Tails from the Road #8 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

Tails from The Road #8 – Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

Life on the road, chasing your tail, in the search for some luck and live, sometimes you find that you barely have a moment to organize your thoughts and your bags much less take the hour or so to write about the day’s events. That being said, I am sorry to have had to take a couple of days off of my tour entries here. I’ve enjoyed sharing them with you.

Amsterdam was a fantastic place for me on this trip. There were so many great things in a two day span, that it is going to be hard to get them all into this blog. I was honored to be a part of The Amsterdam OBA LIVE Radio show. This is a nationally broadcast show that is about arts, culture, entertainment and politics. It was a listenership of somewhere near 50,000. It was pretty cool of them to have me on as the “entertainment” for the show. There were several authors and journalists and activists and local leaders on the show. I only wish that I had the slightest clue about what they were saying, as it seemed at times to get sort of heated!

The next day I was on another locally broadcast radio show about culture and “outside the lines” type of learning and culture. I was again honored to be the entertainment part of the show. There were several different hosts for the show, each with his or her own area of interest. I was interview by a woman named Gwen who’s area of interest was alternative learning and culture. I am not sure how I fit into that segment, but I was glad to answer questions about my thoughts on life, love, the soul and their effects on my music and songwriting. She decided not to translate my answers into Dutch, so I am very curious to know how my opinions were perceived by the listeners. I am not sure how more metaphysical topics translate since I don’t even know what I am talking about, I wonder how others can know what I am talking about…..in Dutch…no less!

I came home from a double gig night on Thursday to find a group of drunk Germans on my boat. They were very suspicious of me when I walked in at 2am with my guitar and looking rather spent. I, of course, was suspicious of them as they had taken over my boat with flags and cheese and empty beer cans and were smelling like cologne and getting ready to head out for a night of hash and singing of German Beer-hall songs. They thought they had rented the entire boat and I had to produce my key and unlock the door to my cabin and show them my stuff for them to leave me alone. It was rather annoying since I had been there for two days and they had come in for one night and taken over the place. They all came home at 4 or 5 in the morning and started throwing things around and being generally loud and obnoxious. The funny thing is that they were all in their late 30s or early 40s and were acting like college kids on a weekend bender in Amsterdam.
Needless to say, I got about 1 hour of actual sleep that night and was up at 7am to get on the road for my 10am radio interview at Radio Emmen. I was totally burnt for the interview and arrived in Groningen at around 1pm felling like a bag of shit! Fortunately for me there was a nice hotel next to The Café de Hertog Groningen and I checked in without much hesitation and went right to sleep!

It’s amazing what a few hours sleep will do for you! Followed, of course, by a triple cappuccino! Which, in Europe means that you have a double cap followed by a single cap. It’s just not possible to order a triple…..maybe they don’t like to get as jacked up as I do!

Let me take a step back and talk about the two shows on Thursday in Amsterdam. I played at Skek for about an hour and a half. This place is one of the coolest little café/restaurants that I’ve seen in a while. It’s full of young, hip college age kids and serves a very eclectic menu. They feature singer/songwriters a few nights a week and I was followed by an open mic. So, there were a lot of anxious musicians waiting for me to finish so they could get up and play a few cover tunes.

I finished my set at Skek and went around the corner to Molly Malone’s wehre there was another open mic going on. I was basically there for a live audition for a future gig. The owner, who is a very nice man named Mathew explained that they mostly like cover tunes. I had to say that I rarely do covers and was out promoting my new record and would be playing my own material. He allowed me to play and I ended up being very well received by the Thursday night locals and played for about 40 minutes. I guess I passed the audition as Mathew handed me his contact information and said “we’ll talk about a fee for a gig when you come back”. I actually ended up selling a few CDs to some German tourists who described the music, in a brilliant way I thought, as “hand made”. I love this expression and I intend to use it for myself as often as possible.

Keep this in mind as you remember the drunk Germans back on the boat. I’ve now done a 2 hour radio show, a 90 minute gig and a 40 minute gig….it’s 2am and I need to get some sleep for a 10am radio show. Then come the Germans!

OK….so I’m back in Amsterdam to finish the tour in style. I am back on The Piccolo and I have no gig tonight. I am basically a tourist waiting to leave to go home. I have no intention of reflecting on the gig until I am back at home and have a few hours of peace with my family. I can say that I’ve had a wonderful time and met some fantastic people. I’ve been to places that I’ve never seen before and I have filled my soul in ways that only travel can do.

