Office space

I saw a quote once that was pretty cool. I'm going to completely ruin in, because a.) I don't remember who said it, and b.) I forget who was in the quote.

But it was about a famous writer who wrote best with his feet in icy water, and a famous composer who thought the smell of slightly rotting apples was great for creativity.

It brings up the question of: What's your ideal creation lab?

Like I've been yelling about, I just went to Richmond to set up a radio show. I took the train, and that's my new favorite office, especially at night. It was the best. It was cozy, made me feel important, was ultra-comfortable, exciting (the traveling part), and only alarming once. A train moving a gazillion miles an hour in the opposite direction on the adjacent track let it's horn off right outside my window. I jumped. But maybe the reason I liked the space so much was because I didn't have wires everywhere. My students will attest to the fact that my studio is always an epic battle of wires vs. man, and the wires appear to be winning handily.

My mom and brothers really have this skill of setting up ideal space. Maybe it's because they take the effort to actually clean house a bit. I don't know. Their aptitude first dawned on me when we were eating dinner one day. I looked around the table, and saw how they had the food on their plates arranged just so, very artistically, and it looked so appetizing. I looked at my plate, and saw a plain pile of spaghetti resembling...well...My studio! When I take the time to set up a nice place to work, it's always worth it. See if it helps you, too. I think a good studio space is vital for world domination. Wow, I really need to get my act together!

Workspace doesn't have to be an actual office. I love taking songwriting safaris to the city or the park. A change of scenery can be really cool! It's fun to set aside a certain time each week or month for field work. I think it would be neat to find a dismal industrial alley, assuming I won't get shot, and sit there for hours to see what songs I could write.

Has anyone seen a marble or five? I seem to be missing a few...

- Josh

It's a long way to Richmond

"Well it's a long way to Richmond, rollin' north on 95"

Hey Comrades!

Wow, I hope you had a fun fun fun fun Sunday! I sure did. I got to take a TRAIN to RICHMOND to learn how to be a radio DJ!

Yes, yes, I will be hosting an occasional show on the University of Richmond's college radio station, WDCE 90.1 FM! I'm psyched. Now I gotta figure out playlists and formats and everything.

I'll be posting air dates soon, so stay TUNED. Ha ha!

Since music is a conversation, it begs the question: If you had a radio show, what would it be? Sports? Talk? Top 40? Classical? It's a great conversation starter. I'd be curious to hear what you think!

Also, I could use some input on the planning stages. I've got a solid idea of what I'm trying to do, but input is much appreciated!

Boy, the train trip was a blast, too. My new favorite office space is Amtrak's Northeast Regional train by night. I love love love being on the road for music. I was sitting at the train station, listening to the trains go by, and enjoying the breeze. I got to meet a cool lady on the train who gave me some great ideas about public speaking, too. Networking never stops! Uh, well, I DID get asked to pipe down by the people in front of me as I was enthusiastically asking about speaking and presentations, but oh well...

So here's your knowledge nugget today, comrades: Up the networking game! Start talking to people around you, and see what cool folks you'll meet.

Vive la revolution!

- Josh

The Mozart vs. Beethoven cage fight

Who says classical music is boring?

I mean, a bassoon looks like a cross between a bazooka and a mortar, for cryin' out loud!

I had the privilege to watch the London Conchord Ensemble in concert last night at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Wow, what a great show! Special thanks to the random lady who gave me a ticket to get in!

The program consisted of Mozart's Quintet in E-flat major, K. 452 for piano and winds,

Poulenc's Sonata for flute and piano, Bridge's Divertimenti for flute, oboe, clarinet, and basson, and finally, Beethoven's Quintet in E-flat major, op. 16, for piano and winds.

Notice that it started with a Mozart quintet, and ended with a Beethoven quintet. Reading the program, and I'm paraphrasing, I've got this:

Tonight on Classical Cage Fights! "The Wolf" wrote a quintet for woodwinds. Kings said these instruments were too loud, so The Wolf said he'd ease the pain...by bringing more! He dropped a PIANO in the mix! Arrrrrr!

