Mel James

I live a pretty hectic and fast-paced life. As a full-time Bartender/Mixologist and active USBG member, Brand Ambassador for The Big O Ginger Liqueur, musician, mother and wife of a stand-up comic, I am always busy doing something...but I'd go insane if it were any different. Gotta keep the grind alive!

Music is my life - I would be but a shell with no soul without it. Showing major interest very young, I was chosen to conduct the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at age 8. Around age 12, members of the popular 1970's prog-rock band "Pavlov's Dog" moved in across the street from me, which led to me constantly sitting by my open window whenever possible, listening to band practices until 3, 4am. After learning all of the songs on my own, I would attend band practices and was later asked to record a vocal intro that was played at the band's revival attempt in St. Louis. Upon leaving the public school system at age 14 for home schooling, I then played the drums in the church's worship band behind my house and also studied Irish step dancing and traditional Irish music, later going on to perform nightly at a local Irish pub. It was then that I was trained on the Bodhran drum by three time all-Ireland Bodhran champion, Kevin Shields. Later moving on to join as percussionist/vocals in an all-original funk band (Adam's Off Ox) in 2001, I was almost certain to be performing music no less than 3 nights a week, and have played in nearly every part of St. Louis in venues both big and small, including The Pageant and Mississippi Nights (RIP). When Adam's Off Ox disbanded shortly after being signed to the local independant label MapleHood Rekkids, I went on to play with the South-City based band Bravo Company for around 2 years; playing many shows and eventually recording an amazing EP entitled, "Combat, Dove". After the demise of Bravo Company in 2008, I have been dabbling in other projects since and expanded my role as a bass guitar player, as well as percussion/drums/vocals.

I am truly honored to have performed as a guest musican with and/or recorded with bands/artists such as Fragile Porcelain Mice, Pavlov's Dog, Dr. Zhivegas, Escape, The Little River Band, Cavo, Stendek, DJ Leon Lamont, DJ Forensic, members of Modern Day Zero/Mesh STL/Mesh, Neptune Crush, The Urge, So They Say, Devon Allman, Danny Hicks (Evil Dead 2...haha!), Sink The Bismark, and countless traditional Irish musicians and bands.