Patrick Ames

This EP is fantastic, really.

It brings about such great vibes, a feeling of joy and togetherness; both of which are incredibly important and far too often forgotten about, particularly in light of recent world events.

Beginning with I Know What It’s Like, the music comes through with a simple, uplifting rhythmic, a stylish and effective guitar riff and bass line, and then to bring the concept to life is Patrick’s classic and genuine leading vocal. The melody is superb, and the lyrics offer the essence of the concept. You can always share your darkest times with me. The song has a great hook, the sort you’ll be singing along to even after the music has stopped.

The EP’s title track sets sail with a slightly more mellow or even dreamlike energy. The leading riff has a similar style to it, and production wise the output in its entirety has a distinct thread, consistent throughout the collection. This song though offers a fresh melody, a fresh story line, a familiar and warm sentiment, and a gentler, enjoyable vocal performance that approaches the subject matter beautifully. The story telling, as always, is authentic and soothing to listen to. The simplicity of this track has a certain charm that suggests a live, solo acoustic performance would portray its positivity and character equally well and with a wonderful touch of intimacy and realness.

March On furthers the variation on the project, that guitar style – the quickness of the notes – remains, and there’s a welcome piano part that adds a pleasant smoothness. The opening melody for this song is superb. The build up, the ascending notes, the changes, the lyrics featured at each moment – the craftsmanship of it is sublime. Ever the professional and skillful songwriter, Patrick Ames arranges his musical offerings in a way that captivates, calms, even surprises on occasion, but always hits the mark. This particular song deals with the inspiring courage of protesters. It has the lyricism and developing melody-line of a timeless classic, and the additional, scene-setting audio samples make for a pretty atmospheric experience.

The uplifting or inspiring energy of the collection comes through intensely with the song Push The Door Open. The title and concept is relevant to so many of us who dream or aspire to be somewhere or/Users/patrickames/Elke Account/Wine Writers in 2007.rtf be doing something in particular, or who frequently ponder the pathways of the world. It’s a memorable idea, and the music brings a certain urgency and passion that reminds you to take action.

Described by the artist as wine country music, the final song of the Like Family project – Robert Mondavi – is a raw and organic, live sounding song, with a simple yet gorgeous piano part, and a series of layered vocals that re-highlight that element of togetherness and the sheer joy of spending time with those you consider to be family. The music is so peaceful that it has the effect of stopping you in your tracks, making sure you’re doing nothing else in this moment, only listening, considering, feeling calm and optimistic.

It’s a powerful way to finish, and as mentioned – this new project is fantastic, from start to finish. Patrick Ames has a way with words and melodies that really connects with audiences, the sort that deserves to be heard simply because it would be a great shame for you to miss out on it. If you’re lucky enough to live locally, make sure to follow Patrick via the social media links below and look out for any live appearances in the coming months.

Rebecca Cullen, StereoStickman.com - Stereo Stickman

“This Small Town” is ready for the radio in my opinion. Catchy, poppy, groovy, and an all around fun tune to listen to. Anyone who is into straightforward acoustic folk-rock then give this EP a listen. Again, as Patrick keeps cranking out new tunes his skills are getting better. I remember in previous projects I struggled to hear the instrumentation clearly sometimes, but I can tell he has put a ton of practice into this production. On “The Meaning Of Life” these skills are self evident. Listen in the background, do you hear the female vocalists? They add the perfect ambience over the music not only on the “aaahhhs” but also in the one-word harmonies sparsely sprinkled throughout the verses." - JoeJoe Keys - Indie Music Plus

"While all of the songs on Four Faces are seemingly very different from one another, Ames manages to carefully thread rock, gospel, and R&B together to take his listeners on a complete, albeit condensed, journey. As always, Ames is putting it all out there. As singer, songwriter, producer, and general musical jack of all trades, you are getting 100% of him with every track he puts out. It is a commitment to music that is rare in what has become an industry inundated with prepackaged performers rather than artists who are devoted to their work. With a sound and a style that transcends generations and an unmatched authenticity, Ames continues to be a refreshing addition to the indie scene." - INDIE Minded

Rebecca Cullen, Feb. 19, 2017

Patrick Ames’ latest project is a four track release featuring an array of ideas and feelings – all of which are presented amidst a generally upbeat, somewhat indie-rock-inspired backdrop. The EP features the singer-songwriter on a MIDI guitar synthesizer, playing both the piano and soprano saxophone via his Gibson Hummingbird. The instrumental sounds throughout are, as a result, quite varied and always interesting. There’s a definite sense of personality embedded within the project, and this makes it all the more enjoyable to listen to.

