Jim Ocean

Artist Information

Biography

Jim Ocean
Music for the MetaQuizzical

ABOUT JIM OCEAN

Jim has been writing and performing for 30 years, including being a founding member and primary writer for Celtic Elvis, the Dogmatics and Placebo Domingo. His albums include "The Rise and Fall of Practically Everything" and "Hard to be Real" with Celtic Elvis, "Fear and Love" with the Dogmatics plus two solo projects: Pop Tunes for Mystics and Macro2Micro, with more on the way.

Jim writes and performs in many styles with content ranging from the humorous to serious social commentary to the spiritual—sometimes weaving all three seamlessly within one song. Delivered with passion and humor, Jim's music is powerful, surprising, meaningful and fun!

Expect an intimate and lively experience whether Jim shares his trademark satire, his thoughtful ballads, his new collection of "poetic science" songs or a bit of all three. Jim specializes in dishing out tasty musical surprises that keep folks chewing for a long, long time.

Programs are available to fit your needs. Live shows vary from solo up to a six piece band. Instruments - Drums, Bass, Guitars, Keyboards.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY:

"Poetic and courageous, Jim's songs are intelligent, sometimes witty, sometimes serious, always deeply moving. Like a classic movie, his music remains relevant, fresh and worthy of listening to over and over."
--Paul Tumolo, Wild Plum Records

"Each song has a clear meaning. I can rely on each one." --A.S.

"Amazing music...I see it as an every person's journey for anyone who is ready to pay attention to the mystery of life." --V.R.

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A MENU OF SHOWS OFFERED BY JIM OCEAN

MUSIC FOR THE METAQUIZZICAL
Featuring songs of science, satire and spirit. A musical smorgasbord where Jim weaves his trademark satire with his thoughtful ballads and his collection of "poetic science" songs. (A few cover tunes are sprinkled in for added flavor.)

Quote: “Ocean gives truth seekers plenty of new songs to hum. His songs are deep and romantic with themes of universal love, compassion, and courage.” J.C. "[Mixed in with]…some of the best satirical songs you’re likely to hear.”–Dirty Linen

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THE POETIC SCIENCE REVUE
Inspired by scientific discovery, Jim Ocean's poetic science" songs bridge the collective human mind to the collective human heart. An invitation to take stock of our current moment in history and to appreciate the mystery, wonder and awe that surrounds us.

Quote: “Jim Ocean is a bard for the science and spirit crowd. His songs combine metaphor with new discoveries. He’s the Carl Sagan of singer songwriters.” M.K.

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AN EVENING OF SATIRE
A program chock-full of wickedly funny and thought-provoking social satire.

Quote: “Ocean consistently skewers modern life in the USA. The songs are smart, as well as clever, but avoid the novelty stance of going for cheap laughs. Instead, they get under the skin of contemporary facades and relationships. Music for our times” –Garth Johnson, Victory Music Review

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THE METAQUIZZICAL CAFE: A Musical Science & Philosophy Salon
Tasty Edutainment for the Heart and Mind

"The Metaquizzical Cafe" is musical edutainment for those hungry for knowledge and meaning. Each unique event centers on the scientific or philosophical concept behind one of singer-songwriter Jim Ocean's original songs and is a fun and spicy blend of live music, science news, "meta-quiz", speaker segment and audience Q&A.

(See JimOceanMusic.com for a list of sample programs)

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SCHOOL ASSEMBLY PROGRAMS
--The MetaQuizzical Cafe
--Poetic Science Revue (Generic Program)
--Poetic Science Revue (Space-related Science)
--Poetic Science Revue (Focus on the Environment)
--Music for the MetaQuizzical (Focus on Relationships)
--Music for the MetaQuizzical (Focus on Psycho-social Issues)

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VENUES:
Clubs--Concert Halls--House Concerts
Conferences--Museums--School Assemblies
Libraries--Spiritual Living Centers

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SONGWRITING SERVICES
You name the occasion, concept and musical style, then Jim Ocean (aka "the song gerbil") will craft a song in record speed, guaranteed to your liking. (Recording services available as well.)

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Instrumentation

Jim Ocean - Vocals, Harmonica, Acoustic Guitar

Discography

MACRO2MICRO (2011)
A collection of "poetic science" songs. Inspired by scientific discovery, the songs bridge the collective human mind to the collective human heart. An invitation to take stock of our current moment in time and to appreciate the mystery, wonder and awe that surrounds us.


POP TUNES FOR MYSTICS (2010)
This album started in 2005 after listening to Nick Drake’s “Five Leaves Left”. It’s an album for long drives in the country, watching the sun come up, or late night meditations on the stars.


KILL A TREE FOR CHRIST--A Christmas Novelty Song (2007)
An inconvenient Christmas Carol by Jim Ocean and the legendary Celtic Elvis. "Sure to be a Christmas classic for many years to come" - Dr. Demento


FEAR AND LOVE (2001)
A CD recorded by Jim Ocean’s former band ‘The Dogmatics’ in Nashville, TN with the Grand ‘Ole Opry house band. The Dogmatics was comprised of singer/songwriters Jim Ocean, Randy Anger and Sarah Reynolds and was accompanied by the house band for the Grand Ole Opry which included musicians Kerry Marx, John Gardner, Bob Patin and Byron House.


HARD TO BE REAL (1997)
An album by the third incarnation of Jim Ocean's musical satire band Celtic Elvis which was recorded live at Strings—an invitation-only acoustic music salon in the East Bay near Berkeley. It features Jim Ocean (vocals, primary songwriter and lead guitarist), Randy Anger (guitar and lead vocals), Barbara Griesau (vocals), Cecelia Pierotti (violin), and Rich Wescott on (vocals and bass).


