Jammed in the Dam!

So the one of the reasons we’re in Europe (v. doing a 6 week adventure in some developing country with a much better exchange rate) is Jam in the Dam! This annual music festival in Amsterdam invited Tea Leaf Green to play 3 nights along with 5 other bands – Disco Biscuits, Umphrey's McGee, Dark Star Orchestra, Perpetual Groove, and Lotus.

I know I’m biased but personally I thought TLG brought the house down – the energy of the band, the light show, and the crowd was intense and electrifying. The guys were on fire! Other highlights include Umphrey’s – have to give their sick drummer Chris Myers props… he totally blew me away.  I like to describe Joe Russo from the Duo as an alien because he plays with his whole body and makes it look like arms are like these long tentacles that do this sort of seductive mating dance with the drums. Myers plays differently… like his arms are like little sticks of dynamite which pop and explode all over the kit in a way that make you think ‘whoa, wtf just happened?’

Besides taking in the music festivus scene, my favorite Amsterdam activity was riding around the city! Alan and I rented these laid back Amsterdam-style bikes and rode everywhere… through Vogel Park, zigzagged canals, over the Amstel River, down to a windmill, up to the waterfront district, behind central station and back around. I really dig the bike culture there – we should totally learn from the Europeans and set up this system back at home (not holding my breath though since we’re married to our cars).

In case any of you are planning a trip to A’dam any time soon, you may want to check out this amazing deli – it’s called Loekie (on Prinsengracht at the corner of Leidsestraat)… we had an amazing steak tartar w/ caper sandwich on toasted whole grain baguette. This place is sooo good, we’ve had lunch from there the past 3 days in a row.

We tasted Amsterdam’s other local flavors but will spare you the details :)