Opening track Reawakened is a big moment to begin with. The energy is high, the soundscape is loaded to the brim with instrumentation and vocals and lyrics. The music actually has a certain feeling of revolution about it, which works well considering the political nature of the subject matter. There’s a very now sound to the music, almost as if it’s a live show – an organic and real performance encapsulating an array of feelings and thoughts that have emerged in light of recent global events.

As the project progresses, The Lonely Lie So Easily is a massive step in a completely different direction to the opener. The mood is mellow and dark now, the music calmer, the vocal performance too – there’s a laid back, perhaps melancholy energy to the track, and the words and the melody provide an emotional and memorable bit of storytelling.

The track is striking in a number of ways; the piano and the beat are all that really stands beside the vocals, so there’s a minimalist approach to the expression and this makes you focus in on and take note of the words and the emotion. The track has a great verse melody and writing style, and the switch to the hook is notable, impressive in fact, and far from predictable. Patrick Ames appears to operate under a creatively free light, so the music takes its listeners wherever he and the moment deem worthy, and this helps keep things fresh and absorbing.

Later on, the music evolves into something significantly different from the initial few minutes – the added instrumental free-style adds a little of that organic energy as featured in Reawakened, yet the rest of the music seems unaffected by structure or intention, and in a way it creates a huge space within which the audience can reflect upon this whole concept of the lonely lying so easily.

The Meaning Of Life is a wonderful moment within the project. It brings together the musicality of the opener, the now familiar sound of the leading artist, the storytelling, the pondering, and this time it throws in a melody and a choir-like support system that really lights up the darker corners of the song. The build up is loaded with genuine emotion, and the instrumentation and surrounding vocals have a wildness about them that is exciting and also very consistent now with what you soon come to know as the Four Faces sound.

With only four songs in total, the project is short enough to make its mark in an instant, and fortunately it does so by means of an immense collection of moments and vibes and ideas within the writing. The performances throughout are all perfectly appropriate and relevant to the project, and this is the thread holding it all together. The songwriter has a definite sense of certainty and character about his style and his sound, and this is something that quickly becomes familiar.

The music is easy and enjoyable to listen to, even quite refreshing in light of an ocean of much more processed sounding releases. The organic energy of this collection is addictive, and This Small Town is a beautiful way to bring the EP to a close – the vibe is lovely, reflective, comforting, and the music has, as always, this sense of live performance – of now, of being right here in the moment with you, and of being unappologetically real and honest. A unique and entertaining release, well worth a listen.

The four track EP Four Faces comes out February 28th. Find and follow Patrick Ames on Facebook, Twitter & Soundcloud. - Stereo Stickman

If you have browsed through our wonderful website in the past, you have likely seen the name Patrick Ames. Patrick is a prolific writer who has recently jumped back into the music biz. When I say jump, I mean head first! Let me explain…

Patrick’s story goes something like this: start playing guitar and writing as a young man, then drop it for “real life” as an IT/tech guy in Silicon Valley for well over 30 years. Hey, it happens, you know…life. The thing is, Patrick never gave up or stopped pursuing his dream as an indie musician singer/songwriter. He just delayed it a few years. Well now he’s back in and he’s quickly making a name for himself.
Patrick Ames

You can compare Ames’ music to Bob Dylan, Tom Petty or whoever, but I hear him as a unique indie artist that is being overlooked by the masses. He’s doing all the right things, NOW! He’s writing, releasing new music and gigging to support that music, including promoting it online. You can be assured that he is going to keep releasing new music so keep your eyes and ears peeled. Standard Candles is Patrick’s new release and you can read the past review on it here. The music of Mr. Ames has come a long way since we first discovered him. In fact, he’s surely one of the most played artist on our weekly show Indie Music LIVE!

We had the pleasure of having Patrick on the show for his live featured interview, and he even performed a short portion of one of his songs. If you’re in the Silicon Valley make sure you look this guy up and go see him play, he is the real deal. Like I said before, Patrick’s songs keep getting better. The drum patches in his music have greatly improved, but as Patrick stated in the video above his primary focus is just getting a nice recording of all the new songs that keep filling up his brain…and David and I surely respect that! I’d even go further to say that he is truly defining his own grassroots, alt folk rock genre focused on great songs driven by feeling and acting on the emotions in his music. - Indie Music Plus

