Overthrow 2013 - A battle plan for the resolution-weary

COMRADES!

  Are you ready for 2013?  Have you made your resolutions?  Well?  Well?

OK, I hear all the hipsters, cool kids, and well, just about everyone yelling back at me "I HATE RESOLUTIONS!"

  I used to be rather cool on the subject myself, but check it:

The new year is a fun time to set new goals, and cast an eye over the map of life to make sure your ship is sailing along nicely.  Instead of thinking of resolutions as negative (I'll work out so I'm not a shrimp), or even disciplinarian (I'll practice twenty eight hours a day), try to use them as inspiration - and make lots of them.  Last year, I think I made upwards of fifty.  Craziness!  I looked at that list recently, and while many went neglected, there were some triumphs:  Completing a tour (HELLO #JURT!), and learning to rap.  "HO HO SANTA STYLE."  (Yes, yes, I'll tell the story soon about how I rewrote "Gangnam Style" to "Santa Style", sang the song and danced the dance, while dressed in a Santa suit for the local elementary school.)

"'Cause I'm Santa Claus, oh yes I rock this suit of red, 'cause I'm Santa Claus, I know how to fly a sled..."

Instead of resolutions as pressure, think of them as a mini-bucket list.

I'm very excited about 2013, and I'll get up in your face to make the radical statement that YOU SHOULD BE, TOO!

Here's a bit of a template to help you get started on your own set of 2013 resolutions. Feel free to modify, of course - but whatever you do, write them down.  They're written for guitar players, but are easily adapted to other fields.

General Josh's New Year's Resolutions for a soldier of the Revolution  


In 2013, I want to learn to play ______ song by _____.

In 2013, I want to meet _______ .

In 2013, I want to write and record a song about _______.

(you get the time frame we're working with here)  I want that said song to have _____ many plays on Soundcloud/Youtube.

I will improve ____ skill on guitar.

I want to play in the town of ________.

I plan on creating accounts on these social media sites _______ and getting _____ new connections.

I want to learn more about the style of _____ music.  (Example:  Latin.  It's what Jack Black teaches.)

I will learn to sing!  (Learn, comrade, learn!)

I will write, record, play a song, or otherwise collaborate with ______.

Fitness is good!  I plan on being able to do ____ push ups in a row by next December 31st, and ____ pull ups, to fit my rockstar image!

I want to have a tweet retweeted by: ________.

A big musical goal (tour, EP, first gig) I'd like to accomplish in 2013 is:  _______ .

I want to have ___ Facebook fans, ____ Twitter followers, and ____ YouTube subscribers by next December 31st.


Why limit inspiration to music?  An art museum, park, city, or industrial wasteland I want to visit in 2013 is ______.


I want to learn how to ______.


I want to read the book ______.


The non-optional silly resolutions of the State

- Learn a magic trick.
- Try green olives.
- Watch a train (but stay away from the tracks, especially if your name is Anna.)
- Learn something about nature.
- Listen to all 6 of J.S. Bach's Brandenberg Concertos.
- Wear a silly hat at least once, and when someone balks, exclaim in a booming voice "Are you not entertained?"  


Now - go get ready for a superb 2013.  And write your plans down!

As a matter of fact, feel free to post them in the comments as a way to share, connect, encourage, and state to the masses that you are ready to overthrow the  new year.

Speaking of years - thanks for a stupendous 2012.  Here's a bit about how cool my year was, and some thanks to you comrades:  http://mazuzu.com/hamilton/view/110344

Peace,

- Josh  

Echoes

By now, I'm sure you've heard of the great sadness in Connecticut.  I had heard a flickering of the news in the morning, but didn't realize the extent of the tragedy.


  Battling a sore throat, I hosted a "DJ hour" at the local nursing home, playing and introducing holiday classics to the old folks.  After much great music and joy shared, I was tiredly lugging the speakers onto the elevator after the show.  I heard the nursing staff talking about it.  "Twenty kids."  "Twenty kids?"  I asked, a sickening feeling creeping up.  Last I had heard, it was just the shooter.  Unfortunately, the rumors were right this time.