THE RISE AND FALL OF PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING (1989)
This album was recorded by the first incarnation of Jim Ocean’s musical satire group Celtic Elvis. The project was recorded at Emerald City studio in San Francisco in 1989 by the acclaimed engineer Gary Mankin.

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Jim Ocean's YouTube Channel
• OceanWorks Productions/Community Concerts

Audio

• Macro to Micro
  Listen  
• Dark Matter
  Listen  
• Plastilla!
  Listen  
• Ghost Towns in Russia
  Listen  
• Falling
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Macro to Micro
• Dark Matter
• Plastilla
• Ghost Towns in Russia
• Falling

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Celtic Elvis--Hard to Be Real [+ Show ]
  

  Quote: "Celtic Elvis’ second CD is a collection of eleven songs that tackle a variety of social issu...Quote: "Celtic Elvis’ second CD is a collection of eleven songs that tackle a variety of social issues with all the timidity of a rabid pit bull".
  
  As Celtic Elvis describes themselves, they are neither Irish nor big fans of The King. What they are is a folk theater troupe from Contra Costa County, California.
  
  Celtic Elvis’ second CD, “Hard To Be Real,” is a collection of eleven songs that tackle a variety of social issues with all the timidity of a rabid pit bull. Harsher than Dave Letterman on PMS, more fickle than Judge Judy with a hangover, Celtic Elvis is one socially-conscious band you just don’t want to piss off.
  
  Opening the album with “America is only as good as your next door neighbor,” and closing everything with “C’est La Vie,” Celtic Elvis tackles a number of modern day problems including plastic surgery, societal apathy, Man’s refusal to get in touch with his emotions, a guy trying to date a lesbian, three other songs about another guy just trying to get laid, acid rain, and the post-wedding demise of the American Guy. Of course, no socially conscious comedy album would be complete without an in-depth examination of a man’s struggle between his brain and his... other brain, including the obligatory Fornigate references.
  
  If there’s a theme throughout the entire album, it’s “Men have serious problems.” Of the eleven songs on the album, eight of them deal, in whole or in part, with male issues and the problems men face (nine if you count “She Likes Girls” -- the one about the guy trying to date a lesbian). My favorite track? Little Head. It should be covered by Mark Russell during one of his PBS comedy specials, or at least played by all the folk radio stations around the country.
  
  Although Celtic Elvis calls themselves a comedy folk band, they cast an angry eye at some of the topics they sing about. Take, for example, their view of the death of the Modern American Guy after marriage in Help Me Help Me (I Think I’m Turning Into My Wife):
  
  They were joined at the wallet, they were joined at the heart
  They were cemented together, you couldn’t tell them apart
  They were a two headed beast, you could tell from the very start
  With no clear direction, she could nudge him along
  And then he lost his affection, his desire was gone
  And then he used his aggression to fertilize the lawn
  
  Celtic Elvis is made up of Jim Ocean, Barbara Griseau, Randy Anger (surprisingly NOT the writer of “Help Me Help Me” or “Male Pattern Numbness”), Cecelia Pierotti, Rich Wescott. Between the five of them, there are three guitars, percussion, a bass, an accordion, and a violin (there’s even a pizza box listed in the press kit). And of course, all of them sing different parts of different songs throughout the album.
  
  The music itself is simple and not overpowering, which works in Celtic Elvis’ favor, since their main focus is to showcase the words and ideas behind the music -- the instruments are just there to provide backup to the message Elvis is sending (although I really like the folksy, unpretentious violin work of Cecelia Pierotti, who is also in three symphony orchestras).
  
  If you’re a fan of Arlo Guthrie, Loudon Wainwright III, or even Mark Russell, or just like sharp, biting criticism of modern social problems, then you’ll definitely like Celtic Elvis. They’ve been around for years, and given the veritable cornucopia of dumb things our society does, they’ll be around for many more.
  

Setlist

Original Songs by Jim Ocean

SONGS ABOUT SCIENCE
Coming of Age in the Milky Way
Dark Matter
Four Percent
Ode to John Lowry Dobson
Lament of the Stem Cell
Loneliest Thing in the World
Lovelock Dilemma
Macro to Micro
Plastilla
Say Goodbye to the Moon
She's So Cold
The First to go Under
Super Earth


SATIRICAL SONGS
America is only as Good as your Next Door Neighbor
Baby Valium
Gas, Food, Lodging
Ghost Towns in Russia
Green Pictures
Growing up Ugly
Hard to Be Real
Help me, I’m Turning into my Wife
High on Stress
Hot House Flower
Kill a Tree for Christ
Little Head
Love as Real Estate
Male Pattern Numbness
Plastilla
Rayon
Ritual Worrying
Road to Gridlock
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
Sacred Asian Man
Sex Crazed Intellectuals
Singing in the Acid Rain
Skinny Guys
Style over Substance
The Alien Immigrant Song
WII.FM (What's in it for Me)
Your Friends are White Noise


SONGS ABOUT SPIRIT
Come Away
Deep Blue Sea
Drop of Time
Fear and Love
Know the way you wander
Last Stretch of Highway
Lennon Song
Lift as you Rise
Love is the Flame
My Spirit has needs
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
Time Runs Away


RELATIONSHIP SONGS
Forgiveness
Hot House Flower
Love as Real Estate
Perfect Couple
Polka Dot Moon
Tornado
WII.FM
Window
Yo-Yo Life


PSYCHO-SOCIAL SONGS
Aly Marie
Child of the War
Falling
Fear and Love
Hard to Be Real
Radio WIIFM
Some People
Tornado
Two Kinds of People
Who is there Left to Fight
Yo-Yo Life

Basic Requirements

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