jonroniger

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... Read Full Story

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... Read Full Story

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... Read Full Story

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... Read Full Story

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... Read Full Story

"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... Read Full Story

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... Read Full Story

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... Read Full Story

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... Read Full Story

"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... Read Full Story