Metal with a Message

Happy Music Monday, comrades!

  It seems to be human nature to seek similarities in others, and I'm no exception...probably to the chagrin of those I claim to be like me!

  One of the great joys in my life is teaching guitar, and recently, two younger comrades were in their lesson, and the conversation turned to metal.  These brothers are upstanding citizens, actively working even at a young age to steer their lives in accordance with their principles.  They've discovered the roar of metal, and I suggested that I put a list together of some of my favorite metal songs with a good message.  I remember being in their shoes, and it can be tricky to find music that is good on all accounts.  So, here's four cool tunes with power, roar, and good ideas behind them.  They represent a variety of styles, and are a cool starting point in the world of metal.  I know for a fact that I'm overlooking many great songs, so feel free to add them in the comments!


Metallica - The Unforgiven  

A thought-provoking song about authority, rules, and a life wasted.



Iron Maiden - Flight of Icarus  

Mythology provides the material for this tune.  If only Zeus had a boombox.



Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train

A classic metal tune, and I never even knew all the words.  Turns out it's lamenting the division of humanity, and saying "Maybe it's not too late."



System of a Down - Aerials

Bizarre, deep, profound, and crazy..."Life is a waterfall, we're one in the river, and one again after the fall."  You can headbang to S.O.A.D, and ask the important questions, too.




There's a quick sampling of a rockin' genre...Four songs is hardly an overview, but fellas, I hope this gets you started.  These are some of my favorite jams.

Metallically yours,

- Josh


  

Free Guitar in 2015

Happy New Year, Comrades!

  Man oh man, I'm super excited for 2015.  There's going to be big doings in the Revolution:  more tours, new albums, an epic live show, etc etc....but the thing I'd like to talk about today is...FREE GUITAR LESSONS!

  OK, here's what's up.  For the past ten years, I've been fortunate enough to make my living teaching guitar.  I'm looking forward to the next decade of teaching, and I'm making a slight change to lessons.

  No, no, they still cost money (I still have to eat, and this is how I put food on the table), BUT:  I always say to people "when I'm a rich rock star, I'll do this for free."

  I'm still working on all parts of the "rich rock star" title (plan to get it, though!), but in the meantime, I realized something:  Although busy, I have a few extra minutes here and there.  I can't make every lesson free, but I'm going to offer some free lessons in the meantime.  I'll be starting a bit of a series at my studio.  I already think of it as a tree house, it being on the second floor, and it's decorated festively.  So, come party in the tree house!

  The first in the series will be on Wednesday, January  14th, from 7-9 pm EST.  I'll be hanging out at my Waldorf studio, and also hosting this on a Google + hangout, so no matter where you are in the world, you can join in the fun.  We can go over any topic at all, but I'll be spinning some rootsy music, and have the cigar box guitar in the studio.  I think January is a good time to start at beginnings of things, and American roots music has been capturing my attention recently.  So, let's talk about it, listen to it, and learn some cool stuff.  Bring your guitar, and bring your friends.  This is going to be fun.

  See you there!  You can call me Professor Redhair.  (Unless I've cut out all the seasonal neon dye!)

Rock on, and Happy New Year!

- Josh

PS.  Here's a video I just did talking about rhythm guitar:


 

Grandpa's Lesson

Hey rockers,

  Today is a bit of a sad day over here.  It's the 8th anniversary of my Grandfather's passing.  I was barely 21 when he died, and I wish I got a chance to know him better as an adult.  His death came rather unexpectedly, adhering to his humorous maxim of people never die on schedule.  Unlike the movies, it feels to me that there wasn't a tidy conclusion to his life, no completed arc.  There was much business left unfinished, and in a strange way, the most important thing he ever taught me was this:

  Things don't always work themselves out.  

  Needless to say, this still rattles my cage.  We don't figure it out just because we're adults.  I thought that, as a younger man, that with age comes wisdom.  It can, but the choice of how to apply that wisdom is up to us.  What will we do with it? We're at the controls of a mighty engine, and it will obey our commands.  How shall we steer?


  So, as I lean back in my chair, a few streaks of gray appearing among the neon red/pink hair, and the clouds drift high in the sky, I miss him.  I think of the man who placed such value on logic, precision, and rational thinking, and although I'm so very sad that he left before things got tied up, I like to think that it's a fitting last lesson he gave. I can almost picture him, in his scratchy flannel shirt and his black loafer slippers.  He would shuffle across the reasonably-priced carpet, over to his bookshelf, peering through his glasses, selecting some dry tome to read a lesson from to a rather teasingly unwilling audience in me.  "Oh man..." I'd grumble playfully...His finger would scan the pages, and he'd say "ah yes, here it is.  The probability of situations and challenges resolving themselves with little or no input from the engineer is statistically improbable."

I reply..."So, in other words, get it together, right?"


"Right."


And then he'd laugh that lovable, hissing laugh that I used to imitate as a little boy.


Thanks, Grandpa.

