People usually think of California and, more recently, Seattle, as the hotbeds of musical activity. While this is true, our own backyard should not be overlooked.

The Midwest may not be the next San Diego or Seattle, but there is musical talent right around the corner. After all, the Midwest has spawned 311.

Next up is Bo Ramsey, a blues rock musician based out of Iowa City, who has been receiving national recognition for his songwriting, distinctive, powerful guitar and record producing.

The Des Moines Register recently described Ramsey as “on the verge of fame,” while he has been lauded in Rolling Stone for both his guitar work and producing .

One could spend hours trying to describe Ramsey’s style and personality. Some have described him as Elvis Presley on stage and even off stage.

Some call him a genius, but perhaps the best description of him came from legendary singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, who said “he just drips cool.”

Ramsey’s life has run the gamut of personal experiences—first plucking out notes on his father’s 1934 Gibson guitar, then dropping out of college and hitchhiking across the country, and finally landing at the University of Iowa.

Ramsey started his first band, Mother Blues, with some Iowa City friends in 1974. That was just the beginning.

“Once you get in a world, you’re committed to it as a life-long journey,” Ramsey said in a press release.

Years later Ramsey is set to release his eighth CD and has earned the respect and praise from just about everyone who knows him.

He has opened for Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, and won a National Recording Association award.

Through all of this attention, Ramsey has not lost his focus, which is his music.

“Like all great players, he’s first and foremost a great listener,” Ramsey’s long-time friend and fellow Iowa boy Greg Brown said. “He listens to the song. He doesn’t say, ‘here’s my chops and I’m gonna stick ’em in.'”

Ramsey has helped Brown on a number of albums including The Poet Game, in which Ramsey donated his guitar work, as well as co-producing.

For now, Ramsey brings his energetic and powerful stage presence to Ames.

He is set to play MoonCookie Cafe tomorrow at 8 p.m. Tickets to the all-ages show are $7.

The doors open at 7:30 p.m., with no pre-sale tickets. MoonCookie is located at 1015 North Hyland.