The Doghouse

Cooking up The Manifesto

2012-01-23T06:07:00.000-08:00

Greetings, comrades of the Revolution!

I hope your week is off to a snazzy good start. It's foggy over here in Maryland, but I've got the fireplace going, and the classical radio station on. It's quite cozy.

I've been wandering the winter woods and fields, walking down along the Potomac river, watching the eagles, all the while plotting, plotting, and plotting some more. This is what I've got so far.

I made a big announcement on the radio recently. In case you missed it, it's this:

I'm building a million-person army of the Revolution to Overthrow Bad Music! And I want you to be part of it. Actually, I want it to be your army, too. Will you be one of a million, Comrade?

Here's the details:

We all agree that Bad Music is a gathering storm, and the darkness has been creeping up so fast that it's all but choked the life out of the places to hear tunes. Flip on the radio, and BAM, there it is! Go to the grocery store, and it rappels out of the speakers, hides behind the canned green beans, and assassinates our ears.

We must fight this menace! That's the first part.

The second part is this:

The "interwebs", as I fondly call the net, has/have made it super easy to network with people who listen to music. "In this business, we call 'em fans, son", my inner Texan might drawl. However, it's a fine line to walk between talking with people and talking at them. It's far too easy to fall into the promotion trap, and start spamming folks with an endless barrage of show invites, merchandise, and information.

As a fan, I like to be included in the creative process - if it is sincere. I always feel bad when I go to see a musician I like, and I can't talk to them, or feel insignificant. While of course I'm just a drop in the bucket, each person is important to an artist's success. I think everyone hates feeling like they don't matter, and this is the dangerous part of the online experience. Us musicians can sometimes start to put on airs rather quickly to the detriment of our supporters, when, in fact, they're really our bosses! We're working for each and every person who listens to our music, after all.

Here's what my idea is: Building this army should be more than just a gimmick for getting likes on a facebook page. It should literally be a revolution, an-all inclusive movement where everyone is a VIP, each person is fighting bad music even if they can't sing "Happy Birthday" (I can't), and every single soldier is a true Comrade of the Revolution.

What if: Instead of me signing autographs at a show, you gave me yours? I need to get a guitar for everyone to sign!

What if: There was a wall in my studio where any comrade could send a photo of them overthrowing bad music? What if there was an online site with the photos, complete with a map, so we could see just how close we were to taking over the world?

What if: There was merch you could get at cost?

What if: I recorded a song incorporating samples from everyone in the army?

What if: We all wrote that song together?

What if: I helped you get the word out about your music?

What if: We really took over the world?

For too long, I've been too competitive. I thought guitar was some sort of Highlander or something, where there could be only one. Baloney! Well, hey, maybe that's the case, but today, I'm letting that go. Steve Vai, you win. Local musicians who are more popular than me - you win. I'm putting down the hatchet, and picking up a party hat. A COMRADE Party hat! Bad Music - consider this fair warning. I'm cooking up an offical manifesto in the Komrade Kitchen. It'll be done shortly.

This Revolution is all about the fun. Let's get a million people with us.

Can I hear a "Sup, COMRADE?"

Saluting you!

- Josh

Google + Hangout on Saturday!

2012-01-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

Hey Comrades!

Woooooo! Who has Google +? Who wants to VIDEO CHAT and plot the demise of bad music?

Join in the fun tomorrow, which is Saturday, which is January 21st, at 12:00 noon EST! My page is

gplus.to/joshurban

They've got a cool feature called "hangout", and it's a group video chat. I want to start doing more of these, and get a whole bunch of you comrades involved. Bring your guitar, bring your plans, bring your fine self, and we'll chat! Man, talk about a cool international guitar club! (EVERYONE is welcome, not just guitar players!)

Hope to see you there!

Josh

SOPA

2012-01-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Comrades!

All across the internet, websites are going dark today to protest the disastrous legislation currently awaiting a vote in Congress.

Here's info on the proposed SOPA and PIPA bills that, if passed, could effectively censor the internet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Learn_more

Now, while Wikipedia's silence is a real stop-and-think moment, mine would simply be an "oh thank goodness he's gone away for a minute" train of thought.

SO, in order to raise awareness, and "encourage" you to call your representatives (find 'em here: http://sopatrack.com/), I will not stop talking. If I did, it would be a reward. Instead, I will start talking about celebrity gossip until you call Washington.

(If you've seen the new Muppet movie, you can quote Jack Black when he's listening to Fozzie's comedy routine: "Oh God, make it stop!")

WOW! Did you HEAR that Taylor Swift said she was awkward in middle school and high school?

Maybe 'cause she is like ten feet tall? The Annoying Orange would say "Hey! Hey! Hey Giraffe! Hey Giraffe Hey! Wowwwww! You're the most beautiful Giraffe I've ever seeeeeeeeen!"

The Kardashian empire seems to be falling. Thank goodness. Now, instead of getting paid mega-bucks to go to parties, maybe Kim will go out with me. Judging by the duration of her marriage, proportionately the date would probably be as long as it took to say"hello, goodbye." Let's just hope that dinner won't be ordered in the meantime. Something tells me she has expensive taste.

Have you called Washington yet???

No?

OK, well, then...

Brad Pitt got snubbed at the latest round of awards, whatever they're called. Ricky what's his face (last name starts with a G) was obnoxious. Shocker. But Brad really should have won something, judging by how sharp his sideburns were in the movie "Moneyball", which, actually, was pretty darn cool. I guess that's cause Aaron Sorkin helped with it!

Remember, comrades, make the call, tell 'em NO to SOPA and NO to PIPA.

AND...Send Prince Harry an email and tell him NO to Pippa. She's trouble, trust me, dude.