"There is a certain freedom of expression that comes with creating music as a second career. On The Free Will in Patrick Ames, Ames shows growth as an artist by offering a wider array of observations against an inclusion of a variety of instruments from the traditional to things like the tuba and accordion. While a pun on Dylan’s breakthrough album title, The Free Will in Patrick Ames is an appropriately named LP as he certainly explores whatever he wants in whatever manner he chooses wether it makes perfect sonic sense to listeners or not. Ames is living outside the standard confines of career expectation and the result is a bumpy roller coaster ride of fun viewed through the lens of someone rediscovering the joy of doing exactly what he wants. And that, is the essence of “free will.” IndieMinded.com, April/May 2016

"Patrick Ames has grown from a man and a guitar into a full-fledged songwriting presence, incorporating a wide variety of instrumentation and stylings to create a broad spectrum of tracks. The inebriated swagger of opener "Come Back to Me" is precisely where the Dylan comparison can be made, but Ames is less interested in nostalgia than he is in finding his own niche amongst modern audiences. "Hold Me" switches gears into a worldly percussive jaunt that speaks more to direct passion than anything else. The slow-rocking ballad "And The Angels" is a personal favorite of the set, simple and supple and emotive. It reveals the heart of Ames in intimate fashion, seemingly lifted from a live set and transmitted perfectly across platforms. With 10 tracks, The Free Will In Patrick Ames has plenty more to offer; take note of the edgy political despair of "My Nightly Prayers Are Getting Long" and the beautifully written "Tomorrow", two of his best efforts to date." Kevin Sellers, Music Emissions

"Patrick Ames could easily be dubbed a Bob Dylan wannabe but there is much more to him than that. Patrick has great songs all on his own. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: One of the things I admire about Patrick Ames is his simplistic approach. He hasn’t been in the music industry his entire life trying to “make it." JoeJoe Keys, Indie Music Plus
"American singer/songwriter Patrick Ames will be releasing his new album titled "The Free Will In Patrick Ames" on February 29th. Ames was inspired for this album by Bob Dylan and his 1963 breakthrough album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" and hopes that this album will be his breakthrough into the mainstream." JP's Music Blog

"As you listen to The Free Will you can hear that Patrick Ames had a blast recording the songs, and I admire his enjoyment of the creative process. His lyrics are filled with wisdom from years of life experience, something you will not get from many of today’s young songwriters. Patrick’s music is fun to listen to, and it reflects the singer’s passion for his songs." The Miews.com -

"The 61-year-old musician and owner of a vineyard in the past decades has contributed to the preservation of the folk and Americana sound in the California music scene." Rootstime.be (Netherlands and Belgium)

"Patrick Ames just gets better with time. With a distinct voice, a gift for the guitar and a talent for songwriting, he is an Americana folk artist worth checking out. A prolific and compelling storyteller at his core, Ames has the ability to craft songs in a way that paints a picture for listeners while keeping them wanting and waiting for more. Luckily, that wait won’t be too long. He is currently working on his new LP with a tentative release date of February 2016. In the meantime, those in the San Francisco area can catch Ames performing live on Tuesdays at FreeWheel Brewing Company in Redwood City and I highly recommend that everyone download Mutually online." -- Indie Minded.com

“It's amazing how much music can come out of such simplicity. To me, that can be one sign of a great songwriter and Patrick Ames fits that persona perfectly. This guy has a great style that I really enjoy. He may be a 60 year old man but his sound has that "new vintage" sound that the kids are gonna love! Seriously, this is great songwriting!!” —Joe Liedtke, Indie Music Plus, http://indiemusicplus.com

With age comes wisdom and, on occasion, a blossoming of new endeavors. Patrick Ames, long influenced by the events and musical historians surrounding him, has created several memorable documents of his perceived "lay of the land", so to speak. Mutuallydoes this once again while branching into subtle new directions that, more than anything, bring the listener to realize that he has more to say the more he plays." -- Kevin Sellers, Music Emissions

"At 60 years young, Palo Alto based musician, Patrick Ames, is putting his money where his mouth is and showing us that it’s never to late to make the music you want to share with the world. Ames’ newest EP, Mutually, will hit every classic rock and singer-songwriter music fan’s sweet spot." -- Shaine Freeman

"These are songs that possess raw power through Patrick Ames’s earnest vocals and the careful arrangements that pepper the collection. Fondness for the blues is apparent throughout the collection as Patrick Ames adds his own unique twist on the sound…On the heartfelt “America Needs” Patrick Ames gives the band a break and sings straight from the heart. Here his lyrics gain a particular poignancy as he explores the many aspects of life in the USA, what governs, what shouldn’t govern, it is rather lovely in its view of the natural beauty that America has in abundance.” -- Skope Magazine -