I’ve included a bunch of pictures from the last few days……I hope you enjoy them;

Happy Bar Owner at Café Steils in Haarlem




Me and Jessica de Wal (Radio/Press for Jon Roniger “Charmed Life”)



Playing live at Radio Amsterdam OBA LIVE




On the deck of The Piccolo in Amsterdam




Self Portrait on board The Piccolo




Live at Skek in Amsterdam




Radio Emmen




JR and Morgan Finly at Café de Hertog along with a friendly patron




Me and my European Passtime



Chasing my tail on the Road!
Jon

Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger Website

Tails from the Road #7 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

Tails from The Road #7 – Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

I am going to have to include today’s Radio Show in this message. But I’ll begin with yesterday.

I was in The Hague (Den Hague) for a night and a wonderful show at Cafe Steils. The Hague, like a lot of European cities, was formed and seemed to have survived from the Cathedral outward. At the heart of every city that I have been to in Holland, and in most of Europe, the Cathedral is the focal point of the city. All else stems from it. It also seems to me that there is always construction going on when I get to the Cathedrals. DEN HAGUE was no exception.

Cathedral construction creates a real traffic problem in cities with tiny streets that all converge on it’s centre. Seriously, it is not a wonder why most people don’t drive….much less drive SUVs. Anything bigger than a matchbox on wheels is too big for the streets of Europe. Add in some construction on the local Cathedral and you’ve got gridlock. My next tour will be by bike!

I think that I digressed a bit….but you should have seen this traffic! Cafe Steils was fantastic and, for a Tuesday night, was packed. It’s a small Jazz, Blues, Roots, Acoustic music club about 200 yards off of the Centre Square in The Hague. I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a singer/songwriter named John Carrie.

The night started out with a bunch of young drunks partying and dancing and taking stupid pictures and screaming at each other. It ended with a bunch of older drunks partying and dancing and having a generally good time. The smoking ban has taken hold of Holland and there are always groups of people outside of every pub, café and venue smoking and talking. Just like in San Francisco in 1999, they are all complaining about being forced to smoke outside and they huddle in groups and feverishly chug down their cigarettes as if their lives depended on it. I hate to mock the smokers, as I used to be one, but it really is funny how some one who is deliberately killing themselves and everyone around them, can complain about being forced to SPARE US YOUR MISSERY!

OK, back to the task at hand. Today I arrived in Amsterdam for a radio show on Oba Live Radio Amsterdam. The show was from 7-9pm and featured politics, culture and arts. I was the arts part, I guess. There were writers and journalists and activists and they seemed to be having a great time arguing about what ever it was that they were arguing about. I have no idea what any one said, but it seemed to get a bit heated towards the end. I think that it turned to politics and religion and we all know what can happen when you start to talk about those things in mixed company. I was happy just to be the little music guy in the corner to provide artistic relief from time to time.

I have no idea what tomorrow’s show will bring but I am back in the same building at a different time for a different program. If you ever get a chance to visit the Amsterdam Public Library, I strongly recommend that you do it. There is a fantastic café on the top floor that has a wonderful view of Amsterdam and the food is REALLY GOOD!

Let me take another opportunity to thank my wonderful sponsors Digital Rodeo. I hope that you get a chance to make your way to the Digital Rodeo site and see what a great thing that they started.

Chasing my tail on the Road!
Jon

Tails from the Road #6 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

Tails from The Road #6 – Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

As fate would have it, my show last night fell through. I am actually relieved that it was a Monday night show and not a Friday night show. It happens once per tour and last night was “the once”. I actually showed up and the bartender was like, “who are you and why are you here.” The manager and I did a little research and discovered that the gig was never confirmed by either side. There was an email trail that had the date and time but never a mention of “OK…we’re confirmed for this date”. I was bummed not to be playing another show in The Hague, but I was glad to have a night off to hang out and taste some local flavor.

The manager of MUSICON, where I was supposed to be playing, called another bar to see about a last minute show. It was very nice of him. He called a place named OUDE MOL in the center of town, very near my hotel. I could not have been happier with the venue. There was not a chance of me playing there, but the acoustic duo that was on for the evening was fantastic and I met some really great people! The owner and bartender was incredibly nice and offered me a show if and when I return to Holland. They actually played my CD between sets. I had not heard that CD, “MY WORLD” in a long time and I actually enjoyed hearing myself in the bar as people talked and drank and smoked up a storm!

