Brand it, sucka!

Rockers!

What's UP? Hey man, I've got a bee in my bonnet...again.
FYI - the phrase "Bee in my bonnet" refers to a thought, idea, or concept flying into my hat, and buzzing angrily around, forcing me to align my actions correspondingly - usually by yelling.


So one of my clients got VIP tickets to see KISS in concert. Man, oh man, you should see the pictures he brought by! He's standing in a room backstage, flanked by the band in full makeup. It is AWESOME.

And then I got a piece of direct mailing today that really set me over the edge. It's for a gym. You open it up, and the first thing you read is:

"Yadda yadda fitness center is committed to conducting business in a manner that demands respect for everyone seeking our services. We strive to ensure that there is no offensive language and appropriate attire is worn. One of the major focal points of.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..."

When I woke up, that bee was buzzing around trying to escape the bonnet.

Boooooooooooring. (And besides, when's the last time THEY'VE tried to lift a heavy weight - Jesus gains a few middle names...well, at least some of the fellas add them...)

Contrast that with the photo of Evan with KISS. Instantly recognizable.
The other one - uber professional, and uber BoRiNg.

Does your band bio say "Chronic Bleeding Death Sky is well versed in a variety of styles, including, but not limited to, blues, rock, pop, oldies, top forty, jazz, ska, and is quite reasonably priced for your next party, bar mitzva, or campfire..."

OR -

"During a concert by Chronic Bleeding Death Sky, the chicken littles are right - the sky really IS falling."


Brand it.

Make it cool.

(And that's not just for band bios.)

ROCK ON!

- Josh
PS. Don't forge to check out my NEW SONG at www.toughangels.com!

Tough Angels - AND NEW SINGLE!

Rockers!

I need your high-voltage help!

Meet Patty. Originally from Colorado, she has traveled across the world to help the women and children trapped in South Africa's rape epidemic. Her stories are of incredible pain, unbelievable sadness, and unimaginable grace.

Enter my Ma.

Check it: She gets to hear from a lot of cool people through her transformational art business. Well, a customer wrote one day, one thing led to another, and she found out about Patty's cause. So, coming from strong German farmer roots, mom kicked it into high gear with a ridiculously short deadline, my brothers joined in the fight, and...

www.toughangels.com launched yesterday. Visit it.


Cut to: Mad scientist Josh, cooking up sonic stews in his...OK, I won't refer to myself in the third person. Is that the third person? There's so many of 'em in my head, I lose track.

ANYways, I wrote a song for the site. It's available for download under the "Non-Profit Art" section of the site. Yes, you gotta pay, but every dime goes to Patty. Actually, three of them go to PayPal, but you know how that goes.
Interestingly enough, in what started out as just a side project song turned into my best one yet! It's got vocals, cool chords, and a neat little intro hook. I really hope you'll download it, and help support those women and children. They could really use it.

I'm very excited about the cause, and about my song. Help the world, and help Patty help the world! If you've learned something cool from this blog, or my articles, or would just like to help, download that song, man!


You know how they always say that it's good to write from different perspectives? I wrote this song from that of a Zulu woman. That's sort of a reverse-Michael Jackson morph right there! Amazing...


Peace! And spread the word!

-Josh

Through the lens of an artist

Rockers!


OK, new insight here, so listen up, class! I've been observing an interesting phenomenon in myself and other students of guitar that doesn't seem to be shared by other artistic disciplines:

We simply view ourselves as invalid, unworthy students of an unattainable goal.

Sounds like a sick religion.

Go back a few days - I took a vacation, and boy, it was nice. I recently bought myself a nice digital SLR camera (a Canon XSi for you fellow geeks), and I had lots of fun interpreting the world through the lens as I see it. I consider the pictures my art, and I had great fun being creative.

Why is it when I pick up a guitar, I'm crushed under the weight of validity, standards, and trying to live up to Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar sound?

