Jon Roniger - SONGS IN THE RAW - singer/songwriter on a mission

Busy Bee - Songs in the Raw Spring Tune up!

2009-04-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

I can't even remember the last time I wrote on here. I could go back and find out in my little account manager area, but that would take me away from the moment. I need to write quickly and to the point...and with passion. I have one sick baby and one happy healthy baby and mornings can be tough.
SO, I've been busy writing with some great people. I've also taken on the task of recording some of my demos at home. I am going to put a few of them on my Songs in the Raw Myspace Page. I've been doing so much writing with other folks that my own writing has taken a back seat. I've got a bunch of ideas to finish up, but haven't got the time.
I'm going to put a few songs that I demo'd at home as well as a couple that were put on a friend's record. My friend Hollie Jett and I wrote a couple cool country-pop songs. The first one is called "Break Me" and the second one that I'm going to post is called "Skinny Jeans". I'll also include "I'm a Pearl" that I wrote with Connie Howard and "The Scar Remains" and "You've Got a Hold on Me" that I wrote with Marcia Ramirez. It's a good mix of tunes that were either demo'd at home or at my favorite studio in East Nashville, Eastwood Studios.
If you're interested in hearing what I've been doing lately, check out Songs in the Raw Myspace Page and leave me a message.

A bit of good news came down the pipe in the last couple of weeks. I singed a "Single Song Publishing Deal" with a company called Gateway Entertainment/Cornelius Companies in Nashville. The song is called "Crumbling Pride" and I hope that it gets cut by some one huge!! Fortunately for me, it's a song that I could never put on one of my own records since it's written from a female perspective. It's nice to see it find life in some one elses arms.

Anyway, head over to Songs in the Raw Myspace Page and drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you.

Peace,
Jon
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger Myspace
Songs in the Raw Myspace
Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo
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Song of the Week - March 11, 2009

2009-03-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's the long, cold winter. Maybe it's the fact that the world seems like it's collapsing on itself. Maybe I'm just really tired, but I cannot seem to write a happy go lucky song. You know...high school dating or college drinking or 20 something bliss. I can't seem to find the happy place....in my songs. Otherwise, I'm feeling pretty good about things.
"Buffalo Nickel" started out as a sort of happy tune and made it's way into a bath in self pity. I am not even sure when it changed. I was cruising along through the fist verse and all of a sudden I was in a dark cafe with rain and the smell of last night. I'm picturing a winter morning in New York before the snow falls. It's not cold enough to snow so it's just really cold rain. Quite different from the Santa Monica cafe that I often picture for happier songs. Why New York? Why LA? There's sun in NYC. Maybe all the Marvel Comic Movies have made their way into my psyche. I'm living in Gotham.

"Buffalo Nickel" is the latest entry on Songs in the Raw. I've got a few tunes up there from Feb and March. I'm actually almost done with Songs in the Raw Vol 6. I am trying to figure out a way to make all these available in a more convenient manner. Right now, Vol 1-3 are available on SNOCAP and through various paypal pages and Myspace pages, but I am not that happy with that.

If you come out to a show some time, I have all the SitRaw Vol 1-6 with me and all my other CDs, EPs and merch. You know...got to do what you got to do!

Anyway, head over to Songs in the Raw and let me know what you think of my personal Gotham. I'll get to work on some brighter tunes for you next time around.

Peace,
Jon
www.jonroniger.com
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Songs in the Raw - March, 2009

2009-03-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

I was having a nice chat with another songwriter the other night. I got off on this tangent for a while about writing a "hit." You know, those songs that you hear for the first time and you cant get it out of your head. These days you also have to factor in the songs that you don't really like but you her so many times on the radio that you cant get them out of your head. Some have the power of longevity and some fade away until VH1 does a show on "One Hit Wonders."

Anyway, I was saying that I have not felt like I've written a "hit" in a while. NOW, keep in mind that I have not ever had a real "hit". I am in a state of obscurity. No one knows who I am and no one plays my songs over and over again while they get ready for a Friday night. However, I have, sometimes, felt like I just wrote a really good song. It's a pretty cool feeling. You put the pen down and sit back with a grin saying "that actually sounds pretty cool."

I have been doing a ton of writing these days. I keep on chugging along with the weekly songs at Songs in the Raw. I've also been writing some great folks around Nashville. Anyway, my conversation with the other writer on Friday night led to to the rediscovery that it's not about writing "hits". It's about WRITING SONGS!! It's not up to me to determine which song will be a hit, if any. It's my job to write songs. It's the songwriter's job to see the world through song.

I've added a few new tracks to Songs in the Raw. Not saying that any of them are hits, but I am pretty happy about how they came out. "Growing Old" is a little diddy about how growing old is not all that cool. I've been reconnecting with a lot of my old friends. It's been great. At the same time, everyone has a story or two about some really bad crap that has happened to them. Sometimes, it's really really bad. The kind of thing that you would never wish on your worst enemies. We were 20 years old when we were friends and now, many years later, we've seen many fantastic and wonderful things, but also been put through the ringer. It seems the older you get, the tougher life is on you. So, "Growing Old" is about that. "No matter how you slice it, growing old is hell."

Another track at Songs in the Raw is "Alive and Well". I was pretty happy with this tune when I wrote it cause it has a little bit of that sticky factor. It's basically about a girl who broke my heart and how I really don't care what she's doing. "To me you're dead" is one of the lines in the song and I'm sure that we've all felt that way once or twice.

I hope that you go over and check out Songs in the Raw. The third song I posted is called "My Own Angel". Everyone needs their own angel. Mine would need to know how to hang out in late night pool halls, make sweet tea and find me some bar-b-q.

I ain't writing hits, I'm just writing songs....and I like it that way....although it would be nice to write a hit every now and then.

head over to Songs in the Raw and let me know what you think!

Peace,
Jon

Jon Roniger Songs in the Raw
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Feb SitRaw on the move!

2009-02-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

I've been a bit out of touch lately. I am sorry for that. I am not sure if it's the kids, the new president, the writing appointments that keep canceling, the fact that football season is over or the anticipation of Mardi Gras. I'm sure that I could pull out a few more excuses but I figured that 4 or 5 would do. I am going to make a real effort to stay on my game a bit more now that we're six weeks into the new year! Oh yes...it's flying by!

The thing is, I've been doing a ton of writing, so it's odd that I am not writing my blog more regularly. There are certainly plenty of things to discuss. Let's just dive right in with the last two songs that I wrote for Songs in the Raw. "Nice, Disguise" is a song about finding crap in your closet that belonged to an Ex. I think that we've all done it. At the very least, finding those random pictures that you have in the back of the drawer in the hallway closet under your 10 year old biking shorts next to that paper-weight you've been looking for. "Nice, Disguise" is about finding a sweater and a picture that lead me to the discovery that she had been seeing some one else and that relationship was probably the reason that she left me.

Now, maybe this has happened to you....maybe not. Either way, I decided to take the song to a place of malice. "It must be hard to be human when you're cold as ice." That's line that ends the chorus. The title comes from the first lines in the chorus, "You looked so nice, maybe that was your disguise." Have you ever known one of those beautiful people who is the meanest, ugliest person on the inside. Sort of a wolf in sheep's skin type of thing. Head over to Songs in the Raw and let me know what you think.

"Love for the Week" is the next song that you should listen to on Songs in the Raw. It's a song about love....obviously. We all go through rough times, I think that most people get that, especially now. I find it very comforting that I have my wife and kids to get me through bad days. "Love for the Week" is about days of noddle soup, rice and baked potatoes for lunch and dinner. I had an egg crate bed and a clock radio for entertainment. Going out meant a bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 and a $2 joint. They we still good times. Of course, for me, I was not involved with anyone at the time, but IT IF WERE, I would have been comforted by the love of my companion. Instead, little old me had to do it alone. Head over to Songs in the Raw and let me know if it strikes a chord with you.

I am going to try and be more diligent about writing my blog. I am busy writing songs and making demos and working the Nashville scene. I look forward to any comments or input from anyone.

All the best,
Jon
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger Reverbnation
Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo

Two More Songs for January

2009-02-01T05:22:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that January went by like that. I do have to say that it was a great month in the history of the world. I'm not just talking about the songs that I wrote. No, in fact there were some wonderful and incredibly tragic events that happened in the month of January 2009. I don't really want to go into it right now, I am here to talk about songwriting.

I have put two more songs on Songs in the Raw MySpace page. "A Thousand Words" and "Play the Fool" were posted a couple of days ago. I was trying to finish one song and the other one popped up in my head.

"A Thousand Words" is a love song. I talk about poets and songwriters searching for the perfect words to write a poem or song. I've found, that in affairs of the heart, words just get in the way. A look in your lover's eyes says it all. Check out Songs in the Raw MySpace page and let me know what you think.

"Play The Fool" is a melody that I had been churning around for a while. I kind of couldn't get it out of my head, but was never happy with the lyrical direction that I was taking. As it turns out, it's about the contradictions that life seems to display from time to time. "I've seen rain fall from a clear blue sky." "I've seen tears come from the eyes of laughter." "I've seen bad things done by good people." Things like that seem to happen all the time in this crazy life! "I'm not a fool, but I've been foolish." What can I say, I do it all the time!

Head over to Songs in the Raw MySpace page and let me know what you think. I love to hear from you.

Here are some more Jon Roniger links for you;
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger Sonicbids
Jon Roniger Reverbnation
Jon Roniger Facebook
Jon Roniger Songs in the Raw
Jon Roniger American Songspace

take care....keep on rockin!
Jon

Songs in the Raw - Week #2 - 2009

2009-01-17T18:33:00.000-08:00

"Numb and Number"...that's basically how I feel these days when I tune into the world's issues. I mean, can anything else actually go wrong. HEY....I'm trying to raise a family here!!! If you dont feel like reading any more, just give a listen at SONGS IN THE RAW.

The Middle East...financial markets...unemployment....SAINTS going 8-8 with world class talent. What else can possibly happen?

I think that we have become less and less connected to what it is to be a human! Everyone is so fixated on making sure that they're RIGHT!!! Who f*#cking cares if you're right, if you're dead! This is mine...that is yours...I want yours and you cant have mine...I'm not rich enough...you're too rich...your TV is bigger than mine..it's too cold...it's too hot...my job's not good enough....you're lucky to have yours!! I mean, what the f*#ck is going on? Neighbors are killing each other and blaming it on god. I am dumbfounded! No, I am numbfounded and getting numbfoundeder.

I only rant here on the blog. My song "Numb and Number" is a little more luke warm than that. I dont want to scare anyone. I am just writing a song to help get it out of my system. These days, I need to get the song done and loaded on to SONGS IN THE RAW, before I can get on to another song.

Seriously though....what the hell is going on? I don't have a clue!!!!!

Here are a few more links for your Jon Roniger needs;

Jon
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger - Songs in the Raw
Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo
Jon Roniger Reverbnation

First song of 2009

2009-01-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

I'm back in action after a few weeks off. Family, travel and general Holiday madness took me away from writing for a little while. It feels good to be back in the game. I certainly hope that everyone had a great New Years and arrived safe and sound in 2009.

I posted a new song on Songs in the Raw - Myspace called "Slip Up PHD". It's about making mistakes. I have made plenty of them. The phrase "you learn from your mistakes" came to mind. I am not really sure if I have learned from all my mistakes. I'm pretty sure that I have learned from some of them, but I also feel like we make the same mistakes over and over again. Sort of the human condition. However, if I was to learn from my mistakes, then I should be the smartest person in the world! Maybe I'd be a PHD....a slip up PHD!!

I also put a demo'd version of "Quickie Mart Rodeo" up on Songs in the Raw - Myspace for you guys. It came out really cool and I'm pretty happy with it. It also kind of fits the Songs in the Raw theme. We did it in one take and feels like a band vibe.

It's good to be back in the writing world again and I look forward to giving you guys some cool material to chew on!!

Here are some more links for you guys to eat up;
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo
Jon Roniger Reverbnation
Songs in the Raw

All the best,
Jon

Songs in The Raw - some new ones

2008-12-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Nicholasville, KY getting ready for a show with my friend Dustin Overbeek. We played in Danville, KY last night to a rowdy crowd of 12 people. It must be my bad luck, but I have a habit of playing towns on the day when the entire city leaves for a Holiday. Seriously, this has happened to me at least ten times. The bartender says something like "You should have been here last night. The whole town was out and partying...but they all left today!" My hope is that Nicholasville always gives Danville shit for leaving a week early. After all, it's December 13th....does Christmas vacation actually start now? Cause, if it does, that's a long vacation. When I was a kid, we got like a week off and we were so fried from mid terms it would take us through New Years Eve to get over the work load and start enjoying the Holidays.

All of this would have been true, if I actually did the work! I never worried too much about school....maybe why I am writing songs and looking for a bag of money on the ground where ever I go.

At any rate, none of that has to do with anything about the songs that I put on SONGS IN THE RAW this week. I've been doing a ton of writing lately. I am really happy with the folks that I have been meeting with to write. Maybe one day I'll include some of the tunes that I am co-writing on SONGS IN THE RAW. But for now I am happy to put my solo writes on there.

