Noah Vonne – Key to the Highways
Americana Highways’ Key to the Highway series
Fans always clamor to learn more about their favorite, most beloved musicians and those who travel with them. There’s such an allure to the road, with its serendipity, inevitable surprises, and sometimes unexpected discomforts. This interview series is a set of questions we are asking some of our favorite roots rock Americana artists to get to know more about them and what they’ve learned and experienced on the road for music. We are sure they have key insights to share and stories to tell. Here’s one from Noah Vonne.
Americana Highways: How do you like your coffee or other morning wake-up beverage?
Noah Vonne: On the road, I like my morning coffee typically just black or with some honey unless we randomly stop somewhere I can get a good oat milk latte.
AH: What’s the most interesting or strangest motel/hotel or place you have stayed (while on the road for music?)
NV: We stayed in this AirBnb in Massachusetts that was in the boiler room below an old church that was no longer in service… It was definitely the creepiest and strangest experience. I’ll never forget that watching Shrek 2 saved us. But we still don’t know if our guitar player was haunted or not.
AH: If one CD is stuck in the player in the van for the entire tour, what do you hope it is? And why?
NV: That is always such a difficult question because I love to listen to all types of music- depending on my mood. I think for this run in particular, I would definitely be ok with listening to Them Crooked Vultures self-titled album on repeat, The Strokes’ Angles album, or the classic Californication from Red Hot Chili Peppers. All of those feel like road trip jammin’ albums to me that get me extra excited to go rock out with people from a new city every night!
AH: What’s one personal item you must have with you on your road trip?
NV: On the road, I carry this little medal I got when I was working on a cruise ship. My bandmate on that contract, who was also my roommate, was such a hard ass and deep cleaned our shared cabin at least twice a week. I occasionally was able to get a deep clean done before her, and when I did I would excitedly tell her to check the room. When she checked, her response was always (in true sarcastic form), “You want a medal for that?”. By the end of the contract, somehow she had acquired a medal to gift me. I carry it with me to remind myself that you don’t deserve a medal for doing what you are supposed to do, and to me, music has always been something I am supposed to do. Even in hard times on the road, I’m able to look down at the medal and find a sense of peace that I am doing what I am meant to do.
AH: What is your relationship with food? How do you handle this on the road, and what’s your favorite dish on the road, (or restaurant, and what do you order there)?
NV: I’m a true adventurer when it comes to food. I absolutely love trying new food that is locally popular and if I’ve never had it – even better. A breakfast burrito or taco is probably my biggest go-to while on the road though. Everywhere makes the burrito a little differently, and that makes it fun.
AH: If you could pause your life for a few weeks and spend some time living in a place you only have passed through, which would you choose, and why?
NV: It would have to be somewhere near the Smoky Mountains. Anywhere in that area people just seem to have fun and live in nature while having incredible food and beer. That sounds like a great time and adventure for a few weeks of living.
AH: What quote or piece of advice have you gotten from someone on the road that has really stuck with you?
NV: “Remember to find a moment for yourself.” I feel like I hear this at least once or twice from loved ones while on the road. It really is hard to find a moment when you are constantly on-the-go and surrounded by people on tour. This moment tends to look different depending on how much time I can take away. Maybe it is simply just going to get a coffee by myself, or even a walk around the block. Whatever it is, finding a moment to create some alone time is so so valuable to find.
Find more information and tour dates for Noah Vonne here: https://www.noahvonne.com/tour
See other Key to the Highway interviews here: https://americanahighways.org/category/interviews/key-to-the-highway-series/ (click here for: Vince Herman Jimmy Smith Ben Nichols Bruce Cockburn Charlie Musselwhite Nicki Bluhm Jim White Danny Barnes Patterson Hood Jerry Joseph BJ Barham Rodney Crowell Todd Snider Elizabeth Cook Tommy Womack Eric Ambel, Dan Baird, Robbie Fulks, Malcolm Holcombe Jon Langford Steve Poltz, Lilly Hiatt Sarah Shook & the Disarmers Sadler Vaden )
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