Announcements

Kickstarter for “Twisted & Tangled” EP by Wooden Rings

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/241744393/wooden-rings-twisted-and-tangled-ep

Dear Friends, We have begun a Kickstarter campaign to help materialize a collection of 4 songs that we plan to have ready to release in May. This collection will be known as the Twisted & Tangled EP. This is some of our most vigorous work! We hope to make a recording that captures what we hear when we play together as a responsive, connected unit rather than the piece-by-piece approach we took when recording our first record, Wooden Rings 2012. If you like what we do, our musical ideas, lyrics, choices to do our own thing with everything we are, please consider giving. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/241744393/wooden-rings-twisted-and-tangled-ep Thanks in advance, Warmly, Ramah, Justin, Marissa, and Brett and all our families

Thaw

Well, Wooden Rings is starting to thaw Brett’s baby Elliot is almost 3 months old now and looking cute with his fatty fat smile and Justin’s baby boy Oliver is home and met the band earlier this week with big, super dark brown eyes! Stay tuned for upcoming shows and recordings…

Buzz

These are all quoted directly from folks that have either purchased our recordings or have helped share our music with others: “I heard part of it on my way back from the grocery store, and it stopped me in my tracks.” “Your interview and music really captured my attention. (It’s something very special when something on the radio can do that these days.)” “Unique” “On My Australian Radio Show WMA-FM 94.9 the album Wooden Rings came in at No. 2 on my list of the top albums released in 2012.” “Amazing album! I can’t believe it took me this long to buy it!” “The debut of Wooden Rings sounds like nothing I’ve heard out of Chicago in a while, if ever.” “Ramah Jihan is coming from Fairport Convention/Renaissance/Acoustic Yes vibe that would sound annoyingly precious in lesser hands.” Thanks for you kind words- RJ of WR

“Finding Me” by Wooden Rings

“Finding Me” by Wooden Rings 2012 from Ramah Jihan on Vimeo.

A big “thank you” to Dan Finnen and Derek Cox at Distract Chicago for shooting this charming video all in one night. Fellow makers, these guys are very professional, a breeze to work with, and fantastically creative. See you guys at the Winter Show at Fitzgerald’s this Thursday 12.13.2012 We love it! WR

The Winter Show

I’d like to announce this as our final show of the year 2012 and our only show on the books until Brett and Justin’s babies are delivered. It has been a fantastic year for us playing this touching music. Please come and bring a friend to share the night. We will be giving buttons away and maybe some downloads. All good stuff. Warmly, Ramah David Jihan Malebranche of Wooden Rings

Acoustic Chamber Pop at Pig N Weasel

Combine the sensibilities, energy and angst of pop music with traditionally ‘classical’ instruments and musical techniques in contemporary settings, and you have it: Chamber pop rocks! Its sound and thoughtful lyrics wrap around us and bring us to unfamiliar but captivating places. We are excited to be able to present to you two of Chicago’s finest Chamber Pop groups, each with very-different approaches: the Wooden Rings and Renegade Lightning Rebellion. Please explore their work below and SPREAD THE WORD! Come make make your own Wooden Rings poster! Using materials that we purchased with our CAAP grant, we will be providing templates, surfaces, and implements for you to make your own Wooden Rings posters. Bring some wine to this clandestine secret spot in the heart of Evanston and let us play our gripping music for you. When you are done get you hands dirty and take home a poster of your own design. All that we ask is that you allow us to take a photo or scan of your design for our online poster wall. Don’t worry if it’s wonky, it won’t have your name on it (but love it, cause it’s yours). woodenrings renegade lightning rebellion Because seating is limited, reservations are recommended. Email us to let us know you’re coming at: [email protected] Open seats will be offered to walk-ins 10 mins prior to the first set.

WTTW Interview

Chicago Tonight Culture Web Extra: Profile of Local Band Wooden Rings to perform at Lakeview East Festival of the Arts Lindsay Prossnitz | September 7, 2012 12:45 pm Local band Wooden Rings is performing this weekend at the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts. This four-member ensemble is starting to make waves with their unique, eclectic sound that was recently showcased on XRT’s Local Anesthetic show. The band is comprised of Ramah Jihan on vocals and lead guitar, Justin Rodig on supporting vocals, clarinet, banjo and bells, Brett Bakshis on electric bass and Marissa Deitz on cello. Watch a sneak preview of the band’s performances and listen to the members talk about getting their music off the ground, including securing grant money from the Community Arts Assistance Program. Thank you Lindsay and WTTW for your article and for profiling our project so well. Ramah Jihan Malebranche of Wooden Rings

DOWNLOAD: 93.WXRT Interview with Ramah Jihan

>>Link to 93WXRT interview page >>Link to the Free interview download In case you missed it, this is an informative interview with Wooden Strings’ guitarist/vocalist and principal songwriter Ramah Jihan about the inspiration for the band’s debut, securing grant money to record and the band’s unusual instrumentation. The Local Anesthetic playlist for Sunday 8.12.12 with special guests, Wooden Rings. Featured Songs Wooden Rings – To Let You Go Wooden Rings – The Crash Wooden Rings – Bated Breath Wooden Rings – The Long Way WXRT showing some love for the record Wooden Rings. “There’s a feeling of light footsteps on a forest floor to the sound of Wooden Rings‘ eponymous debut. Kind of like the purpose of getting thru these woods is to do so as quietly as possible. I don’t hear it so much as an attempt to avoid disturbing the forest and it’s plants and creatures but in an effort to more closely be at one with the surroundings. Deep, huh? Yeah, I can fool ya sometimes but I love the gentleness of this record as much as I’m taken with it’s heart and soul. Can’t quite commit to saying it’ll be an Anesthetic Best Of for 2012 but it won’t be to far out of the running. Ramah Jihan is the principal songwriter, vocalist and guitarist in Wooden Rings (with one track composed by multi-instrumentalist Justin Rodig) but this is a full band effort. No electric guitar/bass/drum outfit here, though. Nylon string guitar, cello, banjo, bells, clarinet, and electric bass all blend nicely to create that walk-softly-in-the-forest sound. No other band I know of in Chicago sounds quite like Wooden Rings and that alone should intrigue you to tune in for music and conversation with Ramah Jihan of Wooden Rings on this week’s Local Anesthetic, Sunday night at 7:30, here on XRT.”- Richard Milne

Lightbox Session Video

Thanks to the great taste and work by Matt Livensparger and Lightbox Session founder, Erick Memmesheimer, we have a new Lightbox Sessions video with a few songs and a meandering interview. We were so excited to be a part of such a great collection of artists, interviewed and tape in a raw, honest, and intimate light.

Lightbox Sessions: Wooden Rings from Lightbox Productions on Vimeo.