The first song is called "21st Century Casualty". I was thinking about the folks on Haight Street and how the winter must affect them. It must be tough to sleep in the park during the winter. I remember living in Colorado and every winter a few homeless folks would die during the winter from exposure to the elements. That's got to be a tough way to go! It feels like society gets to a point where you're just left behind. People care up to a certain point, but there is a line that gets crossed and the hearts stop bleeding and the hand outs stop flowing. No more pity, no embarrassment, no more sorrow, just a sense of "we'd be better off is you just disappeared". That's where "21st Century Casualty" come in. Like life is a war and there are some casualties in a war and some are acceptable. Head over to SONGS IN THE RAW and check it out.

The second song is called "It All Goes Slow Mo'" and it's a lullaby....sort of. I recorded it and looked at the little timer in the corner of the editing window and realized that it was 2 minutes long...with a 30 second outro. Hey, what can I do. If the song is over, the song is over. But I am pretty happy with it. It's a song about how it feels to be in love and with the person that you love. How it can be dreamy and magical and surreal. Time falls out the window and even the most mundane tasks become moments of excitement. It's a pretty cool thing! Check it out....SONGS IN THE RAW.

I hope that everyone is reflecting on an important year in the World's History and the History of our country. It's a brave new world....just glad to be a part of it!!!

Peace,
Jon

Jon Roniger Website

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Jon Roniger Songs in The Raw

Jon Roniger Reverbnation

Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo

Songs in the Raw - 2 new ones!

2008-11-30T06:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I had a chance to finish up a couple of new tunes over the Thanksgiving Holiday. I've gotten the recording process down to the very barest elements that the song needs to live. I record the guitars during nap time and lay down the vocals when the kids are being fed and are captive in their highchairs. I've had to get it done quickly, which I like. No time for second guessing and retakes on guitar parts. I'm getting better at making last minute decisions and living with them. Of course, the beauty of it all is that I can always make changes when it comes time to making a record.

"Noise Pollution" is the first song that I put down. Just watch the news and read the paper and you'll understand where this song came from. I wonder if the networks realize that they're pumping out so much news, most of it negative, that slowly but surely we're all becoming numb to it. It's more like noise pollution than important world events. I'm not even getting into the 24 hour loop that happens when there is something major. Try it one day. Leave the news on all day. Notice by the end of the day, you don't even hear them talking about the world falling apart. It's more like the hum of the refrigerator.

"Quickie Mart Rodeo" was an idea that popped up while I as writing another tune. I've spent a lot of time at 7-11s, Time Savers, Truck Stops, and various gas n' goes. It's kind of a trip. 3am in Nebraska on interstate 80 can provide some real world entertainment. If I wasn't in such a hurry when I was at the Quickie Mart, I might stay a while and soak it in. But that's the point of the "Quickie Mart". Gas up, grab a microwave burrito and diet beverage and hit the road. Barrels of sodas, candy of every kind, dirty magazines and a laminated map of whatever state you're in. How 'bout a pack of smokes and a slim jim? Maybe a gallon of washer fluid and a six pack of oreos might tickle your fancy. OH...don't worry...they got it!

Head over to Songs in the Raw on Myspace and check it out! Also don't be afraid of Jon Roniger on Myspace!

I hope that life is treating everyone well!

Peace,
Jon

more links;
Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo

Jon Roniger Reverbnation

Jon Roniger Myspace

Jon Roniger - Songs in the Raw

Songs in the Raw Nov 18, 2008

2008-11-18T05:43:00.000-08:00

"Life Goes On"...I only wish that I could tell my 15 month old twins that. The milk running out, the blocks falling over, the "must have" toy out of reach under the couch...this is not the end of the world.
It's the same at any age. I think that we all get down and feel like the mountain ahead of us is too hard to climb. I actually think about it every day! But, in the end, "LIFE GOES ON". You better find a way to pick yourself up by the boot straps and get going!

Here's the drill! Economy in the toilet...Wars popping up everywhere...bail out this...bail out that...foreclosures everywhere! All I know is that "Life Goes On". get out of bed and get to work. If you don't have a job, play with your kids. If you don't have any kids, go for a walk. If you don't like walking and you don't have any kids....pick up a hobby! Figure it out. There is always something that you could be doing to make life better, or at least tolerable. And, in the my personal opinion, burying your face in US Magazine and watching The E Channel doesn't count! I feel like, as a society we tend to look at how other people are doing instead of focusing on how WE ARE DOING! Who actually gives a crap about Brad and Angie? Heidi Montague can kiss my ass and I am insulted by stupid shows like The Hills and the new 90210. Life is too short to spend watching rich 20 year olds worrying about who broke up with who and what purse they bought this week!

For god's sake, Learn how to play an instrument. Break out a piece of paper and a pen and write something. Paint! Read! Rake the leaves! Meditate! Have sex! Do something...anything to help make your future look or feel a little brighter. "Life Goes On" but it will be over eventually! Find a way to see the brighter side and get on with it!

OK...sorry....I'm done now. I feel much better!

Head over to Songs in the Raw and check out "Life Goes On". There are a few of the newer songs still up there as well. have a poke around and say hello!

Here are some more AWESOME LNKS;

Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger Myspace

Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo

Jon Roniger Reverbnation

Thanks for listening!

Peace,
Jon

Songs in the Raw - Nov 16

2008-11-16T06:14:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about the few people I know that have married their high school sweetheart. I actually know more than you would think. It must be a really comforting feeling to know your spouse through the many changes that take place between high school, college and early adulthood. Kind of a trip to think about some one knowing all the tiny events that helped to form the person that you become. And, at the same time, you knowing all the events that helped to form the person that you love.

Were you an athlete in high school and now you don't even get off the couch? Was your wife a cheerleader and now she's a member of the PTA? Were you both big drinkers in college and now you barely even drink a glass of wine before you get tired at 8:30 on a Friday night? Did you used to smoke a ton of weed and now you smoke once a year when you get together with your college buddies? Were there breakups and make ups and little flings that caused massive fights and now you can't even imagine kissing another person? I am blown away when I think about how two people can stay together through all these little things and forge out a life and a family.

There has to be a really strong bond between them. Or is it the same for folks who met in their thirties and married quickly? Was there always that "perfect fit" and it just took some longer to find it and some found it early on?

Anyway, this week's song was spawned from that thought. It's called "There is No I" and it's about a couple who met in high school and stayed together through all the little changes. Check out Songs in the Raw and give it a ride.

Also, feel free to join the Jon Roniger mailing list via the ReverbNation easy form on the right!

Anyway, here are some links for you if you want to dig a little deeper into the Jon Roniger playbook;

Jon Roniger website

Jon Roniger myspace

Jon Roniger Reverb Nation

Jon Roniger - Songs In The Raw

Take care,
J

Songs in the Raw - Nov 7, 2008

2008-11-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

I am not sure if I told you about the new song that I put up on Songs In The Raw. It's called "Food For Worms".
I don't mean to be so morose, especially after the new "Election of Hope" just came down the pipe. But, it was on my mind and just came out. The title should say it all. I just thought that I'd remind everyone about it. So, head over to Songs In The Raw and give it a listen.
I've also just finished "There is No I" and will have that posted by the end of the weekend.
Stay tuned......

Peace,
Jon

Songs in the Raw - still here

2008-10-31T05:58:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh..it's been a long time. I need to check back in to let you know that I am still here and writing. Actually, I'm writing quite a bit. I've been meeting with some great Nashville songwriters and I'm getting ready to make another demo of some of the new material.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M DOING HERE!

In case anyone has been by the Songs in the Raw home page, I put three new songs up there at the beginning of October. It seems as if some folks have made it there since there are a few plays on the play counter. The songs are called "Punching Bag", "Crumbling Pride" and "The Man Who Loves You". I am pretty happy with the way they turned out. As always, with Song in the Raw, I try to get them done and out without too much thought and detail work. I like it cause it allows me to be able to move on to another song. Plus, there's always time to go back and edit later.

I have tow new songs coming down the pipe this weekend. I'll have them out for you on Sunday. ""There is No I" is about a couple who have been together a long time. I think that we all feel this way after years in a relationship. While you still maintain a sense of self, the feeling of "us" gets stronger and stronger.

The next song is "Food For Worms" which is a little on the darker side. These days I feel like I have to be on the darker side more often. I was accused, early in my writing days, of being too dark. I've written a lot of happy songs along the way and fell like it's time to get back to breakups, death, end of the world type of stuff. What the hell....no one's listening anyway!

So, keep an eye and an ear out for "Food For Worms" and "There is no I" in the next couple of days. In the mean time, try out the new stuff on Song in the Raw. Don't ever be shy! I love to hear form people about this kind of thing....or anything.....

Here are some more JR sites for you;
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo Page
Jon Roniger MySpace

Peace,
Jon

Tails from the Road #9 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

2008-10-01T05:39:00.001-07:00

Tails from the Road #9 – Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

I have to start my final “Tails from the Road” journal entry by saying that none of this would be possible without the help of Digital Rodeo. I am honored to represent those guys. I hope that you take the time to head over to Digital Rodeo and check it out. While you’re there, don’t be shy! Stop by Jon Roniger’s Digital Rodeo Page and say hello. I’d love to have you as a neighbor!

I don’t know about you, but I don’t sleep on airplanes. I just cant do it. I’ve tried many times and now that I don’t drink, it’s just not going to happen. I sat next to a guy that tried for like 5 hours to sleep and all he did was toss and turn and drive me nuts. Even the six jack and gingers that he drank when he got on the plane didn’t help.

So, back to my last day in Amsterdam! I was thrilled to have a day off in such a wonderful city, but I spent most of the day trying to figure out a way to make it go by faster! A stroll through the city’s canals and the red light district, an hour or tow spent writing and sipping on coffee at a local café…Amsterdam is a great place to spend the afternoon killing time.

I had some time to look back on my tour and the folks that I met and places that I saw. Even though every night was a great night, there were a couple of highlights for me. I had a Monday night off in The Hague and spent it at a place called De Oude Mol. I met some wonderful people there and actually booked show there for my return some time in 2009. It’s a tiny café on the first floor and a restaurant on the second floor. They have acoustic music on Sunday and Monday nights. The great thing about that is that most places are closed or don’t have music on those nights, so for a touring artist, it’s the perfect gig…dinner and drinks included!

My Tuesday night show at Café Stiels in Haarlem. I always have low expectations for early weeknight shows. It’s just that most people don’t go out on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday nights. I was pleasantly surprised at Café Stiels in Haarlem. The crowd was there early and stayed all night long. I also had the pleasure of playing with a fantastic artist named John Carrie. It was a great night and the owner was enthusiastic about having me back in 2009.

I can’t say enough about my radio shows in Amsterdam! Everyone that was involved with the shows were nice and gracious and a few of them ran clubs in the area and offered me shows for my return. I actually think that I got like four shows for my 2009 return out of my radio appearances there.

All in all it was a successful trip and I am looking forward to a return when I get a chance. My good friends at Digital Rodeo will be involved in with all my tours in some form or another. They have been instrumental in helping unsigned artists and independent music lovers find each other.

I hope that life is treating every one well….even in this tough time of debates, crumbling economies and terrorist threats. I am doing my best to keep it real and an unreal time!

Chasing my tail on the road!
Jon

Tails from the Road #8 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

2008-09-27T06:41:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-23T05:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-20T07:28:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-19T07:26:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

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.

New Songs for August!

2008-08-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure about you guys, but I spend a fair amount of time driving around the Country...and the world. One of the things that I like most about it is finding the little gems off the beaten path. All the little towns that aren't on any maps. Europe has an abundance of great little places that have been there, it seems, since the beginning of time. I love driving through and stopping for a bite or a cup of coffee. I love the "old world" feel of small town Europe. But that's not what inspired my latest entries for "Songs in the Raw".

It has been my travel around the USA that inspired my most recent entry to "Songs in the Raw". I find small town America to be incredibly interesting. I wrote a song called "Welcome to Nowhere" about all the little ghost towns that dot the countryside of this vast land. Places that used to be bustling, that are now dead. Maybe towns that were single industry driven or got swallowed up by neighboring cities and lost their identity. I am especially intrigues by the "one stop sign" towns that pop up on the back roads. Literally, one stop sign, vacant buildings, an old school diner and a post office with a tattered American flag dangling in the wind out front. Usually there is a real sense of American history here. A town that was once bustling with activity is now a ghost town. There's usually a barber shop and a dime store. Maybe a water tower with the name of the town fading on it's side. I love these little places. It's the heart of our country. Check out "Welcome To Nowhere" at "Songs in the Raw" for my musical interpretation of my experience there.

On a completely different note, the next song is called "Just Say When" and it's about on a relationship based on sex. I play the "bad boy" who likes to drink and hang out with his friends. A woman has fallen for me, but really, it's about the physical relationship.

I've been involved in a few relationships that were doomed from the start. Two people who really have no business being together. The songs is actually sort of true in that regard. I was a heavy drinker that had no business being in any kind of relationship....EVER....but hey......we all have needs.

