Jeremiah Birnbaum

Artist Information

Biography

Jeremiah Birnbaum, formerly of heavy-duty Americana-rock band, The Ramblers, is a "rootsy, soulful troubadour" (Time Out, London) with his own brand of "raucous alt-country...a rabbi's son with a touch of whiskey burning his soul" (New York Magazine, Critic's Pick).

Jeremiah's most recent release is "Lucky," his first solo acoustic album. Recorded stripped-down and mostly live in the studio in the tradition of early Dylan, Springsteen's "Nebraska," and Nick Drake, Jeremiah finished "Lucky" just before a vocal cord injury in 2012 that required surgery and more than a month of complete vocal rest.

Since recovering last August, Jeremiah's been touring constantly in support of "Lucky." In November 2012, he was chosen as a Focus Music "Golden Ticket" showcase artist at the New England Regional Folk Alliance.

By January 2013, the record reached #31 on the Roots Music Report charts for New York artists, receiving spins coast-to-coast on many independent folk radio stations, including WFUV in New York, where he was featured by legendary DJ John Platt both on the air, and at Platt's monthly live showcase of up-and-coming artists, "On Your Radar."

A multi-instrumentalist, Jeremiah plays banjo, mandolin, bass guitar, and lap steel as well. He can be heard on many record albums and his slide work was recently featured in a promotion for EPIX Network.

Jeremiah's music has been critically lauded and shows recommended by publications including Time Out, New York Magazine, the Village Voice, NuvoWeekly (Indianapolis), Illinois Entertainer, Cincinnati CityBeat, and AM New York. Venues Jeremiah's played on the East Coast include Brooklyn Bowl, Club Passim, Joe's Pub, Mercury Lounge, Living Room and Rockwood Music Hall. Recent showcases include CMJ Music Marathon and the Great South Bay Music Festival. He has opened for many legendary artists, including the late Levon Helm.

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Band of the Week – New York Examiner
- Critics’ Pick – New York Magazine
- PM New York Highlight – AM New York
- Editors’ Pick – Time Out New York
- Editors’ Choice – Glide Magazine
- Sold out Joe’s Pub and named Staff Pick

Instrumentation

Jeremiah Birnbaum - Banjo, Vocals, Guitar, mandolin, ukulele

Discography

"Lucky" streaming/purchase: www.jeremiahbirnbaum.bandcamp.com

"Don't Hurt No One No More", live on WFUV:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpZhofaKr9A

"She Said She Said" for Beatles Complete on Ukelele:
http://beatlescompleteonukulele.com/she-said-she-said-jeremiah-birnbaum/

The Ramblers, Getting There
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/theramblers1

The Ramblers (self-titled)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ramblersnyc

Recent projects:

The Water's Edge, Kara Kulpa (Mixing Supervisor, guitar, bass, lap steel, ukulele)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/karakulpa2

Jukebox, Scott Stein (Co-producer, guitarist)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/scottstein4

A False Sense of Warmth, Food Will Win The War (Guitar)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/foodwillwinthewar

Official Website

http://www.jeremiahbirnbaum.com

Links

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Bandcamp

Audio

• Days of the Week
  Listen   Download
• Mulberry Tree
  Listen   Download
• Lucky
  Listen   Download
• Uphill Train
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• I Know (by Jeremiah Birnbaum and Curtis McMurtry)
  Listen   Download
• Lend You a Hand
  Listen   Download
• You Can't Break Me Again (by Scott Wolfson)
  Listen   Download
• You Can't Take Back a Kiss
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• Train To Cross
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• Give Me Music
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• These Blues Weren't Meant to Survive
  Listen   Download
• Letter to Elissa
  Listen   Download

Video

Days of the Week at Empty Nest House Concerts.mov

Photo Gallery

Press

• Many Ramblers reviews! [+ Show ]
  

  PRESS: "Raucous, bluesy alt-country." - New York Magazine “Fans of the Band should check out t...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
  

• Emotion-Driven Music [+ Show ]
  

  Emotion-driven music Show Review Mary Lee Pappas Mercy Driver Harrison Center for the Arts Un...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.
  
  
  

• Live Performance Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  March 2006: One of the finest guitar players on the New York songwriter circuit, Jeremiah generousl...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

• MMS 2005 Review [+ Show ]
  

  "After trying to take a nap, I headed on back to The Abbey Coffeehouse for the second night showcase..."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

• Caffe Vivaldi Preview, Feb. 17.05 [+ Show ]
  

  ...Birnbaum's smooth-rock guitar whiz numbers round out the evening with a sound just liquid enough ......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

• Live Performance Review, 8/18/04 [+ Show ]
  

  ...accompanied by fellow New York singer-songwriter Akiva on slide guitar and later harmonica, Birnb......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

• MMS at the coffeehouse [+ Show ]
  

  Cath Coffeehouse was quiet at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. Shelley Miller, who had performed at La Jolla...
  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
  

• Dawn EP Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  "Jeremiah Birnbaum’s eclectic singer/songwriter compositions reveal a traveling soul beneath his pop..."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
  

• Midpoint Music Fest Preview [+ Show ]
  

  Neon's, at Midnight Jeremiah Birnbaum (New York City) Singer/Songwriter An award-winning pro...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)
  

• SJ Super Seven, January 12, 04 [+ Show ]
  

  “4. Best soon-to-be-famous Jew: New York singer/songwriter Jeremiah Birnbaum played his first ever g...“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

• Live Performance Preview, 12/17/03 [+ Show ]
  

  “Like John Mayer and David Gray, he’s got a pinch of jazz in him.” -Chuck Eddy, Village Voice, 12/1...“Like John Mayer and David Gray, he’s got a pinch of jazz in him.”
  -Chuck Eddy, Village Voice, 12/17/03
  

Setlist

Average set is 35-55 mins. Set can be extended to 90 mins+ or split into two or more 45 min sets.

20-30 original songs in rotation. One or two new songs show up often. Occasionally a cover or two. We love our honky-tonk, sometimes break out Hank Sr., Johnny Cash, maybe even a little Dave Dudley...

Recently played covers:

Help Me Make It Through The Night (Kris Kristofferson)
To Love Somebody (Bee Gees, ala Nina Simone)
Got Me A Woman (Paul Kennerley, per Levon Helm)
Memphis in the Meantime (John Hiatt)
Bring it on Home (Sam Cooke)
Angel From Montgomery (John Prine)

Basic Requirements

Calendar