- Josh   


 

Ten Ways to Win at Life

10.  Don't read list articles.  

  Get back to work, son!  

On #Ferguson

I haven't a clue.  In fact, I just erased a whole blog about it.

I'd just like to say:

Hey friends, I'm listening.  Let's talk.  I swear I won't try to out-meme you on social media.

#Ferguson  #OpenEars

- Josh  

Under an Empty Sky

The wind blew through the bleak trees, as the practical lights of suburbia lit up an empty sky, reflecting in a sickly pink off the night clouds.  Maybe God was out there, but he sure wasn't reflecting in the two brass keys I used to unlock my house.  "Can't be too safe nowadays."

  I had been thinking about her, seven years ago today, when she was sitting down to do some writing of a different kind.  Maybe it was a day of feeling overwhelmed with a to-do list, but I also suspect the ache of missing her contributed to my grumpy mood as I grumbled through my evening.  It's funny how sadness manifests.  "Sometimes life just sucks" I thought angrily as I dished overcooked pasta into a bowl a friend had made me.

 Seven years ago, her light winked out, her goodbye letter bobbing on a ripple in an ocean of darkness that reached even unsuspecting shores.  I hardly knew her, although we shared a bloodline.  Her choice to depart started a profound look into darkness and light.  But underneath everything, when it's all said and done, and the philosophy has been philosophized, the end answer is:  I miss her dearly, and I don't think anything will ever make that go away.  But, as I see it, there's three things that we can do with darkness:

  Let it swallow us, stumble along blindly, or third, try to light a match.  Last year, a lot of people lit matches with an idea, and we had a bit of a bonfire of goodness.  Let's start another mighty blaze in the night.

The Big Idea 

  Last year, I started something...mostly a crazy idea, but I saw how it caught.  I didn't expect it to do that.   And now, it's time to do it again.  It's time to start a spark.  I'm doing a project, and I hope you'll join me.

  It's called The Kindness Exchange.  The idea is simple:  Do or see something kind, and post it online using the hashtag #KindnessExchange.  I'll see the tagged post, and put it on a lit "beacon tree", literally lighting up the night.  Every single person is invited to create their own beacon tree.  Decorate it with red lights, and light up the night.

  On one hand, it seems incredibly trite, both the idea, and the act of talking about my cousin's suicide and a hashtag in the same blog.  On the other...there was quite a bonfire last year, with light shining out in an unexpectedly bright fashion. So, let's do it again.

...and let's save somebody.


I think we might just be able to.  The little actions add up, and the act of throwing a life preserver is often deceptively simple.

We can at least try.  That seems like a decent place to start.  See you out there.

Peace,
Josh 

(to get involved, visit www.JoshUrban.com/Kindness or https://www.facebook.com/groups/KindnessExchange/)

10 Years After

Comrades!

  Happy Labor Day, stateside readers, and happy September 1st, world!

Man oh man, things have been rockin' over here.  Just wrapped up another rail tour (more on that soon), got a clinic at Sam Ash Music in a few weeks, but the main thing is...I'm a bit nostalgic today.

  It's been TEN YEARS (!) since I started teaching guitar.  Now, Ten Years After (pardon the pun - that was the first band I learned to play along with!), I'm sitting here reflecting on what a journey it's been.  Sure, sure, lots of stuff happened for me, but the main thing is...I got to hang out with YOU comrades.

  And what a journey it has been!   The very first lesson was terrifying.  Andy knew everything that I did.  I mean, exactly everything.  What was scary ten years ago turned out to be great a few weeks ago when I saw him while touring through Philadelphia.  He came out to jam, and man, was that fun!

  As I sit here listening to some old big band records, I'm pondering just how thankful I am to have spent ten years with you folks playing guitar.  There's of course the gratitude for the financial and practical aspects of survival and all that stuff, but much more than that, the thankfulness is for the laughs, learning, and really cool guitar we've got to play together.  While I always strive to be a good influence for my younger comrades, it dawned on me that the influence goes both ways, and if I'm having a lousy day, I'm always in a better frame of mind after a round of lessons.  Be it a talk about music theory, life, or getting pranked, it's quite a privilege to get to sit in my chair and spend time playing and learning guitar with you folks.  Some folks just come through for a few sessions, and it's fun getting to know them a bit.  Others stay for years, sometimes from quite an early age, and I've been fortunate to see you grow into fine young men and women.  I guess you've seen me grow up a bit, too.  I feel that teaching has given me so much, and has allowed me to build a life filled with zany rock 'n roll.

  Thank you for such an awesome ten years.   I will always treasure them.


  I'd like to celebrate with everyone in a fitting manner, SO:  I'm going to throw a big party/jam session celebrating ten years of the Guitarmy!  Details TBA (gotta figure them out), but you're invited!  Stay tuned (and stand by for party details), and let's get ready to jam!

  In closing, once again...thank you!  

Because...

We are the champions, my friends!  

It's been an honor!

- Josh