Jonathan Moody
- Denver, CO
- Singing Guitarist
- 45 Verified Bookings
Laura H. said “They were on time, they took many requests, and their music was fantastic. We will hire Jonathan and his band again!”
Your list is empty.
Save musicians, entertainers, speakers, and services, and they’ll appear here.
I keep getting requests for "Singing guitarist who can cover popular songs"
Please note: I really don't feel like I play "popular" songs so i always decline these gigs.
Experienced old school country/honky tonk singer songwriter. I have been playing for over 10 years. I love what I do and love making events more special by providing a soundtrack! I can be as loose or professional as you need as I've played all sorts of gigs from corporate events to backyard weddings to bars!
Please keep in mind I play a pretty specific genre of music and while I have branched out in the past for clients, it will affect pricing. Happy to consider learning specific songs but no promises.
Be the first to review Alison Self
Price Range: $100 and up depending on event
Languages: English
Sit back and relax and have a cocktail while I serenade you with old country classics and some originals as well.
Hailing from the Piedmont region of Virginia, Alison is currently a Portland, Oregon based country singer and songwriter. Her influences range from The Louvin Brothers and Kitty Wells to Roger Miller and Bessie Smith.
Alison was born and raised in Petersburg, VA in a working-class family that was void of musical talent. Alison is an only child and isn’t aware of any musicians in her family, (she thinks her grandpa looked at a guitar once) but swears that she has been singing since she learned to talk.
In 2006 Alison, already a strong singer for someone with no formal training, got tired of waiting for people to commit to playing music with her and decided to buy a ukulele for $60 from a local music store. She had been listening to a lot of vaudeville-esque jug band blues and jazz and knew what a ukulele was but nothing much beyond that. It was smaller and less threatening than a guitar so she figured she had to start somewhere and took the jump. The ukuleles small size would come in handy in the following years as Alison spent years after hitch hiking and riding some trains around the US.
Not long after moving to Richmond VA in late 2006 she was playing gigs around Richmond VA and was spending a lot of time busking on the street for tips. When asked about her early experience as a performer, Alison frequently points towards busking as how she really cut her teeth and learned to not just play a song from start to finish, but to belt it out and actually perform it so that people couldn’t help but pay attention.
Alison spent about 10 years based out of Richmond, Virginia where she was described as Richmond’s chanteuse “with a huge voice unlike any other female singer in Richmond” and until the end of her time living in the region (2015), became well-known not only for performing but also regularly booking other acts/events in town. If a country or old timey band was touring through, people said “Talk to Alison Self!”
Alison traveled west in a ’96 Oldsmobile with no working windows for most of 2015, with a stint in Southwest VA then Nashville TN, until her car broke down outside of Denver where she played some shows and worked for a few months, then decided it was time to go and drunkenly bought a $20 plane ticket to Austin TX. Figuring she had nothing to lose she sold her car for $200 and got rid of mostly everything she had and made the move. She didn’t even take her guitar and just borrowed one until she was gifted one by a friend after moving.
Austin was home for Alison for two years until she decided to uproot once again and make the move to Portland OR back in October 2018. She was experiencing some serious health issues and wasn’t able to get seen by a doctor while living in Austin. Things just seemed to fall into place so she moved her stuff into storage and headed West.
Unfortunately, Alison was diagnosed with colon cancer in the winter of 2018 within a few months of arriving in Portland. She then went through surgery and chemotherapy in 2019. Fortunately, Alison has been cancer free since then and June 2024 will mark the 5 year anniversary of finishing chemo and being cancer free.
It’s not surprising, but after going strong for 10+ years in the genre Alison is yet again a very prominent part of the local country scene here in Portland and gigs regularly as well as hosts a few monthly events. She is slated to play The Jackalope Jamboree in Pendleton, OR in June, alongside a lineup of heavy hitters such as Mike and The Moon pies, Bella White and Emily Nenni.
Traveling and restlessness have been strong themes in Alison’s songs which are influenced strongly by her 20s spent hitch hiking and train hopping. Simply put, Alison writes from lived experiences. There are no airs to be put on with this one, Alison is about as real and raw and they come. You won’t find a trust fund hidden in her past, although she could definitely use the money. Thematically her songs run along the same lines of most honky tonk singers, past and present: working class upbringing, death, trains, bad decisions and too much booze.
I can be as bare bones as you need, I work really well playing acoustic with no PA as I have a loud singing voice and project very well, even outdoors.
If I am playing with a PA then I need the following:
- a direct input/preamp to run my guitar cable through
- a boom mic stand with a suitable vocal mic
If I am playing outdoors for an extended period of time (30 minutes or more), I require suitable cover from harsh sun/potential rain.
Unless I have been asked to play a certain type of song I will generally NOT have a set list that is 100% set in stone as I prefer to "read the room" and adjust my song selections to the energy of the event when necessary. I am willing to establish a concrete set list if requested, of course.
-Multiple original songs-
Kitty Wells:
Honky tonk angels
Making believe
Whose shoulder will you cry on?
I dont claim to be an angel
As long as I live
Loretta Lynn:
Don't come home a drinkin
Wine, women and song
Blue kentucky girl
Other woman
Somebody, somewhere
Hank Sr:
Ramblin man
Your cheatin heart
Wedding bells
Wear blues
So lonesome I could cry
Carter family:
Single girl, married girl
East VA blues
Lulu walls
Rye cove
Storm are on the ocean
Louvin Brothers:
My heart was trampled on the street
I'll be all smiles tonight
Knoxville girl
My world ended today
Let her go, god bless her
Assorted others:
Prisoners dream - Blue Sky Boys
Blood red and going down- Tanya Tucker
Crying time- Buck Owens
Walk on by- assorted
Wine me up - Faron Young
Face to the wall- Faron Young
Oh darlin'- Girls of the Golden West
They're hanging me tonight -Marty Robbins
Swing low sweet chariot - traditional
Goodnight irene- traditional
Single life- Roba Stanley
Satin sheets- Jeanne Pruet
True life blues- Bill Monroe
7 lonely days- connie francis, assorted
Henry lee- traditional
Wont you be kind to me- Memphis Jug Band
Stealin- Memphis Jug Band
Lord I wish I was a single girl again- Lulu Belle
Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, Roger Miller, Hank Williams Sr, Ernest Tubb, Webb Pierce, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Patsy Cline
Guitar amp or a PA including microphones stands and cords
Laura H. said “They were on time, they took many requests, and their music was fantastic. We will hire Jonathan and his band again!”
Michael T. said “Besides being a fantastic singer and musician, Austin related well to the audience and captivated all. We went into this event hoping our guests would…”
Johny R. said “Stefan took on a tough job singing for my friend at her birthday trail ride. He could not have handled the challenges any better and the music was great.”
Donna R. said “Joseph did a wonderful job performing at my husband's memorial service. He made himself available on short notice. We reviewed the music that I wanted…”