Anyway, "Just Say When" is a self-indulgent man promoter song that you can give a listen to at "Songs in the Raw". The group of songs up there now are pretty cool and represent a wide variety of styles. I think you'll enjoy making your way through the lot of them. There are only 6 songs. Head over to "Songs in the Raw" and try it out.

On a different note, 24,000 people have viewed my video "The Way I Feel". I'm not sure how this is happening, but I recommend checking it out.

Here are some more links to my stuff;

Link to blog;

Jon Roniger Blog – Songs in the Raw

Links to Myspace and more;

Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger Music Page

Thanks for your support!!!!!!
Jon

Songs in the Raw!!! Back in July!

2008-07-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

Back from the dead! Yep...I have finally got a few of the new songs posted at . I'm still about 6 weeks behind. I have the songs done...I'll get them to you ASAP! I've started adding baass tracks to the songs just for fun. SO...I've added another step to the process. The good thing is that, I think, the songs sound better. The bad thing is that I spend a while getting the bass tracks right. It's kind of fun adding the bass tracks. I really like adding the bottom end, but my fear is that I am going to start adding drums and backing vocals and keys and....all of a sudden, it's not so "RAW" anymore. But for now, enjoy the low end!
"This Song Sucks", the first song on is one of my rants about the music scene these days. Sometimes I get sick of hearing songs that suck on the radio. Maybe it's just me, but there are a few artists that really suck, but thanks to videos, they have found themselves with a career in music. I guess that it pays to be good looking sometimes. That's what the songs is about....anyway.....
The second song is called "Miles Away" and it's about a relationship that's seen a few too many miles. Have you ever been around a couple that lives together but some how lives without each other. It's a bazaar thing. Like they're never on the same page, in the same room, never talk to each other or go places together. It's a freaking trip.
The third installment in the ongoing mission known as "Songs in the Raw" is called ""Aint Life Grand". So...I'm kind of a smart ass and every now and then it comes out in a song. I draw from the loss of a good car, being broke and dating psychos to create this song. After all the crap we go through in this life, it still beats the alternative....death. Of course, maybe then I could get some rest.

On a side note, my wife showed me last night that I have 23,000 plays on my video for the song "The Way I Feel". I was amazed! Check it out;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri3GXES1FdA

Here are a few links for my music and stuff!
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger Music Page

All the best! I hope you enjoy the music!
Peace,
Jon

3 Shows left on the UK Summer Tour

2008-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm five shows in with three shows to go on the July 2008 UK Summer Tour to support my new record "Charmed Life". I've had a great time at all of the shows. I've been playing songs from the record as well as some new material and some of the favorites from my last two CDs.
Last night's show in Edinburgh at The Village was another reminder of why I like to come here. People liked what they heard and bought s few CDs. HOWEVER, the attendance was underwhelming! I am not sure what else I can do to get people to attend the shows!? Songs on local radio...press...posters...I am not sure how to crack that nut!

I must say that I am getting tired of traveling all over the place to play to no one. I don't want to sound like a complainer, but I am not sure if most folks understand how hard it is to get your music out there. Or, how much work it is to travel around setting up your gear and playing songs for people. Not to mention the years it takes to get your craft up to snuf...writing songs...money for recording...endless hours spent researching venues and contacting them. I figured that each 1 hour set takes 10 hours of prep time...not including travel or money spent....hotels, food, guitar strings, CDs, gas, equipment.

Where would the world be if all the musicians and artists just stopped workign so hard to get their work out there?

What if you turned on your radio and there was was static and news. What if your favorite TV shows disappeared? What if the sports highlights came without a soundtrack? What if you sat at your favorite cafe and all you heard was the couple next to you fighting over who's working harder on the relationship. What would you do if you went out for a few drinks and the juke box had been removed. All the CDs you own suddenly went blank and the art on your walls and in the magazines turned white. When you opened up a new book and all you saw was blank pages?

The creation of art comes at a tremendous expense to the artist. NOTHING in this world is free....paint...canvas...guitars...pens....wood...work studios...CD duplication...gas...sketch books.....all of it costs money. When people don't pay for the appreciation of creation, it goes away.

People don't bat an eye at paying for food or wine. The cost of beer and peanuts at the local bar doesn't cause any kind of major meltdown. Yet music, poetry, art and literature are supposed to be free? I don't show up at the doctor's office and ask for my check up for free. My dentist wouldn't look into my mouth if they suspected that I might not pay them. Next time you're at the doctor's office, tell them that you don't believe in paying for medical care just like you don't believe in paying for music! Good luck getting your broken arm reset!

I guess I've gotten a little off track. I love what I am able to do. I consider myself blessed to be able to write and play music for people. I look at it as a gift to be shared with the world. HOWEVER, sharing that gift costs me a ton of money. Wine makers share their wine with the world....and they get paid for it. People show their appreciation of things that they find important to them by purchasing those things.

The age of free downloads and cafe entertainers has made the world lazy! NOTHING is free. That "free" download" cost the artist money to create. Ask about how much studio time costs....or a home studio...recording gear? The guy playing in the corner of your favorite cafe is, no doubt, loosing money by performing for you.

Do him, yourself and the world a favor and buy a CD or put a few dollars in tip jar. It won't kill you and it might just save YOUR SOUL!

Oh my god....it's been sooooooo long!

2008-06-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

Well....I think that I might be back! I'm a little dazed and confused but...I'm still alive. Let's see! Since my last post, I toured the UK, released my record and moved my family across the country (2500 miles with 9 month old twins in the back seat). Still I feel bad that I have not been on line to share that series of events with everyone.

I have been keeping up with the writing, but keeping up with the recording and posting. These days I'm feeling like I'm ready to get back to work. I find little chunks of time in each day to write and record. So...I've got the basic tracks (guitar and bass) down for 5 songs and have about 4 more to put down. Then I'll get to work on the vocals and post 'em as soon as they're done!

I thought that, in the mean time, I'd share a little bit about my thoughts on Nashville songwriting. I have several writing appointments in the next couple of weeks. I've also been meeting (mostly calling) publishing companies in the interest of securing a publishing deal. But...let's get to that later.

For now..co-writing....a strange and yet frequent occurrence in the industry of writing songs. You get the awkward first date vibe and the awkward co-worker you don't know very well vibe all mixed into one. Plus, you're trying to be creative and cool while getting to know each other. Strangers sharing feelings and ideas on the first date....maybe third date. Things that you're not sure that you're comfortable with, but are topic of conversation and become fodder for material. Some could describe it as having sex on the first date. Sort of, "let's get this done and see how we like it" type of thing.

Anyway, I've always had a good time writing with other people. There's something exiting and the creative energy that is born of two (or three....or more) people focused on an idea and seeing it come to fruition. It's like painting a fence. You work hard with your nose to the grindstone and before you know it, the fence is done and it's Miller Time!

I wrote with a young woman named Hollie Jett yesterday. We came up with a nifty little song called "Prayer for Hope". While the title sounds uplifting, the song itself is more on the depressing side. We started talking about seeing people crying...in their cars, on the street, where ever you happen to witness and breakdown. It happens every now and then. You're at a stop light and you happen to look over and notice that the person in the car next to you is balling their eyes out. What happened that made them break down in the car? What was the turning point? Was it a phone call as they left the house? Was is something that had been festering for weeks? months? Something incredibly sad they just heard on the radio?

"Prayer for Hope" was born out of that conversation. I pleased with the end result. I don't think that we wrote a hit song, but that's not for me to decide. It's our job as songwriters to write songs. It's up to other people to like them...buy them...take them some where.

Look for another post soon! I am writing more and more and will be posting new songs every week!

Peace,
Jon

UK Tour, April 2008 - here I come

2008-04-16T08:21:00.001-07:00

Hello Good People!

I am on my way to the UK for a 10 day tour. I'm very exited about this tour as I actually have some press and radio play rolling behind it. I've already been played on several BBC Scotland Radio shows and we've just begun! For the first time, I might actually have my ducks in a row. I won't let it go to my head!

I wanted to share some of the information on the radio shows, so you can email them to death and let thme know how awesome I am....throw in a request and say how much you love their show. If you're in the mood...and you should be....you can listen LIVE to the broadcast on the web! Good stuff!

Here's the info;
Bob Harris (Thursday and Saturdays) BBC Radio 2
email: bob.harris@bbc.co.uk
webpage: http://www.bobharris.org/pages/default.asp

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Tom Morton (BBC Scotland, weekday afternoons)
email: tom.morton@bbc.co.uk
webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/programmes/tommorton/

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Iain Anderson (BBC Radio Scotland, weeknights)
email: iain.anderson@bbc.co.uk
webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/programmes/iainanderson/

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Bryan Burnett (Brand New Country Show, BBC Radio Scotland)
email: bryan.burnett@bbc.co.uk
webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/programmes/brandnewcountry/

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ralph McLean (BBC Northern Ireland, Fridays)
email: ralph.mclean@bbc.co.uk

webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radiofoyle/programmes/ralphmclean/index.shtml

On Webnesday, April 23, I am playing in London at THE BEDFORD. They broadcast their shows in the web every night. Here's the link to that if you want to see me playing live in London!

the show starts at 7:30 Local London Time! I don't know what that equals here.....

www.whereitsat.tv/bblive.html

Head over to jonroniger.com/shows-jon-roniger.htm to see where and when the rest of the shows are!

For those of you who are interested in following the "SONGS IN THE RAW" saga, I have posted last week's song called "Purgatory" on www.myspace.com/songsintherawand give it a ride! I'll keep up with my blog as sort of a tour blog and maybe get a chance to record something while I'm over there....who knows?! Check it out jonroniger.blogspot.com

SORRY FOR THE INFO BLAST....but I had a lot of things to get out there.

I hope that everyone is doing well!

Peace,

Jon

Songs in the Raw - It just keeps going!!!!!

2008-03-31T19:03:00.001-07:00

Just in case you thought that I was joking about this "Songs in the Raw" deal, I AINT JOKING!
I posted two more songs this weekend that I think came out pretty cool. The first song is called "86'd By Dinner Time" and it's about a waitress running away with a short order cook. I've worked in restaurants for my whole life and it finds it's way into a song every now and then. Check it out at Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page.
I'd like to clarify a line in the chorus. The line goes "I heard you fire table nine". I worked at a place where there was no table nine. When one of the guys in the kitchen wanted to let the other guys on the staff know that an attractive woman had just walked in the place, they would yell "Fire table nine!" I don't know why I'm telling you this. Maybe it's so that you'll think it's as funny as I do when you here it in the song.
The second addition to the "Songs in the Raw" catalog is called "Something About the World". head over to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and give it a ride. I think that this is one of my favorite songs that I've ever written. It's no "Let it Be" or "Bridge Over Troubled Water", but it just really feels good to me. It sort of came out of a tribute to the song "Sugar Mountain" by Neil Young in combination with a line that I used to use when I was working in a bar. I used to say "this place would be great if it wasn't for the customers." The line in the song goes "this place would be great if it wasn't for those humans."
These two songs complete "Songs in the Raw Vol.3" which will be available in a few days. I'll have it available in MySpace as well as here.
For now, the SNOCAP Store is always open;

Here are the links to live by;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger Music Page

All of my records are now available through PAYPAL. Just use the buttons below;

CHARMED LIFE - $12

ADDICTED -$10

MY WORLD - $10

SONGS IN THE RAW VOL. 1 - $8

SONGS IN THE RAW VOL. 2 - $8

SONGS IN THE RAW VOL. 3 - $8

Welcome Back! Songs in the Raw

2008-03-28T06:22:00.001-07:00

Oh my god...I have been gone for so long that I almost forgot how to write a blog. Let me see if I can get it right.
Just for the record, I have been writing songs for the last few weeks, it's just been harder and harder to get them recorded and then write about them in this forum. But i am really happy with what's been coming out of the pen. Some might describe it as "out of my ass".
I have been back in Nashville for a couple of days looking for a place to live. My wife and I are moving the family back here this summer. Needless to say, I am really exited. I went out with a couple of friends last night and I already feel at home. But that's not the point of this story.
I am staying with a friend who is an engineer and has a ton of gear in his living room. On the way down here, crammed into the flying pill known as an airplane, I wrote a few songs. I record them in their primitive state on to Garage Band and was listening to a few of my latest ideas as I flew along at 500 mph. It's a pretty convenient way to write a song since you can replay the verse section four hundred times while you work through the lyrics or melody. At any rate, we took advantage of a few free hours and a ton of gear and recorded a couple of the songs that had been finished.
This is one of the most "RAW" recordings that I have done. NOT THE RECORDING....as in gear, or engineer, but in the way that I was still working out melody and lyrics as we were laying down the tracks. It was very refreshing to sit back and listen when it was all said and done and say "that's not a bad little song"!
First song is called "Other Side of the Fence". It's sort of my farewell to San Francisco song. It's a sarcastic look at running down the dream. Or, in our case, taking a step back and looking at what is really important in our lives and making the move to accommodate those things. Check out "Other Side of the Fence" at Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page. Let me know what you think.
The next song is called "Banana Seat Broke". It's one of those "where in the hell did my life go" kind of things. It's not that I'm complaining, but I could have sworn that I was just turning 26 in May.......that's just not the case! I would not trade a thing, but it has become apparent that I am not a kid anymore. No matter how much I act like one. It's another sarcastic look at growing up and reflection. Check out "Banana Seat Broke" at Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page. I am always open to comments and, by all means, become my MySpace friend. I love having more MySpace friends.

