Tails from the Road #9 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

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