Facing The Wolf, Stone Deaf Ludwig said he had it with always living in the shadow. He was going to write a piece using exactly the same format, exactly the same instruments, and even the same KEY. He'd shoot the Wolf from the sky like Sarah Palin hunting from a helicopter! And he's got a special message for all the haters - boo louder, 'cause he STILL can't hear you.

Don't miss it - on Classical Cage Fights!

The actual text said: "While at this point Beethoven's style still conformed to the Classical traditions established by Mozart, Haydin, and their contemporaries, evidence suggest that he was nevertheless striving to define his own musical abilities and expressive language by creating works in a wide range of compositional genres. The unusual instrumentation of the Quintet is identical to that used by Mozart in his own Quintet for winds, composed twelve years before, indicating that Beethoven wished to emulate (or surpass) Mozart's own essay in the genre.

Same difference, basically.

And Beethoven CRUSHED him! Wow! Mozart was all uptight and like "oh, I hope I don't step in a puddle with my fancy ballerina shoes." And Beethoven was like "BOOM! I'm the thunder, fool, and I'm gonna rain all over this parade!"

The musicians were most gracious and skilled. I have to wonder what they thought of us crazy Americans, though. Across the street, the lights in the Capitol burned late into the night as the very real possibility of a government shutdown loomed. To add insult to injury, as the oboe player was explaining a piece, instead of everyone just listening a little closer, some lady in the back has to yell "TALK LOUDER!"

At least she didn't request Freebird.

- Josh

The Women

"...And she valued herself." - terri st. cloud

Happy Friday, comrades!

Please forget that you ever read the following blog. I'm putting my chauvinist wit on the shelf temporarily, and actually saying something of substance. Don't worry, I'll be back to my old self soon.

I've been noticing women lately. Ha ha! I mean, a thinking pattern on their part that seems to be appearing...Something psychological that seems to be a trend, and no comrades, I'm not talking about them deliberately confusing us fellas. OK, maybe my chauvinist wit is back. Regardless, I'd like to share a few thoughts with you. Perhaps they could provide a male perspective to any women out there who are struggling, and a human perspective on strength and self-worth. And, of course, musicians need both of those qualities to truly succeed. Disclaimer - I'd never be so stupid as to say I understand the workings of the female mind. Ha! THAT would be silly.

Women are a fascinating gender. Typically not as physically strong as males (although there's quite a few ladies at the gym who could beat me in arm wrestling - but that's not a hard bar to clear), nonetheless, they exhibit an almost superhuman inner power. It's not always obvious, but it's there if you look.

Snapping back into my usual persona for a minute, how'd you think they made it through the 50's and 60's? A woman's gig was LOUSY, and all the Valium in the world couldn't get me through those crushing years of housewifeliness and oppression.

As I mature...scratch that...get older...I've been fortunate to have met some of these super ladies who have endured unimaginable loss, pain, and misfortune, only to emerge wise and kind and strong. Their cores might have always been unshakable, or perhaps they were forged in some of the terrible fires. They spread grace, light, and wisdom along the path for the rest of us, like the wizard in the Black Sabbath song The Wizard. And, just like the rest of us, sometimes they too stumble, or tick me off when they don't laugh at a "hey, cook me some food, woman" joke that I make, but man, that strength is undeniable. Actually, they usually tolerate the jokes alright, and laugh at it like a lioness would laugh at a bird who's yelling it's head off.

I've also noticed that, in other women, that possibly, this passive, quiet strength can actually be self-destructive. I'm always amazed at how the ladies fall all over sub-standard guys. (Ha, this makes me feel better when I get the cold shoulder.) But seriously, I've been seeing so many women in so many lousy relationships, some of them physically, and many of them emotionally, abusive and unhealthy. It seems as if the fear of being alone overpowers basic "HEY! This guy's a creep!" mentality. It saddens me to see people settle for so little, and to tolerate so much needless pain. It's as if that inner strength they possess is devoted to enduring the situation, slave to the idea in their head that this is all they're worth. Endure they do, and they're so good at it, sometimes they wind up dead. Talk about discipline.

I guess we all have these issues, not just women. It's that self-worth thing. I'd like to be a mirror for a day, and walk around so people could really see themselves. Would we all be like Stanley in Weird Al's "UHF" and run to the window, and say "HEY! These floors are as dirty as hell, and I'm not gonna take it any more!" (And leave, instead of cleaning them?) Would we stand up tall, and say "I matter?"