AS always...here are all the JON RONIGER links that you need;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger Music Page

My SNOCAP store is always open;

I am looking forward to hearing from you. Let me know what you think of the new songs. I am leaving in a couple of weeks for a tour in the UK. If you're in that neighborhood, send me a note or drop by a show!

Thanks for tuning in!
Peace,
Jon

Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger Music Page

Songs in the Raw - weeks of 2/9, 2/16 & 2/23

2008-02-24T13:21:00.000-08:00

Ok, OK, I know it's been a while since we last talked, but life can do that to you some times. I have been busy, though, writing and posting the songs on Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page. You can and should just check in there form time to time to see what's happening in my musical world.

Let me take a step back and tell you about the last couple of songs that I wrote.
"Southern Fried Women" is my first attempt at a country song. I throw in a few references to Bar-B-Q, Daisy Dukes, barns, pick-up trucks and Dixie cups. I tried to get it all in there and have it not sound too corny. I think that it came out pretty good! Have a listen for yourself - Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page.

Last week's song is called "I Remember You". I started thinking back about a girlfriend a while ago. We parted ways after a year of fighting and cheating and general bad times. I was probably not the best boyfriend in the world, but she brought it out of me. The songs took a turn towards, not just a memory, but a list of reasons why I blame her for all my faults.....joking....of course. But you've got to blame some one. I blame her!

This week's song is called "Fool For You". I guess it started as a love song...I guess. Basically, I'm a fool. I think that we all know that. But I'm also a fool for my wife. I've always liked that expression; "I'm a fool for you". It sort of says it all for me. No matter how far you've come in your life, there's this one person that just makes your brain go numb. I like it when my brain goes numb.

Well, I hope you enjoy the listening. If you ever want to leave a comment or write to me and ask about songwriting or whatever....fell free!

Here are some links to live by;

Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger Blog – Songs in the Raw

Here are a couple of videos from my tour in the UK last year with my good friend Rico!

YouTube Links from Jason “Lefty”
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHPpyRotcU
Over & Over

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9k082Ax996o
Electric

As always, my SNOCAP store is open for your purchasing pleasure. It's always Christmas at the Jon Roniger SNOCAP store!

I've also created a way to buy all of my music through PAYPAL directly from my website. Check it out;

Jon Roniger Music Page

Anyway, that should do it!
I hope life is trating you all very well. Get ready for Spring. It's just around the corner!

Peace,
Jon

Song of the week -SONGS IN THE RAW - "Crying Eyes Don't Seem To Care"

2008-02-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

Now this wold be two depressing songs in a row....I kind of like that. I used to play at a friend's bar. I did "Happy Hours" there and Sunday evening shows. It was really cool to have a weekly gig. I've had those before and really enjoyed the regular interaction between the regular customers and the staff. It's sort of like what I'm doing with "Songs in the Raw", but with a lot less interaction.
But, that's not why I am telling you this. The owner, my friend, would constantly ask me to play more up-beat songs. So, I learned a bunch of cover songs and played them along with my original material. Since then, I've written a lot of up-beat songs. Both lyrically and musically up-beat. AND I don't play any more cover songs at gigs!
Anyway....I am always glad to write another down-beat, depressing song in honor of all the bar owners out there. All those "happy hour" people who would probably rather hear "Come Monday" or "I Shot The Sheriff" another time, than something new and original.
HEARS TO YOU!

This week's song is called "Crying Eyes Don't Seem To Mind". I came up with the idea for the song while I was watching my children cry and scream...as they do from time to time.

The idea is that, the physical manifestation of the and the conceptualization are separate entities. Depression is a mental illness, yet there are physical manifestations of the illness. "Heart-broken" has nothing to do with a broken heart. Sadness and joy are not physical concepts, but they are manifested physically by crying or jumping up and down.

"Crying Eyes Don't Seem To Care" is about me wondering why my hands shake and my eyes create tears and my knees weaken when I am heart-broken. How do they know? Why do I get short of breath when I get extremely sad? Sorrow is not attached to my diaphragmatic control......is it?

Anyway...head over to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and give it a listen. I've still got last week's song up "When Are You Coming Home", so you can get a couple of good depressing songs under your belt before heading out into the day.

Here are all the links that you need to live!!!!
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

HERE IS THE SNOCAP STORE! Buy all the records on there. You'll enjoy every one!

Here are a couple of videos for your viewing pleasure!

“The Way I Feel”
Jon Roniger - The Way I Feel

Add to My Profile | More Videos

“Only Human”
Jon Roniger - Only Human

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Links again;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Thanks for taking this ride with me. I hope that life is treating everyone well.....
Peace,
Jon

Song of the Week (Jan 25, 2008)

2008-01-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

Now I'm actually ahead of schedule. This one just fell out of the trees. I could wait until tomorrow, but I'm a big fan of instant gratification! Plus this weekend is going to be a busy one.....as will the next.....and so on...and so on.....and so on....
Anyway, this week's entry is called "When Are You Coming Home". It's a short but sweet little number. It's for anyone who's ever been in love and missed their loved one. Either they left, like "see you later" or they're gone, like "see you in a couple of days".
Here's the funny thing. I spent seven or eight years (can't remember) being alone. I wasn't stranded on a deserted island. I wasn't locked away...just not "with anyone". I got used to sleeping alone. I enjoyed going out to eat by myself. I could spend hours without speaking to anyone and be very happy with that. Of course, I was a bartender/drunk/drug addict/party whore/ but if I wasn't doing that....I was pretty much by myself. My roommates worked during the day and I liked being alone. You really get used to it after a while.
But, then a relationship appears. All of a sudden you're doing things with some one else....and really enjoying it. The bed gets more crowded, but you don't care. You welcome it. No longer can you sit right in the middle of the couch, but you're happy to sit to the side. Meals are no longer a choice, they're a discussion. But you enjoy the time before the meal and the "what do you want" discussion (OK..sometimes that can be tedious...but I could eat at the same five places for the rest of time) as much as the eating and the conversation during the meal.
You're life is no longer yours, it's your and some one else's. It's a very cool thing. After a while, it becomes your life. You can no longer separate the two lives. Then, one day and some days you're back on your own again. Hopefully, for you, it's temporary. The bed got too big. The couch feels weird without some one else on it. Dinner alone gets boring. The house seems bigger and quieter. And you begin to miss the life you've been living. A life made for two.
Well, that's where this songs was born. Oddly enough, my house is never quiet. The kids see to that.
But...enough of my yackin'....let's boogie!

LINKS:

Jon Roniger Blog – Songs in the Raw

Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

VIDEOS:
Jon Roniger - Only Human

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Jon Roniger - The Way I Feel

Add to My Profile | More Videos

SNOCAP STORE: NOW FEATURING "SONGS IN THE RAW VOL 1" and "SONGS IN THE RAW VOL 2" as well as "CHARMED LIFE"!

I hope you like what you hear! I've really enjoyed all of your feedback! Please fell free to leave comments and send me messages. That's why I'm here.

LINKS AGAIN!

Jon Roniger Blog – Songs in the Raw

Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

PEACE,

Jon

Songs in the Raw "My Favorite Bridge" and "Box of Pictures"

2008-01-19T19:43:00.000-08:00

If you're just in the mood to listen...go here;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

It's been a couple of weeks since I've written in this blog. But, I've posted songs this week and last week. Funny thing is that when I wrote my last entry, I was in the middle of kind of a writer's block. I was writing all the time, but nothing was making sense. Nothing was coming together in the form of a song.
I was very happy to hear from several people who are lyricists offering their services. I am still considering working with other writers and have in the past. It's always been a rewarding experience. I've found that it's a great way to gain new perspective on the craft of song writing. But for now, I am sticking to my own writing. I've been really busy the last couple of weeks with various ideas and working on letting them grow.
Now.....I'm not Paul McCartney.....I just write songs. No one is going to remember these songs in 50 years. But, I write them cause I feel strongly about things and need to write about them. Sometimes I just write because it's "what I do". I'm too far along in this thing to go another way. Sometimes I wish I could.
Anyway, enough of my yackin', let's boogie.
Last week's song is called "Box of Pictures". I was lying in bed watching, but not listening to a show on the band Death Cab for Cutie. The show was of them on tour. They were stopping in all the towns that I have been stopping in during the last couple years of touring. I felt like I was watching my own tours over again. The song "Box of Pictures" came out of me while i was watching this show.
Obviously, it's about looking through a box full of pictures. When I do this, it always freaks me out. How young I was, the hair styles, the cars we drove, all that crap. Sometimes it's not so good to relive the past. It sort of depends on how you lived it the first time. Maybe that's reason enough to live a good wholesome life. So, when you look at the pictures of it, you don't get sick to your stomach thinking about what an ass you were.
So, there it is....."Box of Pictures".

This week's song is called "My Favorite Bridge". It all started with a phrase that I couldn't get out of my head, "Never been the one to....". I kept coming back to things that I am not inclined to to like throw in the towel, be careful, run scared, all that type of stuff. I'm always going to follow my dream. I'm always going to double down or split a pair of Aces. It's just the way that I am built.
When I was at summer camp one year. We were out on a trip to canoe a river that was extremely cold. I guess the water ran cold all year long, since it was July and the water was 42 degrees...or something like that. I actually don't have the stats on me at this time.
Each person was asked to come to this bridge a little ways upstream from where we were going to put in. The councilor would take your paddle and toss it off of the bridge then tell you to jump in after it. Some of the kids froze on the bridge. It wasn't very high. But the water was really cold. Plus it was moving very quickly. If you waited a couple of seconds, your paddle would be way down river and you'd be swimming for quite a while before you got to it. The point of all of this was to desensitize you to the coldness of the water. When your canoe tipped during the trip, you wouldn't be freaking out about the temperature of the water, you'd be focussed on the task of saving yourself and the boat.
The point of telling you this story is that I was thinking about this story as I wrote this song. When the councilor took my paddle and tossed it in the water, I was in mid air before he could tell me to go. I like jumping from bridges.
I use this memory as "My Favorite Bridge". No fear! You're not going to achieve anything if you don't take any chances. What's your bridge....go ahead and jump!

OK....I've talked long enough.
Here's the usual stuff.....video, SNOCAP, links

Jon Roniger - Only Human

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Jon Roniger Website

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

As always, I love to hear from you.
Peace,
Jon

Songs in the Raw "Man and Guitar"

2008-01-05T20:27:00.000-08:00

I've hit a wall! I've got like 3 songs that are just music, but my brain can't put together the lyrics. I've actually been writing a lot, but I'm just not happy with what's ending up on the page. So, I've pulled up one of my favorites that hasn't ended up on any records yet. It's a cool song that sounds really nice as a "Raw" tune.
The song is called "Man and Guitar". I was talking with my cousin who is a visual artist. We were at one of her shows and we were discussing where her inspiration came from. She told me, the for this particular piece, she was inspired by seeing a bunch of my solo shows. She was intrigued by the idea of a man (or woman) and a guitar. The old school traveling minstrel. She liked the idea that the artist was a self-contained unit. Let me just say that it's a great way to stay creative. I can write a song that day and play it that night.
My cousin also loved the idea of the simplicity of the arrangement. There's no hiding behind the drums beat or horn section. The song is exposed for it's strength or weakness. Her piece was very much about this last idea. It was simple, but strong and stood on it's own without pretense or extensive explanation. It's intent was clear and the viewer could clearly see where the artist had come from.
"Man and Guitar" is a song about what it feels like to be out on the road playing shows in strange places to strangers. It's lonely and invigorating. It's scary and educational. I've learned a lot about myself and my music. My confidence has grown and I'm slowly learning how to make my way through the world of the traveling troubadour.
Head over to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and give it a listen.
As always there is "Man and Guitar" and a bunch more songs to buy at my SNOCAP store;

Here are some more links for your JON RONIGER needs!
Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Here's my video for "Only Human"......off my new CD "Charmed Life"
Jon Roniger - Only Human

Add to My Profile | More Videos

I hope that this finds everybody well!!!