- Josh

The impermanence of war

2012-01-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, comrades!

As I rattle around town in my dog tags and preach fiery rhetoric about the Revolution and overthrowing, a funny thought is dawning on me. With the use of the internet, the Revolution is starting to go international. And with the area that I live in, too, diversity is one of the main attributes, and one of my favorite parts of the DC area. In addition to talking to lots of different people, I read quite a few news stories and historical accounts.

The strange thought is this - how both utterly devastating and life altering war is, and how strangely impermanent the causes of the conflicts are. In short, a total "not fair" for people caught in it's withering crossfire.

I've got a new buddy from Vietnam that I've met through my music. I've got an old buddy that I know through my music who fought in Vietnam. The new buddy was joking about the picture I have with the rocket launcher on my shoulder, asking where I got it. I quipped that Americans have a reputation for being heavily armed, but we typically stick to handguns. It then occurred to me how strange it was that our fathers could have fought each other. (My Dad was in the Coast Guard in 'Nam, but didn't see any combat. My other buddy, though, most certainly did.) Here we are joking about bazookas while chatting guitar. It's wild.

The second thing that made me think was this: Another comrade emailed me to set up a lunch. Our grandfathers were sworn enemies. His grandfather was an officer in the Japanese army during WWII, mine was in the US forces in the same conflict. Stationed in Europe, he was in charge of a German POW machine shop. He even had a secretary named Helga. It makes me think of Hogan's Heroes. I doubt his tenure was funny, though. War isn't kind - at least that's what they tell me.

My buddy told me an amazing story once. He said his grandfather was on a mission once, and, while crossing a footbridge, accidentally broke it. It was a grave error resulting in his demotion of one rank. Fortunately for him, though, shortly after that, all of the officers of his previous rank were ordered to commit suicide.

This buddy's mom (the officer's daughter) was the one who gave me my first teaching gig.

If it weren't for the mistake of an "enemy" soldier, I might not be a guitar teacher, and I certainly wouldn't know the fellow that I'll be plotting music with over lunch in a few days.

Remember the red menace? (The real one, not Santa.) What person over fifty would have thought I'd have a video called "Santa is a Communist" hosted on Russian-based Ultimate-guitar.com?

It's enough to make my head spin. Well, granted, it's USUALLY spinning, but make it spin even faster!

Cut to earlier today, when I was reading the story of how some Marines snapped in Iraq, and killed 24 unarmed civilians in their homes. I wonder if my kids will be on Skype with Taliban kids in fifty years, talking about how to play "Pumped up Kicks" - "you know, that old American classic rock song."

War is on my mind, and it's bloody confusing.

- Josh

Big Announcement

2012-01-06T14:48:00.001-08:00

Comrades! Happy New Year!

I hope your brave new year is off to a rockin' good start. Mine sure is!

I've been walking to visit the river lots. Visiting my wise friend is a cool way to facilitate some serious thinking. I've been writing in two little notebooks a lot during my daily hikes. It's hard when it's cold outside. If you think my writing is bad normally, well...

The river is ever changing. Each day it's a different color, and a different personality. I wonder if George Washington watched the river, too, for his house is a few miles upstream on the opposite shore.

Through these walks, talks with my innermost comrade circle (that would be my family), and plotting and pondering, I've come up with a cool idea and brave new plan for the new year.

I'll be announcing it on my radio show this Saturday, January 7th, just after 3:00 pm EST.

Listen in at www.wdce.org ! I hope to see you there! For those of you on Facebook, here's a link to the online listening party https://www.facebook.com/events/320977751257149/

WOOOOO Can't wait to tell y'all what's new! It directly involves you, so don't miss it!

- Josh

The year

2011-12-30T12:32:00.000-08:00

'Sup, Comrades?

Well, it seems like every pundit and person who really shouldn't take themselves seriously (but do anyway) is recapping 2011.

Since I'm the Commander General of the Revolutionary Forces in the war to Overthrow Bad Music, I guess I should really write about the year as well.

Radio Radio

Besides being introduced to the music of this French Canadian rap group (and finally appreciating it), 2011 was the year of the Radio! The Revolution received airplay on stations in Towson, MD, College Park, MD, and Richmond, VA! Rockin'! Thanks, Sean, Whitney, and Zac!

In addition, I got a gig as an occasional DJ at WDCE! The Richmond music scene is pretty darn cool, and I'm looking forward to getting to know more of the people, and having my southern Comrade Sheldon Y. back on the air! My brotha-from-anotha-motha Corey co-hosted a show with me, and that was a blast. Man, the train trip and visits to the snack car was too much fun!

HOBY

You know how I'm always talking about leading armies? Well, they put me in charge of a platoon of sophomores at this youth leadership conference called HOBY. We were team 16, and Abe Lincoln was the theme. Our motto..."There IS an I in team Lincoln." Besides being inspirational, informative, and a heck of a lotta fun, it showed me that I could function (sort of) on four hours of sleep. To this day, I'll say "looks like it's gonna be a HOBY day!"

Also, in regards to waking up. You know that phrase "fake it till you make it?" Well, if you're a little groggy, there is no better way to regain consciousness then to scream at sleepy teenagers standing around at 7 am in the courtyard. "HEY COMRADE! ARE YOU AWAKE? WELL? ARE YOU? ARE YOU READY TO GO PULL WEEDS AT THE LOCAL PARK? WELL? ARE YOU? ARE YOU? LOOK ALIVE, SOLDIER!" Wakes ya right up, let me tell you. It really is better to give than receive.

Plus, I met some top notch soldiers of the Revolution there, and made lots of fun new friends!