And I'd venture to guess I'm not the only one. I think most of my students consider themselves students - unable to make any valid artistic statement. Not only that, but it might not have even crossed their minds.

Start thinking about it, rockers! Create the next wave! Don't worry about being unique - you already are. Just play.

Another thing about vacation...My brother Zakk burned a CD of a lot of System of a Down. Those guys are so weird, it's refreshing. I don't think they're standing in the shadow of Eddie Van Halen.

So try approaching the instrument just as you would a camera - you're not gonna pick up a cool SLR and say "Oh, I'd better just stick to shooting the flowers in the front yard..." Would you?

- Josh

The 6th Annual Silly Hat Contest - Happy Birthday, SRV!

Rockers!

Well, it's almost over, but today's date marks the advent of one of the Rock Gods' gift to humankind - Happy Birthday, Stevie Ray Vaughan!

And, as some of you know by now, this kicks of the 6th Annual Silly Hat Contest! Wear your silliest topper for a chance to win!

Yes sir, Stevie sure liked his strange hats. Besides being my favorite guitar player, I also admire the guts it takes to wear something like this:





So, barely a month into at my teaching gig five years ago, I decided to honor the dude's birthday, and do something fun for my students. The First Annual Silly Hat Contest was born, and has been rockin' ever since! I've had people wearing light up hats (Zach!), custom made hats with mini-guitars hanging from it and pictures of SRV on it (Thomas!), a brain hat (Timmy!), and a super green cat in the hat hat...AND they had it on as the walked through Hot Licks Guitar Shop...Good job, Jake! (He was wondering why people were looking at him. They must have sensed his greatness as a future rock star.)

And the Silly Hat Contest is not just for students anymore! Here's the rules:

During the month of October, wear your silliest topper for a chance to win. Winners will be announced at the Monster Jam! Wear it in to a lesson, or if you can't make it, send a photo.

Doghouse readers -send a picture in! Bonus points to: a.) any student who wears the hat through the parking lot, up the stairs, and for the whole lesson, b.) any reader or student who takes the picture of themselves wearing the hat near a busy intersection or anywhere there's lots of people, c.) if anyone walks around playing "Willie The Wimp" while wearing their silly hat.


Rock ON!

And, of course, Happy Birthday, Stevie.




- Josh

Keep an Ear on the Road

Rockers!

You know I'm always railing on and on about the importance of ear training...It's like chefs knowing what's in the soup by tasting it. "I say, Pierre, this must be rosemary." That's an important skill to have!

Lately, some of my clients have been knockin' my socks off with their superior command of the skill of listening. I've got one dude who's just rockin' away figuring out Avenged Sevenfold songs and even some classical stuff by ear.

However much we'd all like to practice, or for that matter, know we should, time is at a premium. Driving along today, I invented a new way to practice ear training. It's bound to be world famous! Maybe.

I was rumblin' along in the Camaro, and...I heard the tires meeting the street. Haha, not the usual muscle car sounds of "screeeeeeeeeee vrooooooom!", but just 'em rolling along at 4o miles per hour, saying "Hello, Street, my name is Michelin."

I've always been a paranoid mechanic, and have listened incessantly to random engine noises..."Dude - think that's the engine pinging?"

Well - I thought - what a great way to practice both ear training, and awareness. Music is really about both. The more aware one is, the better the results.

So - listen to your car, and learn all the sounds! Not only is it good practice, it's good mechanics. And the cool thing is - the more you listen, the more you hear. Quick story for y'all (unfortunately, my student isn't showing up, so I'm rambling...)

A student gave me a cool alarm clock once...It was a drumset, and it would play a swing/big band song that went "Come on, wake up, daaa daaa da da da da daaaa da da, da da da da...." One morning, I was just so tired, and I dozed for a long time just listening to the darn thing. After about twenty minutes, through a groggy alpha state, I said to myself...."Hey man, there's a xlyphone part in there!" And so there was.