There was a woman there who had done booking for rock bands all around Europe. There was a local country/blues singer and his wife. The owner’s husband was a great local drummer and a local percussion player had stopped in to see the show. There was a gentleman from Sheffield, UK and three locals arguing over US Politics at the bar. I wanted to chime in, but they seemed pretty down on both parties. I didn’t want to get into a fight and decided that it was best left to them to figure out who not to be able to vote for.

I think that I might have done more to spread the word about my music last night sitting at the bar, then had I played to an empty rock bar across town. I actually even sold a CD! I managed to give away about 4 more CDs to the musicians and might even have a small ensemble waiting for me upon my return.

When you’re chasing your tail on the road, improvisation becomes very important! This is how you make the most out of a bad situation!

Until next time……
Jon

Here are a few more pictures;

Live in The Hague – Taken by a drunk!

The Hague Festival


Oude Mol Café in The Hague



Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger Website

Tails from the Road #4 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

Tails from the Road 4 – Sponsored by Digital Rodeo.

I have to say that, without Digital Rodeo. this tour would not be possible. Again, I must start by saying that I am honored to be carrying the DR flag! I hope you take a little time to go by the DR website and poke around. They are the most user friendly community website that I have been a part of!

Making my way through the Dutch countryside, I am taken back by the natural beauty and lushness of the waterway-ridden landscape. Green pastures and canals weave their way across the horizon and even at 90 miles an hour, I am amazed at how they never seem to end. Cows and endless fields or green dotted by humans on bikes. I will always remember Holland for it's affinity to the bicycle. It's got to be the number one mode of transportation in the country.

Actually, I was almost killed by a biker about 9 years ago when I was last in Amsterdam. First of all, there are lots of things to see in Amsterdam. The endless sightseeing can get tedious and is dotted only by the stops at the local cafes and partaking in the local freedoms. Anyway, I was stoned, of course, and walking back to my hostel when I heard the dinging of the tram bells. I am not sure how close they came to me, but I jumped out of the way just in time to get run over by a biker. They're probably not used to idiot stoners getting in their way….wait a second….I'm sure it happens all the time. Come to think of it, her should have known that I was going to get in his way. I was clearly stoned out of my mind and carrying a guitar. That should have been an immediate signal to stay clear of me. I had a limp for about a week from my knee getting smashed by his front tire.

But I've digressed! I was in Hardenberg for a radio interview yesterday at Blues Meets Rock Radio Show. I was honored to be a part of their fantastic show. The hostess, Gerda, and her husband Len, were kind and generous and I really had a fantastic time. I also got the chance to enjoy some of the local fare at Len and Gerda's local pub. Wiener Schnitzel was what I ordered and ate every bite!

The radio show features a variety of music from rock to blues and Americana. I felt right at home! I got to play cuts from the record, "Charmed Life" and a couple of new songs. I would love to do more shows like that! I am not sure of their listenership, but they mentioned that people in the USA and Argentina were tuned into the show. Their website gets 4000 hits a week and the show is streaming live on Saturdays and again all week long for anyone to download or listen to.

I've included some pictures from the tour so far in this email. I hope you enjoy them!



Live @ Steinbruch, Duisberg


Gibson Takes the Stage @ Steinbruch


Blues Meets Rock Radio – Herdenberg, NL


The Rambler – Eindhoven, NL


Den Hopsack – Antwerp, BE


Peace from the Road.....chasing my Tail...
Jon
Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger Website

Tails from the Road #3 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

Tails from the Road #3 – Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

Where was I last night….oh yes…in Duisburg, Germany! I played a great placed called Steinbruch Cafe. There was a big beer garden out front, a wonderful café inside where folks had gathered to watch the local football match and a fantastic venue in back. The owners had clearly thought about capturing all possible interests from their customer base. They served breakfast all day and food until late in the evening. I ate about five times yesterday. Those kind of eating days are rare on the road!