The Revolution Grows

Man, 2011 is really the year that the Revolution got started! It's been totally rockin' to have y'all involved in the fight! Man, the gigs, videos, new music buddies, shows, promotion, laughing, overcoming car trouble, networking, and plotting...It was splendid! I've got some cool revolutionary ideas (no, really, they're revolutionary) for 2012, so stay tuned! And THANK YOU, COMRADES!

Most ironic moment: Hearing Rebecca Black's "Friday" for the first time...ON THE RADIO...when, during my interview, the DJ asks me what music I'm trying to overthrow. When I was unable to give a good response, she played it. It was like bringing a gun to a peace rally. Hilarious, though!

New Tourmobile!

OK, so who really wants to hear that I got a new vehicle? The Red Menace (Camaro) is still on the roster of course, but I added a small SUV to the fleet...I got a black Ford Escape. It was close, comrades...I almost got a minivan. Even my 8 year old students were heckling me about it. Thankfully, I caved to the peer pressure, and got something (slightly) cooler. Next up. Putting a red stripe on it like BA's van in The A Team! AND a CB radio!

Breaker Breaker!

Skype Lessons!

Teaching went electronic this year! If you've got a webcam, now you too can have guitar lessons! And if it snows, you still can have 'em! You know what this means, right? The business can go worldwiiiiiiide!

Fun Gigs

Man, there's nothing like playing live music. Sometimes I get stage fright, though. Wanna know a cool trick? Lie with your feet. Stand there like you own the stage. Again, fake it till you make it, and get a confident pose onstage. Jack Black was absolutely right in School of Rock. Stand in the Rock Stance! Raise your goblet of rock, and bang your head!

I had the honor and privilege to try this out around town this year, and man, it works! Something else I realized while onstage: Audience members are giving me part of their lives by stopping to listen. I really respect that, and I'll do my best never to forget it!

Funniest moment: Singing "3 Little Pigs" and having the next band join in spontaneously with the background vocals. "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!"

Mobile!

Did I mention that I have the best brothers ever? Well, I do, and they built me an app. It's called weComrade, and it's free. Of course. Get it, comrades! https://market.android.com/details?id=mazuzu.apps.joshurban&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsIm1henV6dS5hcHBzLmpvc2h1cmJhbiJd

What's next

I took a long walk today, sat in a lonely graveyard, pondered what mattered, visited the river, and wrote in a notebook. I've got some cool ideas. While it may say 0000001 and "General" on my dog tag, I really want this Revolution to be all-inclusive. The gravestones have a peculiar way of screening your ideas to see what matters and what doesn't. So, while the ideas are still in the development phase, keep an ear out. I'll be in touch. If you have any ideas, too, please feel free to share! I'd love to hear 'em!

Resolutions

Boy oh boy, do I love the New Year. I didn't used to make resolutions. To be fair, I was five before I even found out that the years change. "You mean, it's not gonna be 1990 next year?" I remember feeling said for 1990. I've asked a lot of people over the years about their resolutions, and have received some interesting answers. From "Oh, I don't have any bad habits" to my 54 item list, the responses have been varied. I think it's a great time to wipe the slate clean, take stock of one's life, and say "what's next?" I'm off in a few hours to start the plotting and planning with my brothers, only to be continued tomorrow with the rest of my family.

Got any cool ideas for 2012? Care to share?

Comrades, THANK YOU for a truly rockin' 2011. I couldn't have done it without you, and I so appreciate each and every one of you. May 2012 be even rockin'er, and give us a reason to laugh at those Mayans. I'd like to end with a quote that the Annoying Orange might say, and hopefully, we can all say next year:

Hey Mayans! Mayans! Mayans! Hey! Hey Mayans Hey!

Cortez......

Happy New Year!

- Josh

Comrades

Ideamensch interview

2011-12-27T08:28:00.000-08:00

Comrades!

WOW! I'm super duper excited! This cool dude named Mario with a cool website called IdeaMensch.com was cool enough to feature an interview with...ME!!!!!

Oh boy!

Check it out! Five Questions with Josh Urban!

http://ideamensch.com/5-josh-urban/

WOOOOOOOOO!

- Josh

Happy Solstice!

2011-12-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Solstice, and Third night of Hanukkah!

Man, have y'all been holding up OK under the holiday rush? Let me tell you, it's quite an interesting time to release an EP, what with holiday events, sowing anarchy at an elementary school sing-along, and getting some rad dog tags for my guitar army troops! BUT 'tis the season for high-string shopping and driving and running around like a madman. Come to think of it, I guess it really IS Christmas all year for me by that criteria!

Now, the important question for you, comrades, is...Are you ready to ROCK?

Tired of the songs at the mall? Try some of these on for size! It's time for my annual Merry AXEmas listening list!

For those of you who still don't have it, do yourselves a favor, and get Spotify. It's free, and you can listen to so many rockin' tracks, it's not even funny. It's like the ultimate iTunes!

Now, without further ado, here's some of my favorite holiday tracks!

From Merry Axemas - a Guitar Christmas

Steve Vai - Christmas time is here

Joe Satriani - Silent Night/Holy Night jam

Eric Johnson - The First Nowell

Steve Morse - Joy to the World

Jeff Beck - Amazing Grace

From Merry Axemas- More Guitars for Christmas

Neil Schon - O Come, O Come Emanuel

John Sykes - God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

From Gary Hoey's various Christmas CD's:

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Jingle Bell Rock

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

My Favorite Things

From the Trans-Siberian Orchestra:

Siberian Sleigh Ride

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo

Christmas nights in Blue

Boughs of Holly

The March of the Kings/Hark the Herald

Wizards in Winter

Queen of the Winter Night (AWESOME to see live!)

