Thank you for having me, Amanda Kiernan, vocalist of Famous Strangers, as one of your 116 Days of Summer guests. What a neat blog you have! Reading through all the artists’ stories and experiences has been really cool.

As a lover of travel, one of my favorite parts of exploring the world is discovering incredible food, restaurants, and bars. I could write an entire book about the magical places I’ve experienced so far.
There’s a small town in Weiher, Germany, where a piece of my heart still remains. When I close my eyes, I’m transported right back to those moments.

One of my favorite places is Landgasthof zur Schönen Aussicht in Mörlenbach—a mountainside hotel and restaurant. I’m pretty sure the
wonderful family who owns it lives there too. I played that small town at least three times and always made a point to stop in and visit. They are so warm and welcoming. They invite you into their home, and that’s exactly what it feels like. The energy calms you, and the food comforts
you like nothing else.

A few honorable mentions, and I’ll keep it short: Hell Awaits Bar in Barcelona, Spain; The Little Devil in Tilburg, Netherlands; Baba Cafe in Amsterdam; Durock Metal Bar in Istanbul; a magical hot pot restaurant in a high-rise in Wuhan, China; and the tiniest rare metal bar in Goa, India.
There are so many more.

Touring has given me some of the best experiences of my life. I feel so Blessed, especially playing in metal bands. Metal takes you to places that traditional tourism simply wouldn’t. You get to see it all. Metal venues are often located in the most interesting parts of town, full of
character and personality. To me, it’s all beautiful art.

I feel incredibly lucky to experience a different town almost every night, play unforgettable venues, and meet amazing people from all around the world.
As with anything, though, balance is needed. I’m pretty easygoing and don’t mind roughing it, but not everyone feels the same way. I’ve even had bandmates quit mid-flight on the way home from a tour.

Touring can be overstimulating, rough, and sometimes downright smelly. Your tour bus might not have air conditioning during a hot summer stretch, and you could be traveling for 30 days with 20 smelly men.
Depending on where you are, showers and laundry aren’t always available.

There aren’t many healthy food options at 4 a.m. when you’re driving to the next city. Sometimes you sleep on a house-party floor; sometimes in the van. Then you drive for hours to the next venue, load heavy gear, perform, and do it all over again.

Travel days are tough. For musicians, that’s every day. Sometimes you’re sprinting after a bullet train in China, shoving all your gear into any space you can find before the doors close. It’s chaotic.
I love it.

People often think touring is glamorous, but depending on where your band is in its journey, it can be incredibly challenging. It’s difficult, exhausting, and absolutely worth every moment. It all pays off when you step on stage and get those 30 minutes of pure bliss and adrenaline.

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