Jon Bonham & Friends

Well, sometimes ya get to just have fun. Jon Bonham was hand picked by curator and booking agent for Joe's, John Parker, to celebrate his birthday. It happens to fall on a Thursday this year so why not? In writing and booking it is important to not make it too personal. Ya can't hire only your favorite bands when booking a venue. But sometimes, on your birthday, ya sort of get to do something close. In this case I pick a guy who simply blows me away. I don't see Americana or blues and folk as happy music to sing about all nice things. I see it as heartache and loss, tragedy and recovery in conjunction with celebration and culture. Nobody pulls it out of the ground quite like Jon does. He is the most unassuming family man you will ever meet. A school teacher with a wife and young kids hailing from S. City. He hasn't promoted himself or tried too hard to "make it" by touring like crazy and chasing the elusive siren of fame. Yet he remains one of the most genuine and talented folk/blues/Americana singers in STL who can pull emotion and grit out of a song like nobody else. 

His name gets him confused with that other guy a lot. It's a bit of a promotional conundrum. He got started playing open mic's in Frederick's Music Lounge and became fast friends with Fred Friction. He has played with Tommy Halloran for years all over town. This show will feature Marc Chechik, Joe Davidson and Spencer Phillips along with Jon. Come on out and support one of the really great people of music in this town. He deserves it and so do you!

An older video with Tommy playing with Jon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3sQGfIZQAQ

More recent vid of Jon playing solo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFc0WsepUjk

Bio Info

Jon Bonham has been leading a band of Friends around Saint Louis for over ten years. His music blends garage band Americana with soulful takes on juke joint country, folk rock and blues. Bonham’s distinct voice “recalls a love-child of Kris Kristofferson and Tom Waits”* while his musical references can all be traced back to Robert Zimmerman.

*KDHX Online Review of Neil Young Tribute