Other favorites:

JIMI HENDRIX playing "Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne"

Run DMC jammin' on "Christmas in Hollis"

Bob Rivers with his dead on "I am Santa Claus" jam!

There are so many more, too! Forget about decking the halls - rock 'em!

Best of luck with your last minute shopping and getting ready! These tunes will surely be a great soundtrack for your mind as you're racing through the store like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle all the Way. Huh, speaking of that, I need to watch that again...It's a yearly tradition!

Rock on!

- Josh

Wooooo! Radio show!

2011-12-17T06:26:00.000-08:00

Comrades!

Happy Holidays!

MAN I've been quiet on here! So sorry! I'm running around like a madman, 'cause I gotta leave for Richmond in a few hours. I'll be hosting my first High Voltage Holiday Special on www.wdce.org

Listen in from 3-5. Bing Crosby will be overthrown.

In the meantime, I need your help! I'm trying to get my NEW MUSIC VIDEO, shot and edited by my brothers, to 200 views by 3pm EST! Spread it around, and warn the world about SANTA!

We're at 174 views. We can do this!

As the Russians would say...

Not a step back!

- Josh

A Scary Revolution

2011-10-31T15:08:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween, Comrades!

Boy, oh boy, I love this holiday. Well, actually, it's mixed for me. I'm one of the few people walking around that actually had a nice childhood, and let me tell you, Halloween was always something to look forward to.

But then I got too old to go around dressed as a werewolf, or even my coup d' 'etat of Halloween - the whole family dressing up like dad. (I was Working Dad, complete with a dress shirt.) The idea of going as the Jackson Five was even floated a few years, but we figured we'd end up inadvertently offending the neighborhood located in Prince George's county, the most affluent African American in the nation. We'd have shocked neighbors, AND no candy. So, we didn't do that.

So, now, I sit, mope, and try to stay away from candy, as I'll surely try to stifle the tears for a childhood lost with caramel and chocolate.

I wonder what it would be like if the creatures of the night really existed, and imagine the logistical nightmares (daymares?) of the vampire in charge of the Halloween Gala. "Trolls are so uncouth!"

But, I'll snap out of it, because hey, I am dressed pretty cool today. I've got my red and white striped shirt on, and I'm Waldo - the man all you ladies have been looking for!

And, I've got some exciting news!

1- Did I mention Skype lessons? That's right! I'm now officially offering online guitar lessons. Drop me an email or comment on this blog if you'd like to try one for free. Now, the Revolution literally can take over the entire world!

2 - I'll be hosting a radio show this Saturday, November 5th, from 3-5 pm on WDCE 90.1 FM Richmond. Check out www.wdce.org to listen in! Drop me an email with a request, check out the Facebook page, and I'll play it for you!

Now, go have a Happy Halloween, and try not to cry in the chocolate.

- Josh

Thanks, Joe!

2011-10-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades!

Wow, it's been a little while! I've been going at a furious pace, but it's paid off...I've got a new car! Well, it's slightly used. The Revolution now has reliable wheels. It's a 2003 Ford Escape, and I LOVE it! Not to worry, though, the blog-inspiring and police-attracting mighty Z-28 is still on the roster, awaiting some TLC and a new fuel pump.

But enough about cars...Today I'd like to thank Joe Walker from Deft Digits for hosting a guest post from me.

Check it out here! It's my story of how I was finally convinced to use a metronome, and how John Petrucci changed my life. Read it, comrade! And thanks, Joe!

Hey, a quick heads up...Looks like I'll be able to get to Richmond now, and hence, host a radio show! If you're not a fan of The Signalman on Facebook, check it out for dates 'n times!

Vive la Revolution!

- Josh

Happy Birthday, Mr. Simon

2011-10-13T11:33:00.001-07:00

Hey hey!

Any of you comrades familiar with Paul Simon? It's his 70th birthday today! I've never met him, but would like to sincerely thank him for all of the music he's brought to this world. I first heard him one bright sunny day. I've probably told the story before, but here it goes again.

See, my dad taught me about classical music. I've had a lifelong appreciation for the art form thanks to my pop.

Now my mom, while always supportive of the classical music, really deserves credit for opening my eyes to the poetry of lyrics. Fitting, as she's a poet herself: www.bonesigharts.com

And Paul Simon plays an integral part in this story.

So, back to this bright sunny dad in the 90's. I think I was ten or eleven years old, and mom, with her classic German tendencies, must have said to herself "we must get a CD player now, ja!" The next thing I knew, she walked in the front door with an Aiwa 3-disc stereo system under her arm, and a Simon and Garfunkle greatest hits CD. I think there was only that, and a Beethoven album in the house, so one of the spaces sat empty in the changer. This was before the days of a thousand CD's!

She set up the stereo, and the sounds of Mrs. Robinson soon filled the living room. Those plastic speakers sure seemed magical! I remember sitting around with my brothers, with mom leading the discussion of the symbolism of tracks like The Sounds of Silence. Simon and Garfunkle sure had a way with words, and I was quite impressed. I remember being vaguely inspired to try to learn guitar, but that would happen a few years later when I saw how electric guitars could rock the house. I remember the lyrics most clearly, and sitting around on that bright, sunny day in the living room, talking about what the songs meant.

A few years later, as I've mentioned before, I was listening to the tune Old Friends as a friend of the family lay dying in the hospital. That song defined that experience for me, and one of the lyrics goes "How terribly strange to be 70." It's wild that Paul turns exactly that age today. Check out this cut off the album Bookends:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRJSoTbwzDk

Notice the album art, too. Here's my photoshop project for the day:

So, thanks mom, for introducing me to lyrics, and thanks, Mr. Simon, for writing them!

