused with the sweetest elements of Americana on Rebel Spirit audiences this month. The band's strength lays in a gritty, feel-good roots sound that can't fail but to stir the soul and warm the blood. The Ramblers flourish in a live environment, feeding off of the raw, muddy atmosphere and delivering the type of un-shackled blues music that has stood the test of time. In our current climate, who couldn't use the pick me up!?" -Joel Crane, www.rebelspiritmusic.com

Jan 2009: Voted one of the Top Ten Gigs of 2008 by BobMcKee, Local Music Now: http://www.meetnowlive.com/blog/local-music-now/new-yorks-top-ten-live-music-gigs-of-2008/

"I’d be willing to bet that a group of ten reviewers would come up with ten different labels for this band. I’m hearing an extended version of Little Feat…with a touch of Bruce, and Tom Petty, and The Band, and some more alt.country influences, and, and, and…" -Mark Saleski, Blogcritics.org - Um. Many.

Neon's, at Midnight

Jeremiah Birnbaum
(New York City) Singer/Songwriter
An award-winning producer, guitarist, singer and writer, Jeremiah Birnbaum has been lauded for his "poppy Jazz Rock" and intelligent, poetic lyrics. A festival/conference regular, his MidPoint show will feature songs from his most recent release, the scrumptious, soul-filled EP Dawn.

Dig It: David Gray, Jesse Harris, a good book (MB)
- Cincinnati City Beat

“4. Best soon-to-be-famous Jew: New York singer/songwriter Jeremiah Birnbaum played his first ever gig in the UK this week, at London’s 12 Bar, where he showcased a selection of songs from his self-produced EP, Dawn, as well as newer tracks and a cover version of The Doors classic ‘Light My Fire’. The son of a Rabbi, Jeremiah certainly knows how to pen a good tune.”

-Leslie Bunder - SonethingJewish.co.uk

Cath Coffeehouse was quiet at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. Shelley Miller, who had performed at La Jolla Friday night as part of the Midwest Music Summit, sat on the couch, a little sleepy-eyed, next to her guitar until Dave Golden, who performed at Cath the night before, walked in with his guitar in tow. They started performing unrehearsed and improvised tunes that were appropriately moody accompaniment for the slow-moving morning patrons and the morning sun seeping in through the open doors.

The soundtrack to the morning flowed out onto 54th Street until another singer-songwriter, who had also performed at Cath the night before, Jeremiah Birnbaum, also from NYC, walked in with his guitar — and wet hair. Not stopping for coffee or bagels themselves, the now trio produced beautiful melodies with such delicacy and vocal harmonies that they made you doubt that the three had actually met for the first time here at the summit and just somewhat whimsically decided to play together. And what synchronicity they shared — their voices, their delivery, their skill.

Though I loved The Slurs at the Patio Friday night and was impressed with Renny Field from Australia at the Red Room Saturday night, this lovely little unscheduled morning was a highlight and perfect ending to an amazing weekend of music.

—Mary Lee Pappas, NuvoWeekly, Indianapolis
- Nuvo Weekly

“Like John Mayer and David Gray, he’s got a pinch of jazz in him.”
-Chuck Eddy, Village Voice, 12/17/03
- Village Voice

...accompanied by fellow New York singer-songwriter Akiva on slide guitar and later harmonica, Birnbaum’s clear-toned voice was reminiscent of the old recordings of James Taylor singing folky blues standards.

Danica Johnson, NuvoWeekly, Indianapolis - Nuvo Weekly

"After trying to take a nap, I headed on back to The Abbey Coffeehouse for the second night showcase. From everything I heard, the showcases at The Abbey were a success and well attended. After Travis Brant’s set I went to the Upper Room located in Broad Ripple to see Mercy Driver. That was my highlight of the summit. Mercy Driver is: Dave Golden, Shelley Miller, Kara Kulpa and Jeremiah Birnbaum. Folks..this was great music and great fun. The PA didn’t work, so Mercy Driver played walking around the place, standing on chairs, and kneeling on the floor. And what a find Kara Kulpa was! She’s all of 22 and a master on the fiddle, mandolin, and guitar. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. So yep…I already have her booked to come back to Indy in September ! Local Jethro Easyfields joined in on harp and a hippie named Potts played an impromptu mandolin at times. What a great way to finish off the summit."

-Robin Coleman - Segment of Society

...accompanied by fellow New York singer-songwriter Akiva on slide guitar and later harmonica, Birnbaum’s clear-toned voice was reminiscent of the old recordings of James Taylor singing folky blues standards.

Danica Johnson, NuvoWeekly, Indianapolis - Nuvo Weekly

...Birnbaum's smooth-rock guitar whiz numbers round out the evening with a sound just liquid enough to offset the quirk rock quality of the rest of the evening.

-www.villagebroadsheet.com - Village Broadsheet

March 2006:
One of the finest guitar players on the New York songwriter circuit, Jeremiah generously bestowed some new folk-blues numbers on an appreciative and attentive audience. Uncanny were the strong orchestrations put together by Jeremiah and djembe percussionist John Embree. They "jammed" without ever over doing it. Sweet. Also, this performance yielded one of the best covers every played at the Jezebel Music Showcase; a tasty, slow, and off-kilter rendition of Dylan's "Just Like a Woman."