Peace,
Jon

Songs in THE RAW!! "Maybe the Night"

2008-01-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been away for a while. I don't even remember how long it's been...a couple of weeks, I guess. But, I am very happy to be back in the saddle. I recorded a song last week called "Feel Good". It's a song that I wrote a while ago, but hasn't made it to the public yet. I wanted to get it out of my head and into the world. So, you can head over to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and give it a ride.
This week's entry is called "Maybe the Night (Maybe the Fear)". I worked with this one for a couple of weeks and finally sent it to press last night. I'm not sure what took me so long....maybe I am loosing more of my brain every year than I thought. I think that it might have been that I was trying to leave my usual song writing structure behind. For this one, I wrote the lyrics first and then the music. I usually do it the other way. This was a real test for me. I did not find it easy.
The lyrics came form the idea that fear, misfortune and/or bad luck could all be seen as a catalyst for change. Perhaps that's what they alway have been, it just depends on how you look at it.
If you're scared pf the dark, just remember that night always follows day and in turn gives birth to the day again.
If you're scared, maybe it's for good reason. Fear awakens the animal instincts. Probably what kept us from being eaten by lions in the jungle.....or not....
Tears and pain go hand in hand. Perhaps tears are the body's way of washing the pain away....a cleansing...
At any rate, we all have felt fear, pain, beaten, worn thin. We all have coping mechanisms. Some we develop from our personal experience and some are innate. They are part of the human existence and with us for a reason.
I hope you enjoy the song. I am alos going to put down another older song this week. I'll keep you posted.
Head over to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and listen to "Maybe the Night (Maybe the Fear)" and "Feel Good". Keep your eyes and ears out for another song tomorrow.
Here's a video from my new CD "Charmed Life"..it's called "Only Human".

If you're in the mood to purchase any of my songs from SONGS IN THE RAW or from my new CD "Charmed Life", feel free to stop by the SNOCAP store;

Thanks for a great year in 2007....I hope we all have a successful and safe 2008!!!!

Peace,
Jon

links for your pleasure;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Songs in THE RAW!! "Christmas Brawl"

2007-12-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

It's The Holidays again and I am always reminded of family. Oysters Rockefeller at my grandmother's Christmas party. Turkey, gravy, stuffing and eggnog oozing from my pours. I always think of Bourbon around this time of year. A good dark liquor on the rocks and a the air so cold that you can see your breath as you wet your lips with the alcoholic nectar. Scarfs and overcoats make a nice addition to the Holiday wardrobe of suits and Santa hats.
The Holidays also remind me of family feuds, drunk uncles and bad presents. I've always wondered what happens with Santa and is family around the Holidays. Does he have to go through a few road blocks before getting to each drop zone. It must be hard to work every Holiday. I'm sure, that with the pressure, there have been a few Christmas fights around the Claus House. Plus the elves are working their buts off all year long and do they get the Holiday off?
My song this week is called "Christmas Brawl". It's a story about Santa and an elf getting in a fight in my house. Santa decides to come in through the back door, the elf cleans out my bar, the tree catches fire and animal control has to come to restrain the reindeer. Dogs and cats living together....madness!
This song was written for a friend of mine who requested a Christmas Song. I hope it satisfies the craving for a Holiday treat.
Check it out at Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and let me know what you think. Myspace not lets you keep 6 songs up on a page, so the last few weeks' entries are up there as well.
You can go straight to the SNOCAP Store and purchase your very own "Christmas Brawl" to put in your iTunes or where ever you need it.
Here it is;

If you have not seen the video for "The Way I Feel"....check it out;

Here are all the Jon Roniger related links that you might need for your listening and reading pleasure;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Holiday and New Years!!!

Peace,
Jon

Songs in the Raw "Get Over It" - Dec 8, 2007

2007-12-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

I'm still firing away at this illusive target. I've decided to give myself a break and just say that I am on track. It's kind of like hitting the reset button. Plus, since hardly anyone is reading these things, I though that no one would care if I missed a week here and there. The holidays and travel took me out of the game for a week or so, but that kind of thing is bound to happen.
This week's installment is a song called "Get Over It". I borrowed from my own experience and the experience of a couple of my friends to put this one together. The idea stems from failed relationships and your involvement in them. I find that, if you dig hard enough, you find that you are at the root of your problems. Whether they're work related, relationships, family or general day to day operations, YOU are the one at the bottom of your issues. Hence the title "Get Over It". What I'm saying is that you need to get over yourself.
I know that in my past failed relationships, I had a lot to do with the downward spiral they eventually took. For me, it centered around drinking and drug use. Which, of course, stemmed from fear of failure, fear of success, fear of commitment and general self deprecating. It's all fun and games until some one gets hurt....some one always gets hurt!
Specifically, this song revolves around the need to be loved to fill a void of self love. Not the kind of self love that is actually arrogance or grandiocity, but the self love that allows you to share yourself with another human. One of the first things they ask you to do in a treatment center is to forgive yourself. It's not easy to forgive yourself when you're a total jerk.....but you have to start somewhere.
Well,
enough of my babbling. Head over to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and give it a listen.
If you're in the mood for a different style of music, I have some rock tunes on Jon Roniger MySpace Page and if you just want to hear some of the songs from my new CD "Charmed Life" you can play them directly from this player;

My Snocap Store is always open for your purchasing pleasure;

I hope you enjoy "Get Over It" and the rest of the music. I am already working on the song for next week. I think it's going to head in the "Who's that jolly red drunk in my living room" type of theme.

Here are a few of the links you need to live;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Peace,
Jon

Songs in THE RAW!! "Blind Fate"

2007-11-27T08:50:00.000-08:00

Well..the Holidays are starting to mess with my mission. I am a little behind on my plan, but I am ready to make up for it.
Let me start by saying that I hope that every one had a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you're not from the US, it's the day we celebrate when we invited the Native Americans to dinner, fed them, then stole their land and began the genocide. I wonder if the Casinos on Reservations in this Country have a "No White Man" rule on Thanksgiving. Or is there some kind of reverse celebration honoring their ancestors who were repeatedly lied to by The US Government.....this is what I wonder about on Thanksgiving.
I don't even want to get started on Christmas. Let me just say that I was a little sickened by the people lining up at shopping centers around the country to "get in on the deals". If they were that concerned about saving money, maybe they shouldn't be BUYING ANYTHING!?!?!

OK...I'm over it....This week's song came to me as I was thinking about the course that my life has taken. I made a few decisions...some good...some bad....stood idly by while things unfolded around me....missed out on this....drank too much of that....slept through a few major events....watched too much TV....not enough History Channel....didn't call my parents enough in college...maybe shouldn't have dropped Accounting....SURE...I could read more...all of this is true, but it has lead me to where I am today. Which reminds me, I really ought to write this blog before I write the song. I missed a few things during the songwriting process.

The song is called "Blind Fate". It's about the messed up road we take to finding "true love". Also a little bit about the miracle that is the human life. Every day is a blessing. We should treat it that way. I'm going to stare at my kids....go to the gym....enjoy a nice cup of coffee....maybe a light lunch....play my guitar and kiss my wife. All before noon!

That's what I call a good day!

So here are the links to the music....store....myspace....the awesome video that I made with Glenn Sweitzer....and all that crap!

Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

Songs in THE RAW!! "Way Down and So Low"

2007-11-17T16:52:00.000-08:00

Well, how and the heck are ya? It's been a while and I am glad to be back in the saddle. I hope you have been enjoying life and preparing for the holidays. It's been a crazy few weeks for me...travel...family....growing infants. I posted three songs a few weeks ago to keep up my end of the bargain. Now I'm a day late for this week's entry, but I hope you'll forgive me.

I wrote this song in honor of those who think that they are "the man", "the boss", "ruler of their own domaine", "the cat's meow", "all that and a bag of potato chips". It's my belief that self praise is no praise at all. I like to laugh at people who think highly of themselves. How 'bout a little humility my friends?

As I watch the self-inflated go through life, they seem to always end up on the down and out. Why is that? I think it's because no one likes to hear about how great you think you are. So when things go a little wrong, no one is going to help you find your way again. According to you, you always know your way. You've never needed help before, or laughed when it was offered and now people actually enjoy watching your ship burn. or maybe it's just me that likes to watch.

Anyway, this week's song is called "Way Down and So Low". It's not a Blues song....sorry.
Look for it at Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and enjoy!

If you're in the mood to purchase;

I was in Nashville a couple of weeks ago and made a video. Check it out and pass it along if you like what you see and hear.
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Here are the links you need for healthy living;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

If you want to hear the songs from my new CD "Charmed Life" just go ahead and use this handy dandy player;
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You might want to sign up on my mailing list.....just scroll on down the page...it's there;
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PEACE,
JON

Songs in THE RAW!! Nov 6, 2007

2007-11-06T13:48:00.000-08:00

I have been travelling for the last week...Nashville and New Orleans. Family, friends, music, work and play. I have not been at home to record my SONG IN THE RAW - Songwriter on a Mission, but I did manage to put up THREE songs last week for your listening pleasure.

So, for this week, something new and SUPER COOL! I made a music video while I was in Nashville. It's to a song called "The Way I Feel".

Here it is.....

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Share it with your friends, share it with your family, share it with your co-workers, share it with your special some one, share it with the people you hate......JUST SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!

Love to hear from you.
Peace,
Jon

Songs in the Raw! Oct 27, 2007

2007-10-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

I deeply regret that I am going to be unable to RECORD songs for the next couple of weeks. I am heading to Nashville for family and business and then on to New Orleans for football and family. I'm very exited to be back in Nashville. I am recording a video for the first single on me next record. I'm also meeting with "Music Industry People" talking about distribution and promotion for my new CD. It will be a learning experience, no doubt.

So, in order to keep up with my weekly SONGS IN THE RAW, I am posting THREE songs this week. I'm also going to be writing from the road and I'll be back in the home studio as soon as I get home again.

Let me just tell you about the three songs;

"Live in my Hell" is another song about the Haight Street "people". I pass them all day long as I get coffee, run to the grocery store, buy some t-shirts, pizza, whatever. I wrote this song as I day dreamed out the window with my guitar in my hand. It's my song about what I think it might be like living on the street. There is so much that can go wrong in this life. Almost anyone can end up in a bad way. I pray that it never happens to me.

"Seeing This Girl" is a true story about a girl that I dated briefly. She was a bartender at one of my local haunts. As it turned out, she was dating a local rock star who was on tour all the time. I guess she was bored and had nothing better to do, so she went on a few dates with me. She actually said that she "sort of" had a boyfriend, but he wouldn't mind if we went out. We never kissed, we never did anything except dinner. She really just cost me a lot of money....that's about it.

"Heaven Tonight" is a song that I wrote watching the sun go down. What can I say, I am mystified by the sun and the moon and the changing of the seasons and all that crap! It reminds me of what it means to be human and alive on the earth.

I hope that you get a chance to enjoy the music. Make sure you go to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page to give things a listen.

The SNOCAP store is always open for you.....check out the "SONGS IN THE RAW Vol 1" record that I created. 14 songs for $7.99. That's quite a steal!

There are so many people that you need to support. You can do it by signing up with EVENTFUL!

Find me on BEBO!

Jon Roniger http://jonroniger.bebo.com/

So many damned links to live by;
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Listen to songs from my new CD "Charmed Life"

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I hope you enjoy the music! Let me know what's happening in you lives!
Peace,
Jon

Songs in the Raw - Oct 21 - "Perfect Reason"

2007-10-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

I had a friend request a topic for this week's installment. I love that! I hope that more people reach out and send me their suggestions. I can always use a new idea. My brain is small and overworked as it is. I lost a lot of it in the 1990's and what I have left is burned in the wee-hours of baby feeding. I anticipate a later life of drooling and blank stares. And I'm talking about next year!

At any rate, my friend finds herself in a situation that I've seen in a lot of my friends over the years. A series of bad relationship decisions by smart people, who should know better, leading to questioning whether or not they could ever find that "one true love". I see it happen all the time. It takes a variety of forms, but the one that I am focusing on is the person who only wants what is unavailable or that does not want them. I guess they're the same thing, cause in the end.....never gonn get it...never gonna get...never get it!

As an observer, it's easy to see that this type of behavior is a way to avoid confronting the internal issues of why they're not happy. It's easy to blame a doomed relationship. "They lived out of state". "They wouldn't divorce their wife". "They just got out of a serious relationship". "They are focused on their work".....there are a bunch more excuses. They all add up to "unavailable". Most of the time, if not all of the time, this information was known from the onset. Deep down inside, it was a way out. A way to run away without holding yourself accountable.

Anyway, I wrote like 2 songs about that type of thing, but wasn't really happy about the finished product.....so I didn't end up writing about that at all. But, it did lead me to the a pretty cool little song about how sometimes the best relationships, and usually the most successful relationships, are between two people who are "opposite" in many ways, but find that together, they complete each other.

This week's song is called "Perfect Reason". I've also added a bonus track called "With Me". It's what I like to call a "little diddy".

Make your way over to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page to listen to "Perfect Reason" and "With Me".

You can find more rock and roll and tracks from my last three CDs at Jon Roniger MySpace Page and Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page.

Don't be scared of my SNOCAP Store. It's easy to use and full of great tunes. I created an album called "Songs in the Raw Vol 1". It contains 14 tracks from the first three months of my Songs in the Raw entries. You can buy it for $7.99. That's one hell of a deal.

