James Rone

This coming Saturday will be a three show evening for me. I can't wait. At 7pm, I'll be at Strike Theater for a James Rone & Friends show with Adorable (Jen Scott & Butch Roy); at 9:00pm I'll be at HUGE Theater with The Mess, and then Rita Boersma and I are sticking around for the late show - Temps: An Improvised Workplace Comedy. Link for tickets below!

On Saturday, February 24th, Butch Roy and Jen Scott (aka Adorable) will be joining me for my next James Rone & Friends show. We'll go from songs to stories to scenes and back again. I can't wait.

I first met Katy at ComedySportzTC rehearsal. She and Rita Boersma used to sit in the front row intimidating all the new players because they were the funniest ones. It was terrifying. Come see our show on January 25 at Strike Theater - you can sit up front and intimidate US! Link in bio or comments.

My guest for the next James Rone & Friends show on Thursday, January 25 is Katy Kessler! In addition to being one of my best friends, Katy is a comedian - improv and standup, a storyteller, a photographer, a cartoonist/illustrator, and a wonderful person to be around. I can't wait for you to see this show. Link in comments!

Yikes. Mike Fotis is scary.

My Zoom meeting with Mike at Strike Theater...didn't go well.
There are plenty of reasons to come to the James Rone & Friends show on Thursday at 7:30pm. is amazing, I'll be performing a bunch of songs from my upcoming album, and because it's Thursday, a bunch of you don't have shows. But if you're looking for one more, do it so that "Mean Guy Mike" doesn't cut my promising career short. For the love of God, link in comments.

My Zoom meeting with Mike at Strike Theater...didn't go well.
There are plenty of reasons to come to the James Rone & Friends show on Thursday at 7:30pm. is amazing, I'll be performing a bunch of songs from my upcoming album, and because it's Thursday, a bunch of you don't have shows. But if you're looking for one more, do it so that "Mean Guy Mike" doesn't cut my promising career short. For the love of God, link in comments.

One of the reasons I started including stories in my shows was that I like to write stories INTO my songs. I like to connect with my audience by writing a story that doesn't seem like it's about me and finding the common threads. It's even more fun to invite my talented friends to share their stories alongside mine, adding meaning to something I might have created years ago.

Come and see what it's all about this coming Thursday at 7:30pm at Strike Theater with special guest improviser, musician, and educator Josh Kaplan. (Photo by Adam Iverson Photography).

Link in comments.

"Will the James Rone & Friends show featuring Josh Kaplan be interesting?"

Well, Josh will be there, and he has a rule of ONLY doing interesting things, as is evidenced by this photograph of Josh at the Red Wing Boots museum in Red Wing, Minnesota. So there you go.

Ticket link in comments!

At the annual Scary Stories Party that Josh hosts with Hannah, Josh's stories are always a highlight because he's so good at taking you by surprise - I think that's because Josh is so completely himself. Monk said, "The genius is the one who is most themselves" and I think Josh has that down. Can't wait to join him onstage for the next James Rone & Friends show, at 7:30pm on Thursday, November 30 at . Link in comments! (Art by Charlie Van Stee)

YAY! I got Josh to do a James Rone & Friends show with me!!! Thursday, November 30!

🎭 Join us for the finale of the James Rone & Friends series in 2023 on November 30th! 🎶 This special show features the incredible Josh Kaplan ( ), a master of improvised performance as both an actor and musician. 🥁 Get ready for a blend of stories and songs, jokes and half-jokes. Josh's ability to "play free" adds a unique touch, coloring outside the lines while embracing form and discipline. 🎨 Join us for a night of spontaneity, humanity, and a celebration of creative connections. Tix in comments!

🎭 Join us for the finale of the James Rone & Friends series in 2023 on November 30th! 🎶 This special show features the incredible Josh Kaplan ( ), a master of improvised performance as both an actor and musician. 🥁 Get ready for a blend of stories and songs, jokes and half-jokes. Josh's ability to "play free" adds a unique touch, coloring outside the lines while embracing form and discipline. 🎨 Join us for a night of spontaneity, humanity, and a celebration of creative connections. Tix in comments!

Have you heard of J.E. Sunde ( )? He's based here in Minneapolis, although he's kind of a jet-setter, and his music is fantastic. He describes his music as being from the "American Singer-Songwriter tradition", and if you like Paul Simon, , or , you’ll love him. A couple of my favorites are "Risk" and "Stop Caring".

Tell me your favorite indie musician and tag them so I can check them out.

Today, I finished designing a project choice tool for money management class and tested some induction cooktops for baking class. When I got home, I ate a sandwich and chatted with Beth. Now I’m recording vocals for my album in the basement. That’s pretty much how every day goes.

I know my singing face is awful, but my pose is kinda Liam Gallagher, right?

How do you end most days?

, , , ,

When Jesse and I were working on my first solo record, I asked him to think about “Daniel” by Elton John while he figured out what to play for the intro to “Reykjavik”. I love how it turned out.

Who are your musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?



(Photo by Adam Iverson)

🎤 This Friday, 7:30pm at Strike Theater: James Rone & Friends with Andy Kuhlmann. 🎶 Get your tickets in my bio for an evening of stories and music. I went to a lot of trouble to find those emojis.

Andy Kuhlmann, my friend for this Friday's James Rone & Friends show at , is one of my favorite people and performers. There's no conflict between Andy's surreality and sincerity as a performer or friend, because he recognizes what's surreal and funny about this weird life we get to live. Everyone I know who loves has a Splendid Things scene that they'll never forget.

Who is a person that inspired you? Tell me about 'em. I like hearing that gooey crap.

It was a big milestone for me to put on my first James Rone & Friends show at . and I had the distinct worry that nobody would come. Thankfully, there was a friendly, supportive audience, and it was one of my favorite ever shows. Afterward I felt excited to do more, and thankfully Mike hasn't asked me to stop yet. I'm so excited to perform the next JR & F show with my old pal and Minneapolis improv hero, Andy Kuhlmann. (9/15, ticket link in bio!)

I'm still mourning that lamp, which I smashed while dancing in my office. It was so danged INTIMATE. What's one of your favorite concert or theatre experiences?

This is a weird little article in a weird little journal that you can read if you like. I'd rather you just came to James Rone & Friends: Songs & Stories, though.

Meet James Rone We're excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful James Rone. We hope you'll enjoy our conversation with James below. Alright, James thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you....

Join us for a night of laughter, storytelling, and live music on Friday, March 17th at 7:30pm at Strike Theater in NE Minneapolis! Rita and I promise (PROMISE!) an unforgettable evening of true, partly true, and completely false stories and songs. Missing this show is tantamount to treason, which is punishable by death - grab your tickets now! (Link in comments)

Who's an Art Hound? I'M an Art Hound! Or is it Katy? Maybe Katy's the Art Hound. And I'm being art hounded.

Art Hounds® From Minnesota Public Radio News, Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what's exciting in local art.

On Jan. 20 at 7:30pm, I'll be doing another of my songs and stories shows, this time with Alsa Bruno. Tix link in bio.

Of course you already know Alsa. He's a founding member of the renowned all-black improv troupe Blackout, co-founder of the Black and Funny Improv Festival, and Executive Director of Operation Black Joy, a nonprofit dedicated to the sowing, promoting, and education of Black Joy within our global community, and is known for using comedy to create space for honest dialogue. He'll be telling some stories and generally outshining me.