Happy Birthday!

- Josh

Radio W-YOU

2011-10-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades!

When's the last time you've had a cheese sandwich? I'm eating one right now, and man is it good!

I wonder how many people have independently invented such a glorious creation. It must be a very high number, indeed.

Which brings me to the topic of today's conversation.

I'm not sure if I read it somewhere, or just came up with it, but did you ever think that we're all like radios? Let me explain. I'm a huge classical music fan. I've been ever since I was a little kid, when my dad taught me a lot about it. Sometimes I'll be listening to the local station, and send him a text like "Dvorak 9th on now!" I'll get a text back "2nd movement? Is that a flute or English horn?" "Nah, I missed it!"

We both are obviously listening to the same station, and hear what it's broadcasting.

Now, what if each of us had our own "radio station" of sorts, and we were the only receiver in the universe? What if we each had a unique frequency that we could listen to? Some of us are tuned to the jazz station, others the rock show, and man, some days, I feel like I've definitely got a talk show!

Beethoven had one, and it was playing the 9th symphony. Ozzy's broadcasted "Crazy Train."

Here's the funny thing - absolutely no one else can translate the frequency into music. Only the person "tuned in" to their own radio can.

Now here's the scary thing - If nobody else gets that song out there, it dies with the person. For you see, there was nothing inevitable about the Moonlight Sonata, Purple Haze, or Take Five. They never had to be written. A cheese sandwich may be reinvented every day, calculus may be formulated, and the laws of the universe discovered, but it's almost as if they were there to start with, simply waiting to be found. Now, that's not to scoff at Newton, Einstein, or me, Mr. Cheese Sandwich inventor (real man of genius), but an artistic creation is different in the fact that it's not inevitable.

As you see, it's important to listen to your radio.

And it's paramount that you don't let anyone turn it off.

People will try to do this surprisingly often. Why, I'm not sure, but especially with the anonymity of the Internet, they can hide behind avatars and snipe most viciously. With the whole world being wired, it almost seems that people are even starting to confuse the real world for Facebook. As a matter of fact, I caught myself talking as if I was online the other day.

Unsolicited opinions especially seem to jam our signals, but recognize the gravity of a station signing off the air - that music is gone forever. Sometimes we can take things philosophically and in stride. Sometimes we need propaganda. This is just another reason why I'm pleased that the Revolution isn't a democracy! Ha!

This radio example isn't just for musicians. It's for any and every person on the planet. What is your station playing right now?

Turn it up,

-Josh

Happy Birthday, Stevie!

2011-10-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades!

Guess what! It's Stevie Ray Vaughan's birthday today! Wow, what a cool guitarist.

Man, of all the musicians, he's probably had the most influence on me.

I've been thinking a lot about changing the world. When I was sixteen, I was sure I could if I got mad enough and worked really hard.

When I was eighteen, I trained other people how they might better the planet.

When I was twenty, I gave up.

At twenty five, as you've been reading, I'm really not quite sure which way is up. The world is melting, and I don't know where we, as a species, stand.

And now it's Stevie's birthday. This day causes me to reflect. While, in the past, I've noticed at how little one person can do, today, I see how much one person can. Fifty seven years after his birth, and twenty one after his death, he's still speaking to people through music.

So I guess what we say matters...

On a humorous note, what we type matters, too. I had a new client the other day. My lesson program offers an introductory free first lesson to new students. Well, this guy shows up with a soda as a thank you. Nobody has ever brought me a thank you first lesson gift before! (Comrades, you can still redeem yourselves, though! Haha!) Then he hands be a bag. Remember, I've never met this guy before. "What's this?" I asked. "Your favorites. I've been doing my research." There, in the bag, was a jar of green olives and a can of artichoke hearts. I think I must have jumped! Crazy stuff! Funny, AND tasty! Thanks, _____ ! I had some yummy pasta last week thanks to you!

Happy Birthday, SRV!

- Josh

Of executions, Dvorak, and language

2011-09-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades,

Well, it's been quite a week since we've talked last.

With a name and news that requires no introduction, Troy Davis was executed late last night. I don't even know what to say.

Which brings me to the next topic.

I had the privilege of attending a concert of Dvorak's 9th symphony last weekend. If you haven't heard it, check out the first movement here:

I went with my dad and 85 year old grandma, and it was a superb show. The music literally moved me to tears.

It reached inside me and talked to me. The neat thing was - concrete ideas or words weren't expressed, just the feelings.

It seems as if, in the face of tremendous injustice or great pain, this wordless, abstract communication is what's needed to heal. I wonder if it's sort of like our bodies. We don't go to our cells and say "Hey! Start healing!" They operate on their own, and while ideas and concepts certainly make a difference, it's of a different plane.

With Troy, there's much to be done. After all, it appears that our justice system is broken - and I don't just mean about this particular case. Moreover, the need for mechanized killing is indicative of a larger problem with society as a whole. So while there's the tangible issues to be addressed, there's also the sadness of injustice, and loss for both families. Maybe it's time to sit quietly for a minute, and play and listen.

The symphony was held in the National Museum of the American Indian. It's a beautiful building, and actually very quite fitting for the piece of music. Dvorak was inspired by many native American elements.

However, the building is a sad place, too. Looking out the front doors, you stare at the United States Capitol building - the very same institution that created the need for a museum. I find it more of a memorial.

As I listened to conductor Murray Sidlin explain the Indian influences in the piece, I looked around, and wondered what it would be like if the tables were turned, and another culture obliterated us rock musicians. Would they write a symphony, and say "Now listen to the third part in the second movement, where you can clearly hear a tribute to "Back in Black" and an overriding sense of aggression conveyed through fifth chords."