Here's the store;

Also, join up with EVENTFUL and let your favorite bands know where you are and that you love them! It's easy to use and is really helpful to artists in deciding tour dates and destinations.
Here it is;

You can listen to tracks from my upcoming CD "Charmed Life" by pressing play on the player below. All of these songs are currently available for download from A&R Select. Follow the link below;

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Here are the links you need to get through this crazy life;
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger’ other MySpace Page
Jon Roniger MySpace Page
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

I hope that life is treating all of you well! Enjoy the music!
Peace,
Jon Roniger

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Songs in THE RAW!! Oct 13, 2007 "Never Had a Reason"

2007-10-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hey there everybody. I'm back for another week of SONGS IN THE RAW! - Songwriter on a Mission.

I approached this week's song a little differently. I'm sort of experimenting with different ways to create a song. This week I tried to keep the melodic and chord structure simple...I guess they're always simple, but this week with it's simple with intention. Then I went after the lyrics with the idea of a non-existant rhyme scheme. Sure there are a few rhymes here and there, but I stayed away from ABAB and other more traditional schemes. The result was something a little off MY beaten path. Probably not so unusual for some writers.

This week's song is called "Never Had a Reason". I took the idea for the lyrics from a realationship that I was in a long time ago where the girl I was dating cheated on me...more than once...and was LESS THAN COOL TO ME. Really, she was crazy! i was was young and stupid and hadn't figured out yet that college was for cheating and being cheated on...isn't that right?

It sort of stems from the idea that the person who is cheating is the person who accuses the other person of cheating. If you can't trust yourself, you can't trust your partner. If your the one being faithful, you generally don't think about the other person being unfaithful. At least that's the way that I've found things to work.

Try this one on for size! "Never Had a Reason" - Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page and look for more AWESOME music by me at Jon Roniger MySpace Page.

DONT'T FORGET TO BUY YOUR "Songs in the Raw VOL 1" Album at my SONCAP Store. You get 14 fantastic tunes for $7.99!!!!! MY GOD MAN....you can't do that! Oh yes I can...it's my music and I'll sell it for as cheap as I want!
HERE'S THE STORE;

Take a listen to some of the tracks from my new FULL BAND record "Charmed Life"
Just click PLAY;

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Join Up with EVENTFUL and find your favorite artists. Let them know you love them!

HERE ARE THE LINKS YOU NEED TO SURVIVE;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger MySpace Page

Jon Roniger Website

I hope that everyone is well!
Peace,
Jon

Songs in the Raw! Oct 6, 2007

2007-10-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

"The biggest shame of it all is no one's running after her" is the chorus line for this week's song. I know people who are self destructive in many ways, but it's most evident in their relationships...or lack there of. I wrote this week's song based on a person I used to know well. She would rather run away than become too close. Close enough for it to hurt when she was dumped or cheated on. She found it easier to run away. She never kept too many belongings. It seemed like her suitcase was always packed.

No...she was not my girlfriend. I just found it to be such a shame that some one could sabotage their own life in such a way. Maybe it was because she didn't know how to be happy. Maybe she didn't know how to love herself first. Maybe she hated herself....I should have asked her those questions, but it might be awkward to do it now. Just call her up and say, "why don't you love yourself ?" She's probably happily married with 3 kids living in the suburbs playing golf twice a week and an upstanding member of the PTA.

HEY....it's just a song! And it's called "Torn Duffle of Dreams". The kind of duffle that has seen thousands of miles and been over stuffed a hundred times.

Give "Torn Duffle of Dreams" a listen at Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

This week I have created a "SONGS IN THE RAW VOL. 1" Album on my SNOCAP store. It includes 14 songs from the first three months of my mission. It only costs $7.99. WHAT A FREAKIN' BARGAIN!!!!! That's half off!!!

The Jon Roniger Store is always open!

Join up with EVENTFUL and let me know where you are! There are tons of awesome bands there and you should let them know where you are and that you want them to come and play in their home town.

For more great JR Stuff!
Jon Roniger MySpace Page
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Jon Roniger http://jonroniger.bebo.com/

SEND ME A NOTE......LEAVE ME A COMMENT......IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?

Hello...hello...hello...is there anybody in there...just nod if you can hear me....is there anyone at home?

PEACE,
JON

Songs in the Raw! Sept 29, 2007

2007-09-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

I live in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco. It's an eclectic neighborhood full of cool clothes stores, cafes, hippy stores and 60's memorabilia shops. There are a ton of street musicians, bums, drug dealers and college students on break asking for spare change. I walk by these people everyday as I run my local errands. I've found that the best time of day is between 7am and 10am. Before the bums get up from sleeping in the park and way too early for the drug dealers. The college students are still sleeping in their Vanagons and on their friends couches and the street is quiet and empty.

Recently, I've been walking by a guy who is simultaneously asking for change and reading tarot cards for money. I appreciate his effort. It's much better than asking for money to "buy my next beer" or "get me fucked up".

Anyway, I used him in this week's song. The only thing is that I changed him into a woman and made him blind. I think that reading tarot cards is cool, but I'd like to see it done by a blind woman. Now that would be talent.

I also thought that this song should be kind of a tribute to Ray Wiley Hubbard. He's one of my favorite song writers and this song kind of deserved his style. The song is called "Moment of Clarity". It's a story song. I rarely write these kinds of songs, so let me know what you think. I guess it's not a real story. I don't take a trip to Reno or find a bag full of money. I don't meet any crazy people or end up on the beach in Hawaii. So, it's not a real story. It's sort of a moment in time.

You can listen to the song at SONGS IN THE RAW MYSPACE
You can get all the info you need at JON RONIGER WEBSITE
You can listen to a bunch of other awesome music at JON RONIGER MYSPACE

When you get to SONGS IN THE RAW MYSPACE make sure you add me as a friend and send me a messege.

My SNOCAP store is always open;

Join up with EVENTFUL. Let me know where you are;

Some body send me a note! I'd love to hear from you!
Peace,
Jon

Songs in THE RAW!! Sept 23

2007-09-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

I am so freaking fried right now. I don't even have any idea what I just recorded. I don't remember writing or recording the song for this week. I'm not sure what it's about. I'm not sure if I even like it....as a matter of fact, I probably don't. I don't know, I'll have to go back and check it out. Either way, it's all I can do right now....between bottles, poops, screaming and squeezing in 3 hours of sleep, I can barely manage to change clothes, much less take care of my "SONGS IN THE RAW" quest. Was that a run-on sentence?

This week's song is called "Strawberry Sunsets". I have no idea where it came from, but it ended up sort of being a reflection on sobriety and the search for self. Somehow that doesn't come across so clearly in the song....maybe it does.

I think it's about searching outside for something that has been inside you all along. That seems to be a problem with a lot of people, including me. Always looking for answers in other things, people or activities. I liked to look for answers in bottles of liquor, bags of weed and tiny bindles of cocaine. That's just me. I don't recommend that technique, but it did get me where I am today. Like I had to walk through the fire to find myself.

So what are "Strawberry Sunsets" and why do I say that I am "Burning my feet in the sand"? Well, that means that I am all the I love and do and experience and remember and want to do and experience and remember in the future. I am what I've done and I will be what I am doing now......maybe I should work out more and eat better...since I want to be some one who's in good shape and stands a good chance of living a long life.

OK...time for bed...for three hours....if I'm lucky....then more screaming, diaper changing, bottle warming and rocking back to sleep..ing.

I hope you enjoy "Strawberry Sunsets".

Oh...it's the GOOD LIFE! Wouldn't change it for the world.

As always, GO TO SONGS IN THE RAW MYSPACE PAGE!

You can also check out JON RONIGER MYSPACE PAGE!

My SNOCAP Store is always open for your music purchasing needs!

Other cool links;
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger Myspace Page 2
Jon Roniger EPK

Let me know that you want me to come and play in your town!

COME ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD!!!!!
Peace,
Jon

Songs in THE RAW!! Sept 20

2007-09-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

OK...I'm stuck. I laid down the guitar part yesterday for this week's song and I have no idea where to go now. So, I've decided to write a bit about what I am thinking about and see if it leads me some where. Plus, the guitar part mutated as I recorded it and now I am in an entirely new vibe.

The idea that keeps floating around in my head is "Something to believe in". It started out as "Some one to believe in" but that might lead me to a political rant. I did that last week and don't want to get stuck in that rut. Also, the "Something to believe in" thing was done by Poison in the 80s and I can't help but go back to that image. So...where do I want to take this thing?

The second line that came out of my head was "Beside myself". What the hell is that? Of course, I believe in myself. It's the only way that I can continue to go through this songwriting exercise. Plus, in this world you really have to believe in yourself to follow your dreams. Lord knows, there are enough people along the way to try and talk you out of following your dreams. "Find a fall back plan....don't get your hopes up.....it's a tough business and very few people succeed....don't quit your day job....be realistic with your chances of success....it's just a hobby". The list goes on. Quite frankly, I'm too old to go back and try something else. I have too many tattoos to get a real job (which isn't that many) and I never liked that way I look in corporate casual, not to mention the word "slacks" (unless used as a verb).

OK, back to the business at hand. Here are some lines that might find their way into this week's song....unless it all changes tonight.
"If you're running on faith, run with your head out of you ass"
"Believe in some one, make sure they believe in you"
"Take a chance on love and love will take a chance on you"
"I find myself when I'm looking for something that I lost" - "You have to loose yourself to find yourself"
"Where would I be without loosing myself" - "Where would I be if I never lost myself"

I think there might be something in there somewhere. I like the last one the best and it might lend itself to the vibe of the song!

Now, let's see what pops out of my head tonight.

Here' my SNOCAP Store with all my old songs;

Here's the SONGS IN THE RAW MYSPACE PAGE
Here's JON RONIGER MYSPACE PAGE
Here's JON RONIGER EPK
Here's JON RONIGER A&R SELECT STORE

Songs in THE RAW!! Sept 15, 2007

2007-09-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like the sound of screaming babies in the back round to inspire writing. Just as I sit down to write up my blog, both babies let loose with a bone curdling scream. Let's see what I can come up with.

So, this week's song is called "Politics and Bad Religion". I usually don't write about either one of those subjects, but sometimes you just gotta let it go. There's so much crap going on in this world that it has to creep into my song writing every now and then. I'm not sure about the rest of you guys, but the clowns in charge of your political future have insulted my intelligence one too many times. At the same time, what can I do. I vote....I take the occasional poll...I donate my musical time for free for causes that I believe in...but I can't change the minds of the policy makers. I haven't even talked about religion yet. I'm not even sure where to begin there.

I'm a spiritual guy. I believe in something larger at work here. We're not just running around in pointless circles to no end. There is a reason behind everything. I just don't feel like there is an organised religion that has the definitive answer or even a vague grasp of the scope of "that which no greater can be conceived". That's all I can say about that......I won't dive into the deep end of the religious wars that have plagued our planet since the dawn of humans religious endeavors.

SO..."Politics and Bad Religion"...check it out!

ALSO, THERE'S A BONUS TRACK THIS WEEK!!
I've included a recording a song that I wrote a few months ago. Actually, I was inspired to write this song as I watched the events unfold at Virginia Tech. I was home for that few days during and after the tragedy there and I was deeply effected, as I think we all were. As a songwriter I couldn't help but writing something based on that event.

I've had mixed reviews of this song's inspiration. There are those who think that I have exploited a tragedy for my own gain...although I'm not sure what gain that is. I am not seeking fame and fortune through the writing of these songs. I am only writing songs from my view of life and the things that effect me. If I did not write about thing that had meaning to me, I would be a walking lie. I was extremely saddened by what I watched on TV for those days around that massacre. If it didn't make it's way into my writing....WHAT'S THE F#*KING POINT!

Anyway, the bonus track is called "Shattered Pieces". I hope you enjoy what you hear. Maybe you will be moved to write me and curse me....maybe you will feel that way that I do and did about this tragic event.

AS ALWAYS, go to my SONGS IN THE RAW MYSPACE PAGE

You can also buy my songs directly from me at my SNOCAP Store;

If you want me to play in your town you should try out EVENTFUL!

Here are some other AWESOME links;
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger EPK

Songs in THE RAW!! September 7, 2007

2007-09-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

This will be the second week in a row that I have looked into a darker subject. I can't help it. I just like to get a little dirty every now and then. My mother once asked me to stop writing depressing songs. Did the arts community ask Van Gogh not to paint a self portrait? Did anyone ask John Lennon not to write songs about peace? Did they call the Write Brothers not to look to the sky? Did anyone tell Barry Bonds not to take steroids? I DON'T THINK SO!

We are who we are...we do what we do....anything else would be criminal. I'm not a sad guy. I have a lot of great things in my life. I don't spend my days thinking about death and reliving my messed up relationships. I drank enough liquor and snorted enough cocaine to fill Wembley Stadium. I don't spend all day thinking about how much of my life I lost in a drunken coked up stupor.....and it was a good chunk! I just feel like writing about the lower points in my life is a way of cleansing. It's like the Blues. It's my way of releasing the pain and moving on. As it turns out, I have a lot of pain. I must have saved myself a ton of money in therapy with my music.

At any rate, this week's song is called "To Be Lonely". It's about me..really...but I turned it into a "her" song. I based it on a relationship that failed due to my drug abuse and general lack of presence..."even when I was present". I am actually lucky to have done this in the past. It's one of the things that I use as a learning point to keep my current, very awesome relationship.