  It had been an unusually busy week, and I guess I had run too hard, because there I was, nursing a cold on a Friday evening, AND - there wasn't a Christmas tree up.  I resolved to clean the house and put up the tree.

  If you think I'm an energetic person outwardly, you should just see my mind.  The evening was no exception, with plenty of pondering and thinking on the massacre.

  To top it all off, it's the holiday season.  It always brings it's own set of thoughts and feelings with it.  There's the fond memories of Christmas past, the yearning for a simpler time when Santa brought such joy.  The memory of my Grandfather's death a few days before Christmas, the reminder of my cousin who died by her own hand, friends who have died, friends who are dying, and much darkness.  There's the stress of the season, and the kindness of strangers, the magic for the children, and the cold reality of being an adult.  I've discovered the joy of giving, and have come to appreciate the thoughtfulness of gestures of giving.  To top it all off, here's almost thirty people dead at a madman's hand a few days before Christmas, and an indelible stain left on multitudes.  I pictured the mothers finding the carefully wrapped presents for their dead children in the closet, the "Santa staging area", and wondered what they must be feeling.  I pictured my own mother holding such a present and crying.  I wish there was something I could do.

  I avoid talking about my faith when possible, as I have friends and colleagues who I respect highly and who's views are different from mine.  However, it's fairly obvious that I'm very, very agnostic.  As the years have gone by, I've gotten more so, and the holiday season is an interesting one for me.

  I decided last year that since I'm about as Jewish as I am Christian, I'd light a menorah this year in addition to decorating a Christmas tree.  So there I was, in my living room, putting up the tree as the menorah blazed on the mantelpiece.  The Choir of King's College sang softly in the background as I thought about the kids, Grandpa, Kyleen, and life.  There is something so haunting and holy about a congregation of human voices, especially on a day of such sadness.

  I was all alone, it was dark outside, and it seemed like I was surrounded by echos and light and darkness.  Easy answers had gone the way of Santa and the sun for the day, replaced by the darkness of night and grief.

  The thought knocked gently at the front door of my mind.

Perhaps all we can do is put up the Christmas tree and light the menorah.  


 If life is choices, will I choose to shine light into the darkness?    


Keep the fire burning, friends.  Keep it burning with your kindness, your howling wind of intentional music, your art, your compassion.  Light up the world with a guitar, or a violin, or a menorah.  Will we be able to look out into the darkness, and like the glimmer of a neighbor's Christmas lights, see the fires of light in the darkness?

Life is choices...

Peace,
- Josh  

                                    

Letter to Myself

Comrades!  

  An honor of the gig is being asked questions like this from a younger musician named Anthony, posted on my World Domination Guitar Academy Facebook page:

I consider myself a guitarist but i know i can improve far more than I am. I am asking if you could give me tips, music, anything to further my guitar skills. I want to be a great guitarist. I wanna be known. I have started a small band that isn't coming together well. No drummer and members are at each others throats. Any tips, info, or words of advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time if you read this.

Anthony!  Thank you for the question!  I'm sorry it's taken me a minute to get back to you.  

OK, first bit of advice - never take advice too seriously.  Even when I'm playing the arena circuit (and I'm not exactly there yet, but working hard at it!) my opinion should be taken with many grains of salt.  However, I do love talking about this stuff, and it sounds like your situation is very similar to the way mine was.  So, here's a few ideas for you.  I hope they prove helpful!

One of the coolest ideas that I've come across for musicians actually comes from the investing book Rich Dad, Poor Dad.  In it, the author states "Mind your own business."  

This doesn't mean "go away, dude."  Nope, it means develop your own business, brand, and sound that's truly yours, and not dependent on anyone else.  Bands are totally awesome, but I think it's a great idea to always have your brand, too.  

For me, if I could write a letter to myself at a younger age, I would have done these things:

Dear Josh,

  Believe it or not, someday you're gonna cut your hair.  In the meantime, enjoy the wolfman look.  However, short hair can rock, too.  As an older version of yourself, here's a few things I could recommend.  