Then, the music started speaking, and I listened as I looked around at the ghosts of the cultures.

It was a lot to take in. This whole week has been a lot to take in. Strike that, the whole world is a lot to take in.

I think I'll go do some listening and see what the music has to say.

- Josh

"Look at those dead bastards"

2011-09-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

"Oh yeah, look at those dead bastards" says a crewman aboard a U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter that just left almost a dozen bodies littering the street, pierced by 30mm cannon fire.

They happened to be non-combatants.

I was about to go eat a sandwich today when my life changed course a bit.

I was talking to someone about the incident in Iraq, released to the general public about a year ago via Wikileaks. I was wondering if I had all my facts straight, so I went back to look. I saw this video, and read the story.

Warning: It's about as graphic as it gets. But I think it should be seen.

I lost my appetite. I got physically sick to my stomach. Ho-ly smokes. There was a photographer among the killed. He was carrying a telephoto lens. I though immediately of my brother, puttering around town with his camera and calm demeanor , ready to capture something cool...And that telephoto lens he usually uses.

There's all sorts of political implications of this post, this video, and Wikileaks itself. But my stomach doesn't realize that, and it is sick.

The point was made that it was like a real life video game. "Oops, I think I just ran over a body" says a guy driving a fighting vehicle on the ground. What does he think this is, Call of Duty?

I called my mom to ask her something else, and I started talking about this. Barely holding back the tears, I choked out the words "Mom, and my whole goal in life is to be a stupid entertainer. What's the point of that?"

I sat in the woods yesterday as quietly as I could, but my mind was racing with the thoughts of the day, and how people could slam jetliners full of people into towers full of other people. Again, there were my brothers in the picture. I imagined that their company had hit the big time, and they had an office on the 92nd floor of the North Tower...They were so proud of it. I snapped back to reality, and the woods gently moving in the fall breeze. Thank goodness that it was just imagination.

And all I wanted to be was an entertainer. How stupid is that.

So, I'm sort of lost. Those three circles I referenced in a previous post about finding the core of what we do - they sit empty again. I can't see them being filled with songs of peace and cooperation. I can't see them just filled with Comrade shirts and clever logos.

The world is broken, and I don't know how to put it back together. I'm old enough to realize that I can't, and young and strong enough to cut myself in the struggle against the shackles of reality. Somebody wise told me the other day that maybe it's about accepting the darkness as part of the light. I think I'll think on that.

And I think I'll try to figure out what in the world I should be doing as a musician - and a person. The circles are empty. I don't know what should fill them. But I plan to figure it out.

- Josh

Mystery Men

2011-09-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades!

Editor's note: The next few paragraphs, a blog complaining about a movie about a blog, do have a point. Anyone considering this hypocritical will be sent to musical Siberia.

I finally saw The Bourne Identity. WOW! A week later, my mom was watching Julie and Julia. I made the mistake of watching it too, and came down with a severe case of estrogen poisoning. Even mom thought it was a bit much. (For those of you who haven't seen it, it's basically a story of two very average women and a blog. To paraphrase an example of fine ciema, George of the Jungle, "Dude, if I wanted to see that, I would have stayed in a library!')

I so wanted an extra scene in the movie, sort of combining the action of the first one. It would go like so: The insufferably emotional blogger (Julie, not me) walks into a quiet kitchen with a frosted glass window...Looking around warily, she sees nothing wrong, until - a giant LOBSTER with a machine gun crashes through the glass, firing constantly. They have a big fight, where she takes the worst insult she can find, and verbally mortally wounds it and on it. The lobster runs off the balcony into a pot of boiling water.

Too bad that doesn't exist. That would be awesome.

In the meantime, I saw something almost as cool. Mystery Men was the name of the flick, and it was utterly stupid. I loved it. It was such a parody of a superhero movie, it was profound. Ben Stiller plays a wannabe superhero who's power is uncontrollable rage - except he's just pretending. His love interest, a waitress, thinks he's stupid. Man, I so relate to this guy. She finally starts to give him a chance, and asks him his name right before he's off on a dangerous mission. He makes up some silly sounding title, and she's just about to run off, when he says "Roy...It's Roy." She says "Just be Roy."

He goes back to his posse, and as they're riding into battle in an armored personnel carrier, he's just sitting there, with a silly grin on his face, and says "You know, I'm just not an angry guy!" His friends try to insult him to rile him up, to no avail.

In the end, when the bad guy is gonna kill his girl, he finds his inner rage, climbs up the wall with forks thrown by his friend, and saves the day.

I felt like that today. I realized I was groundless, with no belief of where I was going with music. I let it sit, and was terrified of the emptiness of not knowing what I stood for.

Then, later, when I half-threatened to rob the local bank of their way cool pens with magic wands attached, I realized my core and my belief of what motivates me to do what I do musically: Entertainment.

I guess it took a bit of floating in uncertainty to figure out the truly obvious. Now, per my previous blog post and that wonderful TED video (check it out if you haven't seen it!), I can operate from this core.

So, what's your core? Do you have any supposed superpowers that are an affectation, arbitrary, or a mask? It's hard to use your real powers, because if they're rejected, well, that means you are. Ouch.

But...No pain, no gain, comrade!

- Josh

PS. The best part about that movie: They went out to rescue the hero of the story, and accidentally killed him. The general reaction of the cast was "oops!" Refreshing!

Why we do what we do

2011-08-30T13:53:00.001-07:00

Hey Comrades!

I hope everyone did OK in that CRAZY week of earthquakes and hurricanes! Sounds like a Muse song...