The song is based around the idea that sometimes it's better to be with some one, even if it's not the best relationship, than to be lonely. Again, I don't actually say that in the song, but that's the idea anyway.

As always you should go to SONGS IN THE RAW on MySpace;
Songs in the Raw - Mypace

You can also just purchase the song with a small amount of currency from my SNOCAP store;

If you LOVE me and want me to play in your city, town, provence, parish, ward or community...just click on here and make it happen;

Other useful links;
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger EPK
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Songs in THE RAW!! August 31, 2007

2007-08-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

Man oh man....life has taken a turn and I am on the fast track! My wife and I just had twins 10 days ago. Sleep come in 2-3 hour incriments. For some reason babies like to sleep all day and scream all night. How can they know that there are monsters in the closet and under the bed. They don't ebenm know what monsters are. What do they dream about? Their last 10 days? Time in the uterus? Past lives? My son has a frown and a blood curtaling scream that could wake up Rumple Stilstin. My daughter smiles a lot and looks around the room like she's missing something. Both of them prefer to go to the bathroom after the diaper has been removed. Maybe there's something about the cool air. I know that I enjoy the feeling of a good "nature" pee.

I had to take last week off of the "Songs in the Raw". I tried to make it, but between the hospital and grandmom and granddad, my time was limited. I will say this. If you have a child, stay in the hospital as long as you can. I would have been scared out of my mind if they had sen us home after a day or so. Before I left the hospital I was proficient in swaddling, feeding and changing diapers. If I was sent home before that time my children would have grown up very hungry and covered in poop and piss.

So, that leads me, very indirectly to this week's song. I fell on a cool little music theme some time last weekend and got enought time to work it out through the week as my mom helped with feeding and changing. The kids got to hear me work out the little pieces. They will either love my music or frieking hate it!

I started thinking about the course my life has laid out before me. I thought about my friends and family that died along the way and will never have the chance to meet my children and have a family of their own. I thought about how wonderful my life is and how lucky I am to be where I am. It made me incredibly sad for those who have not made it. I thought about the joy of becoming a father and the sorrow of knowing that some of my friends died before graduating from college or having sex in the back seat of their dad's car. I thought about the times that I sat up and watched the sun rise after a long night of partying and realised that a lot of people don't make it out of those kinds of nights. I realised that with every ounce of joy there must be an ounce of pain.

As a matter of fact, I might re-write the lyrics to this song one day. As I'm writing this I feel a few more ideas popping up. But, that's the idea behind the "Songs in the Raw". I write as it comes to me and leave it in it's bare form. Not too much rethinking and editing.

Anyway, this week's song is called "There is a Hurt". As usual you can find it in it's entirity on Songs in the Raw Myspace Page. If you want to buy the song and listen to it over and over again you can go to my SNOCAP store;

Also, let me know where you are and I will work on making my tour head through your way;

Here's all the places you can find me;
Songs in the Raw Myspace
Jon Roniger Myspace
Jon Roniger Myspace 2
Jon Roniger Website
Jon Roniger A&R Select Artist Store

There are many more, but you get the point. I'd love to hear from you. Send me a note. Tell me you love me. Tell me you hate me. Tell me you really don't care.

Peace,
Jon

Songs in THE RAW!! August 22, 2007

2007-08-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

Well, this week is going to be a tough one to get something out there. I have two songs forming, but very little time to devote to them. My wife and I just had TWINS on Monday night. They are happy and healthy and learning how to eat and cry. We've getting sort of sleep deprived as the little ones eat every three hours or so. I brought my guitar into the hospital and played a little for them yesterday which is where I came up with the second song idea. Sorry, but it's probably working its' way into a lullaby. The first song idea is one that developed over last weekend and has a far more somber feel to it, which I like.
I am going to try and get one of these ideas into a song before the end of this weekend and get it out by Sunday night. I cannot guarantee anything. I have NO IDEA what to expect. I do know that I have like 3 new grey hairs and don't foresee any massive blocks of sleep in my near future.
I have heard that artists, writers, poets, songwriters really find a new openness to their craft after they have children. I guess it has to do with a change in perspective. From my own minimal experience, I can see that focus shifts from ME, ME, ME (and my wife) to my children. I now have a REAL reason to live to be really old. Not for myself and a long life, but to see my children grow up and become adults, have relationships, fall in and out of love, travel and learn about themselves and the world. I have no idea where this will take my writing. I do know that I don't want to become a guy who writes songs about his babies. It's just not who I am. I will keep my writing open to my experiences with them and I look forward watching them make their way through the world. I'm sure that the things they say and do will make their way into my songs. But if I ever get too deep into songs like "Peas and Carrots", "My First Poo" and "Daddy Loves ME" please fell free to kick my ass!
Actually "Daddy Loves Me" might be something cool since I can work it into my relationship with my father and his relationship to his father and so on...and so on.....and so on. If I were writing a Rap song it could be "Diddy Loves Me".
SO, stay tuned for something this week.....and definitely next week. I hope you are all doing well!
As always, check out;
Songs in the Raw - Myspace

And the store is always open for your shopping pleasure;

Songs in THE RAW!! August 18, 2007

2007-08-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

My wife and I are reaching the end of her pregnancy and we're getting ready for children. Needless to say, it's been a lot easier on me than it has been on her. She's carrying twins and has been on bed rest for four months. As we reach the end of this long journey she is becoming more and more uncomfortable and it's harder to move around. Even simple tasks like walking down the hall to the kitchen are a chore for her. I feel really bad about it, but at the same time, there is nothing that I can do about it.

Anyway, over the past few months we've spent a lot of time together and it has been nice just hanging out with nowhere to go and getting the house ready for the kids. I am amazed at all the crap that you can buy for children. It's sort of a racket. Burp cloths, bibs, disposable and re-usable diapers, onezies, changing tables, car seats, strollers, carriers, baby shoes, baby hats, baby socks and a holy host of stuffed animals and various distraction devices. I think that the people in the wedding industry call the people in the baby industry and get together for a planning session every year and talk about how bad they can screw the consumer. Why do we need 50 baby outfits when three months later, they will have outgrown them and half of them will never have been worn.

Well, that's not the point of this week's song, but it's been on my mind so I figured I'd write about it. What I have been thinking about, this week, is how to get a song out quickly. I Needed to have this one done before the weekend since the "Baby Festival" begins on Saturday with the arrival of my parents. Plus I was so late getting last week's song done that it left me with little down time before this week.

I started writing this song yesterday (Wednesday) and finished and recorded it today. I am going to put it up tomorrow (Friday) so its there for the weekend. The song is called "Just a Simple Love Song". It's for my wife. It's not the deepest song I ever wrote. It's a little diddy. It's about the things that drive my wife a little crazy or piss her off. I actually asked her for a list. Then I threw a few extra on there that I've noticed over the last few years.

Let me know what you think. I am now working on reorganising my website to accommodate song files and setting up a store that can be accessed directly from my "music" page. In the mean time, the SNOCAP store and the Myspace page are the only options for listening and buying the songs. As always, you listen to past songs and purchase past songs. I've also included all the material from my new CD "Charmed Life" which is due out in early 2008. So, be the first one on your block to own that material.

Here it is;
Jon Roniger -Songs in the Raw- MySpace

SNOCAP Store;

I'd love to hear from you. Please send me a not and let me know that you're out there. Also, If you'd like to have me come and play a show in your neck of the woods, hit me up through my Eventful! Demand! Link;

Songs in THE RAW!! August 12, 2007

2007-08-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

For some reason, I've been doing a lot of reading. I think that it kicked in about 3 months ago. Seriously, I used to read one or two books a year, usually around vacations. Now I'm kicking out a new one every few weeks. For me, that's huge. I have to admit that I don't feel any smarter. Maybe even a little more confused. When I get MORE confused, you know it's getting bad!

I just finished "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Before that I read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and "Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. Basically, I've read a lot about Muslims and their traditions and culture. I realise that the second two books are fiction, but I feel like they are still based heavily in reality. I'm on the verge of re-reading the Bible and picking up a copy of the Quran to do a little diligence. I'm not a "religious" man. I AM a spiritual man. It's my personal belief that Organised Religion is the cause of more brutality and death on this planet than anything else. Whether it's in-fighting or between apposing fanatics, whenever you bring god into the mix, it gets ugly.

All that being said, I have ZERO interest in writing about my personal beliefs. I try and stay away from politics and religion in my music. I don't even really like to tackle any "hot topics" with my music. Maybe I'm too chicken to stick my neck out for a cause that I believe in. Maybe I don't really believe in any causes. Really, as far as a lot of major issues, my personal jury is still out. There are, of course, some that I have firm beliefs about, but that don't make for good song topics. It's hard to write a song about abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research and global warming. Plus some topics have been run dry by previous writers. All the anti-war songs that are worth a damn were written in the late 60s and early 70s.

I have no idea why I brought all that up. This week's song "Don't Waste My Time" doesn't have anything to do with that stuff.....well maybe a little.

It all started as I was searching for something to write about this week. I remembered something that some one had said to me many years ago. First of all, she was crazy and she was sort of a stalker.....OK....she was a stalker. Anyway, she said, "You have no idea what I could do for you". She was talking about my music "career" and maybe referencing her rich father who could maybe take me under his wing and crush my individuality and drive to make something of myself. I don't know why that popped in my head, but it lead me to the idea of "selling out".

There are so many ways to sell out these days. You can sell your soul. You can sell your body. You can sell your ideas. You can sell your knowledge. You can even sell your faith. I don't claim to know about all that crap, but thinking about it lead to a song.

Well, I don't have much more to say about that. I think you should give it a listen. Go to Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Pageto listen to the song. you can add it to your MySpace account and send it to your friends. If you really like what you hear, you can buy the song for 99cents from SNOCAP;

Let me know if you want me to come to play a gig in your town;

Send me a note. Let me know you love me, hate me, want me to stop!
I look forward to hearing from you.
I hope you enjoy the music!

SO...here are the links;
MySpace;
www.myspace.com/songsintheraw
www.myspace.com/jonronigermusic

Jon Roniger Website;
www.jonroniger.com
Peace,
Jon

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Songs in THE RAW!! August 3, 2007http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

2007-08-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

I'm finding out that it's not as easy as one might think to create and record a new song every week. Plus, I'm only three weeks in to this thing. I sure hope I don't run out of ideas....that would be bad!!!
Anyway, I was thinking about life and how strange it is. I'm beginning to wonder why some one would bother planning their life out when you really have no freaking idea how things are going to work out. As a matter of fact, how boring would that be if things actually went as planned. Fortunately for me, I never had a plan. At least not a real plan. Sure, I had a few ideas about how I would LIKE things to be and how I would LIKE things to work out, but none of that has happened. I'm most likely better off anyway. I don't remember what I was thinking when I was 14 years old, but I'm sure it wasn't about anything all too earth shattering. Most likely I was thinking about a hamburger and how to unhook a bra without making a fool of myself (something I'm still working on perfecting).
I don't even think that I was thinking much in my 20s either. If I was thinking about the future, it came after-hours with a bottle of Southern Comfort, two packs of Marlboro's and a variety of mind altering substances.
So what has all this non-thought got me? Well, let me see.....I'm married, kids on the way, 20 years in the music business, great friends, world travelled, 5 years of sobriety, good physical and mental health (although there are those who would argue my mental health), a house, a car (van actually), guitars, basses, a home studio and a well full of hope.
I'm not sure what that all adds up to, but it's led me to this next song. Nothing earth shattering. Just a little diddy. I'm a big fan of the quick, non taxing, not too deep songs. Maybe one of the reasons that I like Mozart so much.....but that's not the point here.
Anyway, here it is....I hope you enjoy it.....I'll write some more this weekend. I'm feeling a little burnt right now.
If you want to hear the song in it's entirety, go to the "Songs in the Raw" Myspace page linked below. You can listen to the hole thing, add it to your Myspace profile and share it with your friends.
Oh yeah....this week's song is called "One Step Closer".
Enjoy!

SNOCAP;

Myspace;
Jon Roniger – Songs in the Raw – MySpace Page

Myspace again;
Jon Roniger MySpace Page

DEMAND ME!!!

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Songs in THE RAW!!! July 28...revisited

2007-07-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

The long wait is over. The song from last week is finally in the system. It took my SNOCAP people a long time to get my new song into the SNOCAP store. In the mean time, I just look like an ass. I promised to write and record a new song every week. I did it last week and uploaded it to SNOCAP. It has just arrived there. You have no idea how frustrating that is for me....or maybe you do. I do my part and leave the technical stuff up to the techs. That's where my knowledge ends. So I'm sitting here with my hands tied waiting for the modern miracle to happen. How does that work anyway? The song starts in my computer, travels through that air like the kid in the white suit in "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory", then it ends up on the Internet(s). How does it know? I'm on wireless.....is it like a cloud floating in a blue sky towards it's new home on the web? Well, my cloud didn't get there for a while!