1.  Learn to sing ASAP!  It's a ton of fun, and this way, solo gigs are much easier! 

2.  Start writing songs right away.  It's a skill that's great to practice, just like alternate picking.

3.  Build a side project, complete with a Facebook page, SoundCloud account, etc, that's either just you, or the Josh Urban band.  That way, you'll always have something that you're moving forward, regardless of what band you're in.  

4.  Practice what you're interested in.  Listen to your teachers, but if you'd rather shred than play jazz, do that.  

5.  Get really good at people skills and salesmanship.  Not only are they fun, but very helpful with the business side of music.  Speaking of the business side...

6.  Jump into the business side!  Learn how to book gigs, start building connections with everyone you can (providing they're cool people), and do cool stuff with your music that's a bit out of the ordinary.  

7.  Record all the time!

8.  When you meet music people, do radio interviews, etc, make sure you develop a personal connection with the people, and don't rely on your manager or band leader.  You want to know them yourself.  

9.  Have a blast.  It's music.  You're living the dream, buddy!  

By the way, remember not to fry your hearing, young Josh, and watch out, there's lots of cops in Front Royal, VA.  Your Camaro is awesome, but slow down, son.

Yours truly,

Your older self Josh  

Anthony, best of luck to you, comrade!  Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to what is sure to be a brilliant career.  

Rock on!

- Josh

Getting on the map

Comrades!

  Boy, oh boy!  There's a LOT to talk about!  I completed my first tour!  THAT was so much fun, and I haven't gotten tired of walking around saying "Oh, that must have been while I was on tour."

So, here's a video recap of the northern half of the excursion (Alexandria, VA, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City.)




Now, for the most recent story - How I got on the map - literally!

I've been stalking around grumpy-like today.  On my way to my teaching studio, I stopped by my mom's house to say hello and eat some food.  It's been pointed out to me recently that I'm like Kramer, always walking in and opening the fridge (usually one that doesn't belong to me.)  As I was finishing up my meal, a funny looking car drove down the street.  "HEY!  THAT'S THE GOOGLE STREET VIEW CAR!" I yelled.  Bolting out the door with a hurried goodbye, I tore off down the street to catch it.

Then - a big yellow school bus lumbers to a halt RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!  AHHHH!  And the kids - the kids.  The kids know the law  is on their side.  I think we should Mitt Romney the whole thing, and make stopping for a bus dependent on the free market.  Then we'll see how fast those little terrors decide to cross the street.

Meanwhile, the Google Street View car, and my sure shot at immortality, is driving away.

So, I did what any stressed, morose, Type A east coast resident would do.

I honked at the stopped bus.

A little girl sitting in the last seat turns around and just starts staring icily at me.  Now, no matter how stressed out a morose, Type A east coast resident is, one can't take the conventional measures in a situation like this.  I was at a loss, and she just kept staring at me.  The bus started off real slow, and was intent on repaying my courtesy.

THEN - I saw the car zoom on to a side street behind me.  BOOM!  I flipped around, and passed the car in a neighborhood.

I waved like an idiot, and held a Revolution sticker up for the cameras to see.  The driver smiled and waved back.  BOOM!  Now I'm literally on the map!  I'm so excited.

I just got to thinking, though...That little girl will continue to grow up, harboring a deep resentment of me.  I'll continue to grow old, and she'll probably end up as my nurse when I'm in an old folk's home.


Then I'll do what any old, stressed, morose, Type A east coast resident would do...and ring the call button repeatedly.

- Josh  

#JURT eve

Hey hey!

  It's the eve of the tour, and I could not be more excited.  Big things are going on - the tour got a tweet by ReverbNation to over 100,000 followers today.  That made my eyes get big!

Check THIS - My brother made a video for the tour.  It's EPIC.  Share it with your friends if you're going on tour with the #JURT!  Special thanks to Noah at www.mazuzu.com for his artistic wizardry.




People are joining in all across the world.  It was tomorrow in Japan earlier this afternoon, and one of my buddies of many years got the distinction of the kick off post with a photo of a high-tech train in Japan.  He posted it on Instagram with the caption Future #JURT tour?  