The venue held about 200 people standing. There was a great sound system set up to work for full bands. Great monitors and a lighting system designed for rock shows. I was right at home on a stage full of other band’s stuff. I would have loved to have brought my band with me for that show. But, alas, I was solo! I did, however, use all the monitors to make myself sound like a powerhouse. I was stereophonic on stage. It might have sounded like crap in the front house, but I was enjoying every note! The Sound man, Scotty (German name…..?) was very helpful in every way and even recorded the show. He plans to mix it down for me and send over the polished product. Let me tell you that this tool is unbelievable for a guy like me. First of all, I get to hear what the show actually sounds like outside f my head. But, I also get to have a “Live CD” version of the show for more product or promotional use. I’m thinking of using some of the show and some tour photos for a montage of the tour….a low budget effort on my part, but I aint no Fort Knox!

I have to give a shout out to my new friend Christoph who put me in his flat for two nights. He is one of those rare people that truly believes in paying it forward. He enjoys housing touring musicians and travelers. He likes to meet new people and in doing so has managed to travel to many places around the world and stay with the folks that he has met. For a guy like me, it is a real help on the road to be able to save 40-60 Euro. Over a twelve night tour, I can save a lot of money!

The bands last night were Nemo and The Loox. They managed to bring out a great crowd and I was pleased to play to a good crowd that had showed up early. I love “early” people. I can’t tell you how many times I have finished a set to have my friends/fans show up ten minutes after I am done. “Did we miss it?” It’s to the point where I wonder why I bother putting the time of the show listed anywhere. BUT, not last night. The people were there early and ready with beer and cigarette in hand. I call it a natural smoke machine. Every day that I am in Europe I am reminded of why I quit smoking. Hack coughs are everywhere and dry, grey, dehydrated skin is the color of choice amongst smokers. Coffee and a cigarette, beer and a cigarette, cigarette while you wait for the bus. I actually saw a couple of women in the Tanning Salon waiting to be nuked, smoking away. The irony was that the tanning salon was marketing itself as a way to “look more healthy”. I really should have taken a picture!

Ah…the joy of being on the road. Chasing my tail!

Until tomorrow,
Jon
Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo
Songs in the Raw
Jon Roniger Website

Tails from the Road #2 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

I'd like to start this by thanking my wonderful sponsors Digital Rodeo. If you have not been over to Digital Rodeo yet, you really should. These guys have started a very cool community of artists and fans. Artists are able to upload as many tracks as they'd like to their artist page and fans and friends are referred to as "neighbors". Even the people who started the community can be easily reached and actually respond to your questions and comments personally.
So, check out Digital Rodeo! While you're there you should pop by the Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo Page and say hello. I'd love to have you in the neighborhood!

Now down to the business at hand! I was lucky enough to be a witness to a wonderful celebration yesterday in Eindhoven, NL. September 18 is the day that Eindhoven celebrates their "Liberation Day". It was on that day in 1944 that Eindhoven was liberated from the Nazis. There was a parade with American, Dutch and British military. There were bands and flags and children with torches and people drinking beer and coffee and having a good time all around. It came as a complete surprise to me and I was actually proud to be there. Let me just say that moments like that make being a touring musician a very special thing. Here I am, a little troubadour, stumbling upon history. A history that I can actually feel like I was a part of. It was a proud moment for Netherlands and America.

The venue I played in Eindhoven was called THE RAMBLER. I was the closing act of 4 acts for the night. I was immediately reminded of some of the gigs that I did on Sunset Strip at THE RAINBOW. I would be wedged between a punk band and a hard core band. Last night I followed a Dutch metal band. The evening started with a woman on piano backed by a gentleman playing a cajon. She called herself "acoustic, soul punk". I was glad to call myself "Rock and Roll". The lines of musical genre are becoming so blurred that I don't even know what I like anymore. I'm pretty sure that I just like music. I don't care if it comes in a cowboy hat, with dreadlocks, layered in distortion, with a horn section and a piano solo or is delivered by the son of satan. If it sounds good and I like it, I don't care what you call it.

Let me refocus my tail. I've gotten a few comments about the use of the word "Tail" in my "Tails from the Road". Many of you might be saying....."what a freakin' idiot" and you're actually right. I am not the brightest bulb in the forest. However, I use the word "tail" to indicate that, in the business of being on the road, even the best layed plans are usually thrown out the window and improvisation and adaptation become the program. As soon as you think you've got it all worked out, the venue shuts down, the promoter has a stroke, the car blows up, your guitar gets stolen, the drummer runs away with a local hooker and authorities grab your passport and your bank card. That's right! You are now flying by the seat of your pants...."tail"...as it were. And, after all, that's life....isn't it?!