Anyway, on Friday, I had the great good fortune to take a day trip with my folks. We all cram in to my mom's green mustang, formerly owned by my guitar teacher. My brother Zakk usually drives this strange vehicle that takes turns being the soundtrack from an unwritten Charlie the Unicorn episode (that would be me, along with my mom providing the humor, and my brothers as Charlie), to high-caliber think tank. Let me be clear - if the brothers had their druthers (haha, it rhymes!), it would always be a think tank. I'm to blame for the Chaaaaaaaalie skits.

Cruising along Route 66 east through the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, Zakk deftly piloted the 'stang around slow trucks and silly minivans while I brought a topic to the table.

"Man, I'm noticing how mean and desperate us little musicians can be lately!" I started. As funny as it sounds, I'm really having trouble with the relentless self-promotion and arrogance on display every day on the social media networks. Sure, sure, I've fashioned myself the leader of a movement and commanding people obey the new laws of the land, and some other people are simply asking for friends to come out to a show. So I realize this sounds a little silly, especially since I'm typing this in a blog!

However, I'm noticing that it seems to be less a conversation, and more a shout-off when it comes to musicians using the networks.

Maybe I'm noticing the dysfunction of the musical community because I've been watching my photographer brother Noah. He's involved with a lot of photo sharing sites, and through his excellent photos and savvy personality, has made friends and connections all over the world. Everybody loves Noah, and he's had ultra-high level connections call him personally from overseas to ask his opinion.

Now, granted, I want to give credit to where it's due. He's a stellar photographer, a super nice guy, and he always has dynamite ideas. Plus, he doesn't say crazy stuff like "Off to behead Justin Bieber's hair now in the name of the Revolution!" So he's got a lot going for him.

BUT - it does seem like the photo community is genuinely interested in what the other members are up to. They learn from each other, grow, improve, and network like crazy.

Meanwhile, head over to YouTube, and you get comments like "America beat Germany in WWII" on Rammstein videos. Friend a musician on Facebook, be bombarded with "Yadda yadda has invited you to a show" (usually in another state.) Twitter's no better: "I'm at Starbucks/drinking beer" (Folk musicians/rockers.)

Where's the conversation? This doesn't stop in the electronic format. Pick up a guitar magazine, and read all about how Eddie Van Halen got a flanger to sound like an airplane in 1979.

The Internet presents us with the unique opportunity to engage and network. Spam has always existed, and while social networking makes it easy for anyone to clutter the airwaves, we're missing a really important aspect: The other half of the conversation!

But this is still just a symptom of the disease. Why are us musicians so mean? Are we really that desperate? I know I am sometimes.

Resistance indicates the presence of a challenge, and the presence of a challenge means we're barking up the right tree. If we love the goal, the challenge might be a welcome visitor. After all, it means we've found the door to the bank vault! OK, so it's locked, but that means there must be something good inside!

So what exactly are we trying to do? And most importantly, why? I watched this TED talk, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I highly recommend watching it.

I'm still trying to figure it out. Sure, I love music. But what am I trying to do with it? Why are we so nasty sometimes? To quote Elf "This place smells like mushrooms, and everyone looks like they want to hurt me."

The light gatherers help each other. We're the bringers of sound...Why don't we? I'm working on a speech for Comrade TV that will outline some of the new principles that I want to operate by, but I still have to figure 'em out. I think being supportive, encouraging, and listening intently will be three of them. More introspection on my part is needed before I can deliver the final draft, though.

Let me know if you have any ideas. And let me know what your inner circle motivation is, too! I'd like to hear!

Vive la Revolution!

- Josh

No radio show!

2011-08-26T19:29:00.001-07:00

Alert! Alert!

Comrades! There's a crazy hurricane named Irene churning up the east coast, and it's canceled my train to Richmond! That means no radio show...booooo!

It's a funny name - the only Irene I've known was this little old lady who bought a lotto ticket every day. Maybe it's her ghost coming to wreck vengeance, and saying "beat these odds, punk!"

So, in place of the broadcast, I'll be hosting a video chat on Google + at 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, 8/27. My page is www.gplus.to/joshurban Drop me an email or leave a comment if you need an invite to Google + ...the coolest networking site EVER!

I'll be jammin' on some blues in honor of SRV, chatting revolution plans, and chilling. Well, I never chill, but I will be chatting!

Actually, I think a hurricane is a fitting tribute to Stevie. It's even better than a radio show.

"Well they call me Hurricane, and I've come to play you a song..."

- Josh

SRV's Radio Tribute

2011-08-25T11:44:00.001-07:00

Hey Comrades!

This Saturday will mark the 21st anniversary of Stevie Ray Vaughan's untimely demise after one of his greatest gigs ever.

I always like to do something to honor him, and this year, I've got a unique opportunity. I'll be hosting a radio show!

I was building the playlist the other day, was almost finished, and happened to look at my Fender Guitars calendar. I saw the red letters, and realized that I needed to throw the playlist into the blender!

A number of years ago, a friend gave me a bootleg recording of his entire last show at Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. I'm told it was recorded off the soundboard, so while the audio quality is a bit lacking, the tracks are HOT!

I'll be broadcasting the whole thing this Saturday during my show at WDCE 90.1 FM Richmond, so if you're in town, tune in! If you're not, it'll be streaming live at www.wdce.org (just click on "listen now.")

It's an incredible concert. You really don't want to miss it. (Ha, look at me, promoting for an SRV show. THAT'S a job I'd be glad to do every day!) I'm blow away every time I hear the CD. He said once that he plays every show like it's his last, and unfortunately, that time, he was right. Wow, what a way to leave the stage of the earth...What a show he played....nay, channeled.