Excerpt from IndieMusic Plus, April 4, 2017
“This Small Town” is ready for the radio in my opinion. Catchy, poppy, groovy, and an all around fun tune to listen to. Anyone who is into straightforward acoustic folk-rock then give this EP a listen. Again, as Patrick keeps cranking out new tunes his skills are getting better. I remember in previous projects I struggled to hear the instrumentation clearly sometimes, but I can tell he has put a ton of practice into this production. On “The Meaning Of Life” these skills are self evident. Listen in the background, do you hear the female vocalists? They add the perfect ambience over the music not only on the “aaahhhs” but also in the one-word harmonies sparsely sprinkled throughout the verses." - JoeJoe Keys

Excerpt from Mid-Tennessee Music, April 24, 2017
"Patrick Ames is in a lane all his own. Adapting and using the MIDI guitar synth allows Ames to add a very unique style and flair as he plays non-guitar instruments with his sweet sounding Gibson Hummingbird. With a strong crew of background vocalists thrown into the mix, Four Faces is a refreshing, unique and must-add album to your indie music collection." - Joshua Smotherman

Excerpt from IndieMinded.com, March 1, 2017
"While all of the songs on Four Faces are seemingly very different from one another, Ames manages to carefully thread rock, gospel, and R&B together to take his listeners on a complete, albeit condensed, journey. As always, Ames is putting it all out there. As singer, songwriter, producer, and general musical jack of all trades, you are getting 100% of him with every track he puts out. It is a commitment to music that is rare in what has become an industry inundated with prepackaged performers rather than artists who are devoted to their work. With a sound and a style that transcends generations and an unmatched authenticity, Ames continues to be a refreshing addition to the indie scene."

Excerpt from Stereo Stickman, Feb 19, 2017 by Rebecca Cullen:
"With only four songs in total, the project is short enough to make its mark in an instant, and fortunately it does so by means of an immense collection of moments and vibes and ideas within the writing. The performances throughout are all perfectly appropriate and relevant to the project, and this is the thread holding it all together. The songwriter has a definite sense of certainty and character about his style and his sound, and this is something that quickly becomes familiar.
The music is easy and enjoyable to listen to, even quite refreshing in light of an ocean of much more processed sounding releases. The organic energy of this collection is addictive, and This Small Town is a beautiful way to bring the EP to a close – the vibe is lovely, reflective, comforting, and the music has, as always, this sense of live performance – of now, of being right here in the moment with you, and of being unappologetically real and honest. A unique and entertaining release, well worth a listen." -

"Patrick Ames is in a lane all his own. Adapting and using the MIDI guitar synth allows Ames to add a very unique style and flair as he plays non-guitar instruments with his sweet sounding Gibson Hummingbird. With a strong crew of background vocalists thrown into the mix, Four Faces is a refreshing, unique and must-add album to your indie music collection." - Joshua Smotherman - MTM - Middle Tennessee Music

“This Small Town” is ready for the radio in my opinion. Catchy, poppy, groovy, and an all around fun tune to listen to. Anyone who is into straightforward acoustic folk-rock then give this EP a listen. Again, as Patrick keeps cranking out new tunes his skills are getting better. I remember in previous projects I struggled to hear the instrumentation clearly sometimes, but I can tell he has put a ton of practice into this production. On “The Meaning Of Life” these skills are self evident. Listen in the background, do you hear the female vocalists? They add the perfect ambience over the music not only on the “aaahhhs” but also in the one-word harmonies sparsely sprinkled throughout the verses." - JoeJoe Keys - Indie Music Plus

"Patrick Ames is in a lane all his own. Adapting and using the MIDI guitar synth allows Ames to add a very unique style and flair as he plays non-guitar instruments with his sweet sounding Gibson Hummingbird. With a strong crew of background vocalists thrown into the mix, Four Faces is a refreshing, unique and must-add album to your indie music collection." - Joshua Smotherman - MidTennessee Music

"While all of the songs on Four Faces are seemingly very different from one another, Ames manages to carefully thread rock, gospel, and R&B together to take his listeners on a complete, albeit condensed, journey. As always, Ames is putting it all out there. As singer, songwriter, producer, and general musical jack of all trades, you are getting 100% of him with every track he puts out. It is a commitment to music that is rare in what has become an industry inundated with prepackaged performers rather than artists who are devoted to their work. With a sound and a style that transcends generations and an unmatched authenticity, Ames continues to be a refreshing addition to the indie scene." - Indie Minded