So, I played my set to a mostly rock laden room and was pleasantly received! I sold some CDs and the bartender, an all black wearing rocker chick, actually was the one screaming for an encore. I thought that maybe it would be the older gentleman who was so attentive during the set or the parents of the kids in the previous band or the drunks at the bar, but it was the rockerest of them all who enjoyed the set and wanted more. Even the sound man ended up BUYING CDs. I usually give the sound guys CDs to play between sets, but he refused to take them for free and payed for them. The owner wanted to give me a night of my own upon my return and suggested a few artists to contact for more gigs in the area.

Let me just go on record as saying that I am always surprised by the kindness of people. The willingness to help out. A smile and a kind gesture go a long way to a stranger. Please and thank you are understood by everyone on the planet. Maybe one day our world leaders will figure this shit out and we can stop this madness.

So, for now, I am going to keep singing my little songs and smiling and shaking hands and spreading love and music where ever I can......fuckin' eh!

Until Tomorrow,
Jon Roniger
Jon Roniger website
Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo Page
Jon Roniger MySpace Page

Tails from the Road #1 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

Tails from the Road #1 – Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

I am honored to be a part of the Digital Rodeo family and proudly pass their name around as I travel the globe spreading the cause of music. Make sure that you visit the Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo Page. Feel free to join the network and the neighborhood. Digital Rodeo is for everyone!!

Flying into Amsterdam is always a treat. Even if you’re not going to spend hours in a local café indulging in the local freedoms, there is always a bit of excitement about being in Europe’s playground. Folks from all around the world come here to let loose for a while. I, of course, am on a mission…a business trip…if you will….and don’t imbibe anymore.
Amsterdam is a great launching pad for any one who is planning a tour of Northern Europe. Easy airport to deal with and all the kids are speaking English. So, while you are completely out of place, there is always some one who can get you on the right track.
Let me begin by saying that I made one of the best touring musician purchases of my entire life recently. My good friend and musical companion Dustin Overbeek turned me on to the GRAMIN Nuvi 270 GPS unit. It has maps of North America and Europe in it. I cannot tell you how this has changed my life on the road. I usually plan for at least 2 hours a day of being totally lost…and I’m pretty good with direction. I got in the rental M&M auto (it’s so small that it’s about the same size as a bag of M&Ms), turned on my GPS, punched in the address of the first venue on the tour and off we go. Never a wrong turn. I actually did make one wrong turn and it recalculated immediately and I was right back on track!!
Anyway, my first show was at a place called DEN HOPSACK in ANTWERPEN, BELGIUM. Hanneke was a fantastic host in a small listening room type of local pub. One of my many under-attended shows, this one was special for me as it was my first live performance in mainland Europe. There about 20 people there but it felt like a good crowd. I sold a few CDs and everyone was generous in the cigar container tip receptacle that was passed around by Hanneke.
I am touring with songs from all of my last 3 records as well as songs from my weekly song mission called “SONGS IN THE RAW”. I sold CD packages with all of my recorded material and people were exited about having all of my musical life in their hands. It is nice to be in a place where, although English is not the national language, they understand what I am singing about and comment on my lyrics and their meaning to them. I cannot say the same about Dutch, Flemish, German or French. I am at a total loss when it comes to understanding and it makes me feel completely inferior. It’s still a bit of a mind bender to be playing your heart and soul out on stage and here some strange tongue at the bar followed by laughter and the occasional glance in your direction. I’m sure it’s all quite harmless, especially after the kind remarks post-show, but it takes me out of my game a bit during the set. I am going to have to work on that. It’s just that it reminds me of when I was working in a restaurant that was predominantly Hispanic in the kitchen. I would walk through the kitchen and they would say something to each other and then laugh as they looked in my general direction. Of course, I ended up learning enough Spanish to fend off the verbal attacks, but it took years and a ton of patience on their part. Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury here.
I slept through breakfast, as usual, and I’m enjoying some fantastic coffee in a café around the corner from the Hotel where I stayed. The drive to Eindhoven is about 90 minutes and I feel pretty confident that I will be there in plenty of time, thanks to my Garmin Nuvi 270 GPS. I should approach them about a Sponsorship.