May 2005:
Jeremiah Birnbaum: From time-to-time it's great to see a singer-songwriter, solo, performance, when the musician can actually play cool, intricate guitar riffs without making an ass of himself. Welcome to Mr. Birnbaum's performance. More importantly he brings you some super strong folk-bluesalicious material that leaves you thinking you've heard a familiar genre transformed into something interesting and original. Birnbaum very deservedly takes his music seriously but his ability to poke fun at himself and "the scene" enhances an already strong performance.

-Gabriel Levitt, Jezebel Music - JezebelMusic.com

March 2006:
One of the finest guitar players on the New York songwriter circuit, Jeremiah generously bestowed some new folk-blues numbers on an appreciative and attentive audience. Uncanny were the strong orchestrations put together by Jeremiah and djembe percussionist John Embree. They "jammed" without ever over doing it. Sweet. Also, this performance yielded one of the best covers every played at the Jezebel Music Showcase; a tasty, slow, and off-kilter rendition of Dylan's "Just Like a Woman."

May 2005:
Jeremiah Birnbaum: From time-to-time it's great to see a singer-songwriter, solo, performance, when the musician can actually play cool, intricate guitar riffs without making an ass of himself. Welcome to Mr. Birnbaum's performance. More importantly he brings you some super strong folk-bluesalicious material that leaves you thinking you've heard a familiar genre transformed into something interesting and original. Birnbaum very deservedly takes his music seriously but his ability to poke fun at himself and "the scene" enhances an already strong performance.

-Gabriel Levitt, Jezebel Music - JezebelMusic.com

Emotion-driven music
Show Review
Mary Lee Pappas

Mercy Driver
Harrison Center for the Arts Underground
Friday, June 3

The 2004 Midwest Music Summit gave birth to a unique four-member collaborative singer-songwriter team as a result of having jammed together at the now gone CATH Coffeehouse. New York’s Dave Golden and Jeremiah Birnbaum with Illinois’ Shelley Miller and Kara Kulpa tour as Mercy Driver.

They brought their combined poetic and soulful talents to Indianapolis for two back-to-back shows — the first of which took place last Friday night at the all-ages Harrison Center for the Arts’ Underground. Unfortunately, the new sound system for the HCA literally cracked under pressure, leading the foursome to ditch their mics and the stage and turn their concert into an intimate, audience participation rock-folky shindig. Lyrics and mood are key for these artists, so the impromptu move to the floor only enhanced their performance and engaged the dedicated audience.

As individual artists and performers, the Mercy Driver players each possess refined voices and polished musicianship. Put it all together and you’ve got emotion-driven music and, as was the case last Friday night, a riotously fun time. Visit www.jeremiahbirnbaum.com for more details and info on the quartet. Concerts in the Underground coincide with exhibition openings in the upstairs gallery and are free.


- Nuvo Newsweekly, Indianapolis

"Jeremiah Birnbaum’s eclectic singer/songwriter compositions reveal a traveling soul beneath his poppy jazz-rock exterior. Lyrically influenced by such writers as Steinbeck and Dylan Thomas, Birnbaum crafts mellifluous words to mesh with his precisely built tunes."
-Music-Tech.net


“Jeremiah's sensitive approach[es] with guitar and piano work perfectly together [in his] songs of lonely, personal eyewitnesses of life in love's aftermath, with the dawn breaking. It's a great concept and we should expect more of the same from him. The listener gets to hear just the right amount of electric guitar with the piano and the words. It's extremely tight. Some of the music would make 70's AOR-formatted stations. "Forgotten", with its insistent piano bounce, is the standout track...I like to educate as well as entertain, and [Jeremiah’s] music provides a great example for what alternative music is all about. I mean that in saying alternative TO an alternative, not in the classic sense.”
- Dan Herman, Radio Crystal Blue.com
- MusicTech.net, RadioCrystalBlue.com

"Jeremiah Birnbaum’s eclectic singer/songwriter compositions reveal a traveling soul beneath his poppy jazz-rock exterior. Lyrically influenced by such writers as Steinbeck and Dylan Thomas, Birnbaum crafts mellifluous words to mesh with his precisely built tunes."
-Music-Tech.net


“Jeremiah's sensitive approach[es] with guitar and piano work perfectly together [in his] songs of lonely, personal eyewitnesses of life in love's aftermath, with the dawn breaking. It's a great concept and we should expect more of the same from him. The listener gets to hear just the right amount of electric guitar with the piano and the words. It's extremely tight. Some of the music would make 70's AOR-formatted stations. "Forgotten", with its insistent piano bounce, is the standout track...I like to educate as well as entertain, and [Jeremiah’s] music provides a great example for what alternative music is all about. I mean that in saying alternative TO an alternative, not in the classic sense.”
- Dan Herman, Radio Crystal Blue.com
- MusicTech.net, RadioCrystalBlue.com