Another friend is releasing a song tomorrow in conjunction with the tour.  Two DJ buddies are putting promos on the air as well.

I'd better try to get some sleep.

See ya on tour!

- Josh 

The Interactive Rail Tour

Comrades!

  Man oh man, it's been quite a while!  Well, I've been scribbling things like "ALX 11:02" and "#98 PHL" and the like on scraps of paper.  So I have an excuse!


Really.

See, it goes like this.  It's official - I'm going on tour.  

I've waited years to type that!  Here's what's up.  On September 7th, I'll be boarding an Amtrak train, and playing street music in seven cities over two weekends.  It'll be old-blues style, traveling by train, playing the street corners and byways, singing with an acoustic guitar.  (I've gotta learn "Crossroads!")

It'll be new style in the fact that I'll be broadcasting the whole thing over social media!

Now, a lot of musicians go on tour, so you could rightly say "BIG DEAL."  BUT: here's why it's way cool, and different.  

It will be completely interactive.  Everyone has a story to tell.  The world is made up of us ordinary people with extraordinary stories.  In the past, it was only the people with the stage (musicians, actors, poets, etc) who could share, interpret, and inspire.

Now, it's everyone.  That's right, I'm taking you on tour with me.  It's the world - on tour.

So how do you do this?  It's simple.  During the weekend of Friday 9/7 to Sunday 9/9, and again the following weekend (Friday 9/14 to Sunday 9/16), tag your view of the world with the hashtag #JURT (Josh Urban Rail Tour) back to Twitter @dontjoshme, Facebook.com/OfficialJosh , Instagram @JoshUrban , Google + @ gplus.to/JoshUrban , SoundCloud @JoshUrban , or YouTube.com/poodlemanjosh  

My audience will be your audience, and vice versa.

What should you tag?  I've gotta come up with a theme for each day (I'm thinking a different color for each day), but really, it's a platform for you to tell your story, your view of life, and your way to contribute to the snapshot in time.

At the end of the tour, I'll be taking all the media, and making a video out of it.

Make sense?  Let me know if you've got any questions.  I'm envisioning quite an event here...Just think:  People running a power plant could share with photographers in London.  California girls could Instagram the sunset, and skaters in Japan might put a video up of their art of defying gravity.  Meanwhile, I'll probably be trying to talk to a nun on a train.

Now, if I'm in your city - I'll be playing street music.  You should TOTALLY come jam, or at least say hey and hang out!  Here's the tour dates:

Alexandria, VA 9/7
Charlottesville, VA 9/7
Charlotte, NC 9/8
Richmond, VA 9/9

Washington, DC 9/14
Philadelphia, PA 9/15
New York, NY 9/16

It's gonna ROCK!

So, tell your friends that you're going on Tour with the #JURT, get 'em involved, and get ready to rock the world!  Ya with me?

And dig this groovy poster (thanks to my brothers for standing around for two hours to get this shot!):

See you on the road!  The rail road!

- Josh

The Symphony is Back

I heard it - as I walked across the gym parking lot from one of my rare short visits to that establishment - the Symphony Orchestra was tuning up under an orange moon looming large in the turbulent summer dusk.

The Katydids were back.  A Katydid is a large bug that looks like a leaf, and is my favorite musician.  They sing at night in the trees, and say "Katy did, Katy didn't."  (I hear the hipster Katydids prefer to be called Katydidn'ts.)

They adjust tempo according to ambient temperature.  The hotter it is, the faster they play.  In the middle of August you'll hear Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee (or, Katydid), and you'll think "oh man this isn't good.  In late September, Barber's Adagio will creep out from among the trees under a bright cool moon, signaling the end of the festivities of summer as the Symphony prepares to gently fade into the longer nights.  My mom first introduced me to The Symphony.  I remember sitting on the front porch one summer night, and she said "Oh, listen!  It's like it's a symphony in the forest!"  I've loved that sound every since.

So, when I got my iPhone years ago, initially skeptical about the need for a video camera, I had my mind changed when I had the opportunity to interview one of these members of The Symphony.




So, if The Symphony is playing in a forest near you...Take a listen.  I think you'll like what you hear.

- Josh