So here's my wish that all the ladies out there can see, imagine, or at least even pretend, to know your strength. Because you are strong, so very strong.

OK, so how does this relate to music? Well, us minstrels of the rock often take little or no pay for our craft. If we stopped selling ourselves short, and started acting like we were in the big leagues - maybe we would be! Don't be so hungry for a compliment that you've gotta eat it off the floor. Go up a level or three! Now, sure, sometimes a gig is good for the exposure, sometimes it's nice to help a venue out, and sometimes, you've just gotta pay your dues. But see your worth, in a quiet, humble way...And then take over the town!

It's all upstairs. Do you think you matter? That seems to determine a lot. I know I'm trying to figure it out myself.

- Josh

PS. Check out this strong lady!

The message, Jeeves!

Hellooooooo, Comrades!

And what a beautiful spring morning it is here in Maryland. I read on the news last night that Maryland is the 10th least-relaxing state in the US. Cool! Just wait till I get that new amp...

As I journey farther along in my music career, I'm getting to meet more and more people. Wow, there's some uptight musicians around here! Holy smokes, they certainly take themselves seriously. And their music, too. It feels like a high school of old people trying to keep a club exclusive.

Now, comrades, here's a news flash for you. Nobody really cares about you.

Say whaaaaat? Let me elaborate.

As I see it, there's three elements to a musician: Themselves (personality), their sound, and the song's message.

All three are essential, and the last part seems to get forgotten a lot. To use an automotive analogy, think of the musician as a car, the sound as the skill in driving, and the message as the contents of the vehicle.

If we have a beautiful piece of pottery that we would like to bring to a friend, we need a vehicle with which to transport it, and, of course, we need to be able to drive.

I'm seeing a lot of people, including myself, getting stuck on how fancy the car is (recognition as a musician) or how fast we can drive (the sound.) But all of that is more than irrelevant if there's no point to the trip, and no gift in the car. I say "more than" because after a very short while, it's downright annoying, not to mention pretentious.

I was talking to my mom about this recently. She's an artist, and her work helps people all over the world find real. She said "Josh, I take my work seriously, but not myself so much."

It just could be that a song you wrote will save someone's life. So promote it, shout it from the rooftops, and tell people it's the greatest, because it just might be.

But lighten up a bit when it comes to yourself. We're all in this together.

Vive la Revolution!

- Josh

PS. Hey all you snobby DC music scene old people...Consider yourself overthrown! "I have here a list!"

Put the club down, sir

Heya!

Got my potato salad from the store across the street, and a student is due in shortly...TRAIN!

Now I'm back. (I love trains.)

I was at the gym last night, and doing more listening to the house music than lifting. I noticed - wow, does everyone become rock stars to make their ex feel bad? It's all "look at me, look at me!"

Don't we have anything better to talk about than ourselves?

Ironic, as I say this on my blog.

So maybe try putting down that sonic club, and just beat the world about the ears with some good ideas instead!

Why don't you sit right back, and I....I may tell you a tale......

- Josh

The daily news

Hey hey!

OK, comrades, I was just reading a neat article on the Dotted Music blog, and they said that it's important to blog every day. (Hey, at LEAST more than once every few weeks!)

So, I will be trying some new writing stuff out on you loyal readers and comrades of the Revolution to overthrow bad music!

First off - Train hard, comrades! I just played first gig of the "summer" season, and it was COLD! It's hard to play guitar when your hands are chilly. But hey, I played anyway, and was warmed by the power of rock. Remember, the Revolution won't always be fought in balmy weather.

Second - anyone got tumblr? I'm joshurban.tumblr.com

Be my friend! I just posted a way cool video of the German army band playing "smoke on the water.

Third - I'm getting into radioooooo! More details soon! I did an interview for Richmond VA's WDCE 90.1, and had a blast! I've gotta chop up the audio, 'cause it's an hour and a half long. I'll put it on YouTube soon.

And lastly, here's a cool thought for the day: "How you do anything is how you do everything."

Vive la Revolution!

- Josh