I've totally digressed. What I am here to talk about, besides the weekend's debacle, is this weeks song. I am really exited about this one. It's up-tempo and has a hooky little melody. I think that i stumbled on to a bridge yesterday and a cool lyrical theme, which I will now share with you!

I was doing an imaginary interview in my head yesterday as walked through Golden Gate Park. One of the questions the interviewer asked was, "Do you consider yourself yo be successful?" My response was, "If you consider loosing thousands of dollars every year, driving around the country playing songs to no one in the middle of nowhere, leaving my wife for extended periods of time and beating my head against a wall in the name of creativity for little or no recognition, then YES, I do consider myself to be successful."

This interview has spawned this week's song topic. It seems that no matter how hard I work at this thing, I never get any closer to my goal. What is my goal you ask? Well, I would like to be able to pay the rent, eat, feed my children and put outrageously over priced gas in my car all with money that has been earned through my music. Is that too much for me to ask? Am I dreaming? Have I lost my marbles? I'd say...YES....I have definitely gone off the deep end.

But, I am the perpetual optimist. I'm a dreamer! I play golf.....poorly! I only see the tarnished bright side of the coin! I'd rather die trying to live my dream then dream about a life that could have been (I smell a song in that).

OK.....enough of my yackin'. Due to last week's technical mayhem, I created another MySpace page where the songs will be posted every week. You can download them onto your MySpace profile, listen to them in their entirety and purchase from the SNOCAP store all from the SONGS IN THE RAW MySpace page. So, now you're got links out of the ying yang to look into for your weekly SONGS IN THE RAW fix.

And here they are;
Songs in the Raw (SitRaw) MySpace;
www.myspace.com/songsintheraw

Jon Roniger MySpace;
www.myspace.com/jonronigermusic

Jon Roniger website;
www.jonroniger.com

I'd love to hear from you.

Peace,
Jon

Songs in THE RAW!!! July 28

2007-07-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I've decided to rename my blog. I am now the blog formerly known as "New Song Every Week". I am now known as "Songs in the Raw". I am still working on my symbol for my new blog. I record all of my songs "in the raw". I write all my songs "in the raw". I perform "in the raw". Perhaps an image incorporating an acoustic guitar and a nude body. Then people can just point to the symbol and know that I am "in the raw".

That being said, I have a new song for the week; "Pay The Toll". I was stuck on this idea all week about "you can't take it with you when you go". I use this line in the song, but didn't find that it was the real underlying theme to the song. I've been driving around this country playing music quite a bit. If you've ever been to the East Coast, you know about tolls. If you ever try and get into San Francisco, you pay a toll. Cross some water....pay a toll. But I was thinking about the human existence and how it take it's toll. How we stop and pay the toll with every step of our lives.

It's not about money. It's about soul. It's about compromise. It's about choices and consequences. No matter what you do or what you want in this life, you will pay for it some how. Life is a series of toll booths. What are you willing to give up for that which you want?

I want to write and perform music. I've had to make sacrifices in my life to make that happen. I'm not a professional baseball player. I gave up my dream of being a fireman. I've had to give up drinking and doing drugs all night and day. I've worked crap jobs and completely abandoned the idea of a "career". Girlfriends have come and gone when they, one day, realised that my music came first. Thursday night wasn't date night. It was rehearsal night. Instead of buying a big screen TV, I bought a new guitar. The series of choices and consequences continues through today. Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful wife who knows and excepts who I am and what my goals are. I am truly a lucky man. In that area of my life, I pay no toll!

In this addition of my weekly self-indulgence, I have included a video of a show I recently did in Norwich, UK. I was with my good friend and musical compadre Rico Mastrodonato. I hope you enjoy it.

Here's the video;

Here's the "SONGS IN THE RAW" Store;

Find me on MYSPACE;
http://www.myspace.com/jonronigermusic

Find me on Hi5;
http://jonroniger.hi5.com

Check out the website;
http://jonroniger.com/

Here's my EPK;
http://www.sonicbids.com/JonRoniger

Demand it!!! I'll come and play your town/city/region/county/district/parish

Send me a note....a hate note....a love note.....be a friend....be an enemy.....let me know you're out there.

Peace,
Jon

New Song Every Week ......week 2

2007-07-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well, last week's email campaign and blogfest has opened up my inbox and message machine to quite a barrage of incoming comments. It's nice to hear that people are actually reading the page and listening to the music. The Internet is so impersonal that it's hard to know that there's actually anyone out there. Nine out of ten times I feel like I'm just writing to myself. Maybe I should start responding to myself. Asking myself questions about my inspiration. Telling myself that my songs suck and I should give up writing and go back to being a drunk waiter. I could start doing happy hour gigs at local pubs and play "Margarittaville" and "Free Bird". Maybe some one would request "Brown Eyed Girl"....god do I love to play that song.

Anyway, I had a great conversation yesterday about writing, playing gigs and following your dream. This here business will beat you up and spit you out and turn you into a real jerk if you let it. I've played my share of shows to no one in the middle of nowhere. Seriously, me and the bartender. The only reason he was there was because it was his job. BUT, that's not the point. The point is that I was following my dream......actually living my dream. I have travelled around the country and parts of Europe playing MY music for strangers. I've made some great friends in places a lot of people will never go. I've been back to small towns several times and watched the crowd grow with each time I return. I've heard my songs on the radio. I've received messages from people who had seen me play telling me that a song of mine really touched them. I've had strangers shout out requests for my songs at shows in foreign countries.

I am not only following my dream, but I am doing exactly what I was put on he earth to do. I will never get rich doing it. I, however, feel like I am the luckiest person on the planet to be able to clearly identify my purpose. To not only be clear about what I want to be when I grow up, but also to be able to maintain the focus and drive to follow through with becoming that. There are not many people who can say that. I am truly blessed.

I, of course, still dream of being famous and having people line up to see me play. Mothers, Fathers, Sons and daughters lining up to get my autograph after a show. Booking agents calling me asking me to play at their club. I dream about nice hotel rooms and a driver for my tour bus. Shooting a video on the beach in Hawaii and taking the band to Amsterdam for a "Post-Tour" party weekend. I think that it's CRUCIAL to dream. I believe that once you stop dreaming, you die. I am grounded in reality, but I keep my eye on the sky. I think that the most important part about being human is realising that YOU have the potential to be what you want to be. For me it's clear and I'm being that. I am a songwriter. I play shows for people who line up to buy CDs (or beer...I usually set up my merch table near the bar). I make records. One day some one will find one of my CDs, probably still in the shrink-wrap, and they'll put it in some kind of digital rejuvenation machine to decode the ancient medium and play it. I have left my very small mark on the world. I am fulfilling my soul and I am a part of the culture of humanity. I am part of the pulse of the artistic community.

Got to go!
JR

Song of the Week (July 21, 2007)

2007-07-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is. The first installment of many, many more to come. I have included a song off of my new CD, "Charmed Life", called "Only Human". I had recorded it a few weeks ago and through it on the SNOCAP store as a test run for this process. I'll do this from time to time since I have a few more of these songs just sitting around doing nothing. But I will always include a new song from the current week.
So, anyway, I realise that I am not the only person doing this. As a matter of fact, I didn't even come up with idea on my own. A good friend of mine sent me an article about a guy from the New York area who has been doing this type of thing for a while. So, as I got ready to take this on, I read a few more articles and spent a while on Google looking into and listening to what other people were doing. What I found was a TON of great music out there. Very creative people who are committed to their craft and are working hard to promote themselves. Thank god for the Internet! It's the ultimate tool for unknown, independent artists...in all mediums.
What I do want to say it that I am not going to have the "production value" that I have heard from other artists. I will never use a whole band on my recordings. No drum tracks and no string sections. I may, from time to time, include a lead guitar or a piano part and maybe a backing vocal. My intention is not to put out songs that one day will be made into a record. My goal is to continually put out songs that are current to what is on my mind....if there is anything on my mind.
I am intentionally keeping the format in the raw. Some people call them "demos". I prefer to use the term intimate. I want the song to be the point of focus. I want the melody and lyrics to stand alone instead of being clouded by drums, keyboards, guitar solos and studio production. Not that there is anything wrong with making a kick ass recording including all of those things. I do it all the time. That, however, is not my goal with this endeavor.
OK...enough of my yakking'......let's boogy!
Here' the SNOCAP store with the two songs from this week. I will keep all of the songs available until I run out of room in my SNOCAP store. Then I am going to open another store and post both of them. So you will always be able to find any song you want from as far back as you want.
I hope you like what you hear.

New Song Every Week ......week 1.1

2007-07-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

OK....I'm still at it. This is not going to be as easy as I'd hoped. I spent most of yesterday just working out the guitar parts. It's a little tougher than I thought since I have to focus on both the part I'm playing and the general arrangement of the song. I am going to have to focus a bit more on the arrangement before pressing record next time.
I have a bad habit of jumping right into things with my eyes closed and hoping for the best. Yesterday was a great learning session for me, but I did manage to make it out alive, so I can't complain too much. Plus, it's only music. How bad can it get.
Well, here's some good news.....when I got on line this morning, I got an email from a friend in Norwich, UK who sent me a video from our show at The Norwich Arts Centre. I figured that I'd share it with everyone. Here it is;

The Song of the Week should be up by Friday morning. I just had have of my head numbed for some work on my teeth. Maybe I'll write about surrender. I basically had to sit in the chair and let go. I figured it was a temporary situation and it was necessary. No wonder I didn't go to the dentist for so freaking' long! It's not fun!

Peace,
Jon

New Song Every Week ......week 1

2007-07-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I am putting the finishing touches on the song for the week. While I realise that it's only Tuesday, this song has been floating around my head for a few days and if I don't get it out it might drive me insane.
I've spent a long time thinking about how to approach the art of songwriting. There are lots of different camps on the endeavor. I tend to fall a little more towards the "real" camp. That is to say that I like to keep it real. I like to keep the song as relevent to my life as I can. I try to write from the events of my life and my interpretation of those events. Maybe it was a woman that I dated or a former employer. It cold have been some one that I passed on the street who left an impression on me. As long as I can pull from my life, I know that I will relate to some one out there. After all we are all only human and the the human experience, while unique to each individual, is shared by all individuals.
So, keeping that in mind, I have rewritten this weeks song to bring it closer to home. I hope that this doesn't bother anyone. And, quite frankly, if it does, well........it's my life!

Just to keep everyone up to speed on how to get a hold of my songs I am including the SNOCAP "store" that I have available for my material up to this date.

This store will always be available. But I am creating a new store for my new material. Every now and then I will add one of the songs to my MySpace page;
www.myspace.com/jonronigermusic

So keep an eye out for that as well. Also, please feel free to contact me on myspace. Stop by and say hello, check up on tour dates, all that good stuff!

Introduction to my plan

2007-07-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
My name is Jon Roniger. I am a singer/songwriter living in San Francisco. I am originally from New Orleans, LA. I've been out here for about 15 years. I spent time back in New Orleans a lot more recently in the post-Katrina world. Since Katrina I've felt a lot closer to my roots than ever before. It's amazing how, the thought that you might loose something that you may have been taking for granted, brings you closer to that thing. It's been that way for me and New Orleans.
My time in San Francisco has taken me through a ton of life's changes. I've basically grown up here. I've been in 6 bands, released 4 records and another 4 EPs. I've been kicked out of the house by girlfriends and drank away years of my 20s. Cocaine habits and a fondness of Southern Comfort left me with giant blank spots in my memory bank. I've seen close friends die at very young ages and had family members pass away from old age. You can say that it's just life happening. I'm just trying to sit back and enjoy the ride......when I can.
Most recently, I've made another CD during a time that my wife and I spent in Nashville, TN. I am extremely proud of the work we did on the new record. I am planning on releasing it in early 2008. My wife and I are expecting twins in a few weeks and I need some time to let the dust settle a bit before work begins on a new release.
Even with a new CD on the way, I find myself with an urge to write. I have new material popping up every week. I am looking for a new avenue for this surge of creativity. A goof friend of mine has suggested that I start a blog and post my new songs on my blog and make them available explicitly through downloads via the blog.
I have a nice home studio and the sound quality will be Professional. The MP3s will be "priced to sell" and there will be a new song every week. Hence the title of this blog.
Once a month I am going to put together a new Podcast via Garageband and host it on my Hi5 page. Also the catalogue will be available via my SNOCAP account on my MySpace, Website and here on this Blog.
This is my first attempt into Blogging and I'll be figuring things out as I go along. I would love to hear suggestions from anyone. I've included links to my website, MySpace page, Hi5, BeBo and Sonicbids EPK. Check 'em out and let me know what you think. I've also included a link to a video that I put together of my recent tour to Ireland and The UK.
I'll begin posting my new songs next week. Wish me luck. This is going to be a long haul. I hope you enjoy what you hear. Please send me your thoughts!

All the best,
Jon Roniger
http://jonroniger.com/
myspace.com/jonronigermusic
myspace.com/jonroniger
http://www.sonicbids.com/JonRoniger
http://jonroniger.hi5.com

Video link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na50tZvFenE

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