Jon Roniger's Blog On Digital Rodeo.com

Tails from the Road #9 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 10/1/2008 6:00:00 AM

10/1/2008 6:00 AM

Tails from the Road #9 – Sponsored by <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>

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 <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>. I am honored to represent those guys. I hope that you take the time to head over to <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a> and check it out. While you’re there, don’t be shy! Stop by <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com/jonroniger">Jon Roniger’s Digital Rodeo Page</a> 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 h...

Tails from the Road #8 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/27/2008 7:00:00 AM

9/27/2008 7:00 AM

Tails from The Road #8 – Sponsored by <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>

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...

Tails from the Road #7 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/24/2008 1:00:00 PM

9/24/2008 1:00 PM

Tails from The Road #7 – Sponsored by <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>

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 <a href=” http://www.stiels.nl”>Cafe Steils</a>. 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 f...

Tails from the Road #6 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/23/2008 6:00:00 AM

9/23/2008 6:00 AM

Tails from The Road #6 – Sponsored by <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>

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 happie...

Tails from the Road #5 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/23/2008 5:00:00 AM

9/23/2008 5:00 AM

Tails from The Road #5 – Sponsored by <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>

The Hague. What can I say? This place is pretty special. It’s certainly a big city compared to the places that I’ve been playing, but it has “Old World” charm. The downtown is blanketed in 500 year old buildings. Bike paths and tram tracks criss-cross the city streets and cafes pour on to the sidewalks full of drinkers and smokers. Languages of all kinds are being spoken. The Dutch seem to be the melting pot of Europe. I’ve been in a lot of international cities, but The Hague has a real inter-cultural feel. Perhaps it’s the Dutch “everyone is welcome” attitude. Maybe it’s because Amsterdam is close by and is, to me, Europe’s party weekend getaway. I try to imagine growing up in an Eastern Block country and visiting Amsterdam. Talk about a mind bender!?

I arrived in The Hague yesterday in time for an afternoon cup of coffee and was immediately summoned to pl...

Tails from the Road #4 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/22/2008 5:00:00 AM

9/22/2008 5:00 AM

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 end...

Tails from the Road #3 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/20/2008 8:00:00 AM

9/20/2008 8:00 AM

Tails from the Road #3 – Sponsored by <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>

Where was I last night….oh yes…in Duisburg, Germany! I played a great placed called <a href="http://www.cafe-steinbruch.com/">Steinbruch Cafe</a>. 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 ...

Tails from the Road #3 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/20/2008 8:00:00 AM

Tails from the Road #2 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/19/2008 8:00:00 AM

9/19/2008 8:00 AM

I'd like to start this by thanking my wonderful sponsors <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>. If you have not been over to <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a> 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 <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>! While you're there you should pop by the <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com/jonroniger">Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo Page</a> 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...

Tails from the Road #1 - Sponsored by Digital Rodeo

http://www.digitalrodeo.com/JonRoniger — 9/18/2008 11:00:00 AM

9/18/2008 11:00 AM

Tails from the Road #1 – Sponsored by <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a>

I am honored to be a part of the <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com">Digital Rodeo</a> family and proudly pass their name around as I travel the globe spreading the cause of music. Make sure that you visit the <a href="http://www.digitalrodeo.com/jonroniger">Jon Roniger Digital Rodeo Page</a>. 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 ...