See! The more you listen, the more you hear.

But do get up on time.


- Josh

New Song, yo!

Hey hey!

What's UP, rockers? It's been a little while. I've been holed up in my studio, writing songs and watching The Daily Show. Jon Stewart is a funny, funny man.

Anyways, I recorded an instrumental to submit to The Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest. Wish me luck! As some of you know, I took a trip north recently. I bought myself a ticket to the train, and boy, am I glad I did. It was so much fun! I've always loved trains, so it was a great opportunity to do some railroad watching, and get nifty ideas for songs. I've got one in the works about a laundromat I saw in Jersey. Seriously. But back to this instrumental...The intention is for it to sound like a train - dig the bass line kinda throbbing along, and the lead guitar hook sorta sounds like a train horn.

So, check out the new tune called Northbound. It's on my myspace. Tell your friends, add the song to your profile, and turn it up!

The lesson today comes from one of my students. He was sharing his aggravation about how one of his soccer teammates refuses to pass the ball once he gets it. The story reminded me of how musicians do the same thing - once they get the spotlight, or a cool riff, they don't want to give it up. If they don't have it in the first place, then they'll try to make it up. I'll point a finger at BASS PLAYERS putting too much slap bass in everything, guitarists trying to play lead between ever stinkin' vocal phrase, and well.......the list goes on! Step back, evaluate the situation, and if need be - pass the torch.

Rock on!

- Josh

5 Years!

Rockers!

It's been a little crazy over here, hence my silence. I just got back from NYC, and boy oh boy, I've got some catchin' up to do!

First off!

Today, besides being the start of World War II, marks the Five-Year Anniversary of being a guitar teacher. Whew, time sure flies! I just ran some rough calculations on my iPhone, and according to those complex equations I've run, I've taught over 7,000 lessons. That's a lotta rock 'n roll! Thanks to everyone who's taken lessons over the years! It's been fun. I really appreciate it, and I've learned so much. Here's to the next 7,000 lessons!

Second off!

Tickets for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra go on sale TOMORROW, September 2nd. You don't want to miss these guys 'n gals. Buy some tickets!

Third off! Two wonderful musicians I have the privledge of knowing are going to be putting on a fablous outdoor concert. Be there! Here's the info:


Saturday, 9/12/09, 8 PM
Ferguson Amphitheater, Hard Bargain Farm, Accokeek, MD.
Adults--$12; Members/Students--$10; Kids under twelve--$5

Grace Griffith, multi-Wammie Award winner, and singer/songwriter Lynn
Hollyfield share the stage for an evening of beautiful music. Grace is a critically acclaimed
interpreter of songs and long a favorite of DC area folk and celtic music fans. She has 3 solo albums and two CDs with her former trio "Connemara" on the Blix Street Records label,

and recently was featured on Jennifer Cutting's "Ocean" recording project.
Lynn Hollyfield's original songs have well-crafted melodies, stand-alone lyrics and striking emotional depth. In addition to being a gifted singer and songwriter,
Lynn is also quite accomplished on guitar. She has two CD's with her duo "Hollyfield & Spruill"
and is currently finishing up work on her first solo recording.
This will be an evening of sparkling settings of contemporary songs and traditional ballads. Together, Grace and Lynn promise an evening of vocal delights with polished harmonies, rhythm and fun. The pair will be joined by Jimmy Brink, percussionist.

http://www.seamaid.org/ and http://www.lynnhollyfield.com/

These ladies are great! I was helping out with the sound system while they were playing one time, and their version of Summertime was so good, I forgot to mix! I just listened. Playing a mix of celtic-tinged folk, they're an interesting contrast to the high voltage music I usually listen to. (I've got System of a Down playing right now....."Pushing little children, with their fully automatics!")

And the venue is really cool, too. It really is a concert in the woods. Check it out!

Forth off:

I've got some new random weird videos: My interviews of things that can't talk back.




Rock on!

- Josh