Airtime is from 3-5 pm, Eastern Standard Time. The facebook page for the show is www.facebook.com/thesignalman

I'm so looking forward to it. I'll be hopping on Amtrak's Carolinian train #79 for the two hour trek to Richmond, hurricanes and earthquakes permitting. (We're getting pounded over here!)

Songs will be written on this trip...Especially if there's nuns sitting next to me! After the show, I'll be hanging out in Richmond's most "scenic" train station...It's really quite utilitarian, so hopefully the dreariness will provide great artistic inspiration. Watch out - Handy Street II?

See you on the air!

- Josh

Fame is unrelated to Talent - just ask Kim

2011-08-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

"What's wrong with you, man?" my mom asks, her eyes flashing. "Where did I go wrong?"

Parental disapproval isn't something that I usually deal with. For the past 25 years, my folks have done an exceptional job of showing me that I counted, mattered, and was something to be proud of.

However, I have brothers. Their favorite pastime is to sort of play emotional billiards, and try to create a bus to throw me under, with mom driving it. Come to think of it, they must have learned it from me. And trust me, it's great fun...When you're not the one in front of the bus, that is!

Zakk really outdid himself this time. He connected the dots, and explained to mom that it was "THAT Kim" I always talk about when a picture of the "Keeping up with the Kardashians" showed up on Netflix. You should have seen him cackling as I got flattened.

I admit it, there must be something not quite right with my taste in women...Fairly wrong, you could say. But from this, we get a great music lesson. Read on!

It's a beautiful day ouside, but my heart is black. Kim is finally married. Now I'm gonna have to wait a whole three years before she's back on the market.

Darn.

Maybe I can learn to dress myself properly in the meantime. I sorta look like the caddie from "Happy Gilmore." The first one. The kid. Actually, a combination of the two. It must be my haircut and unshaven face, or perhaps it's the checkered shirt and checkered shorts that match even worse than my socks. Yep, I need to up my game if I wanna go fishing, that's fo' sho'.

But wait, who is this questionable character that I speak of, and how does she stay so famous?

THIS brings us to the point of today's blog.

It is definitively proven now: Commercial success and talent have nothing to do with each other. Sure, they can be combined, but they're completely different things.

I can hear you all howling that Justin Bieber has proved this point even after countless other pop stars have, but here's the thing: There are some little girls who genuinely like his music, and are moved by it. So while I don't care for it, it's a matter of taste. While the Revolution may overthrow it, it's still some form of music.

But here's a reality TV star who, as far as I can tell, has absolutely no talent, and who's fame is self perpetuating. I'm not saying it's bad - to the contrary, it's rather amazing how well it works. It's like an engine, almost. Once started, it will run indefinitely. She's like the opposite of one of those brilliant musicians who can't even dress themselves, but will draw a crowd of thousands when propped up onstage...Aerosmith! Ha ha, I'm a fan, quit yelling!

I can't applaud her, because fame for fame's sake is completely pointless, and borders on a disrespectful waste of oxygen in a suffocating world.

From a marketing standpoint, however, it is unbelievable! Did you hear she made 18 million dollars on her wedding? That's the way to have a wedding - heck with spending money!

While the Revolution will overthrow all frivolity and designer brands, perhaps we can take a page out of that exclusive book, and realize this:

Talent does not equal commercial success.

Commercial success is a skill.

Practice that skill. And practice your talent.

For Hendrix's sake, please make the world a better place. Make sure that music counts!

Now, I'm off to practice tying my shoes . I've only got three years till it's game time again.

Geeze, what if she reads this blog?

- Josh

PS. Google spellchecker suggests that "Kardashian" be changed to "Balderdash." Interesting.

Overthrowing a screen near you!

2011-08-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades!

DUDE there's some cool stuff going on Revolution-wise. I'm working on a top secret project, soon to be detailed soon. I'm getting ready for the college courses I'll be teaching. I'm recording that holiday EP, with the first track completed (mostly!) I've got the coolest piece of artwork I've ever photoshopped.

But why should you care? Well, at the moment, you shouldn't. Soon, you will. But for now, blah blah blah!

HERE'S the cool news. The Revolution continues, and it's coming to your living room. Or where ever you keep your computer and webcam. That's right, I'll be setting up shop for some Skype guitar lessons.

The Details

I need your help. I've been teaching guitar professionally for years, but I'm still getting the hang out of the video conferencing. It's a new teaching format, and I need some comrades to develop this program.

If anyone wants to hop on Skype or Google + for a few free lessons while I figure everything out, it would be so much fun!

I'm looking for a good cross-section of skill. Beginners, intermediate players, advanced shredders...you name it! Basically, we'd set up a time, and we'd have a half hour lesson via videoconferencing. It's totally free, and a one or three time deal. Think of it as beta testing. I WILL be charging for it eventually, but during the initial phase, it's free! I'd love to have your help with the project!

The Chat

Who as Google +? If you don't have it, send me your email, and I'll send you an invite! It's got a group video chat feature called Hangout. I'll be hosting weekly chats on it for all you guitarists and non-guitarists alike! Let's confer on how to take over the world!

Check out the Comrade TV video I just shot for it:

Hope to see you online this Sunday! I'm thinking 1:00 pm or so, but I'll post some details closer to the date! Drop me an email if you'd like to attend!

Vive la Revolution!

- Josh

Ask

2011-08-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades!

August is here. I'm always glad to see it. I say "Hello August! Only a month till you're dead!"

Yeah, I'm not a big fan on the summer.

I'll tell you what I AM a fan of, though! Inspiration!

Of course, there's a story...

I got a call today. "Hey Josh, it's ___" (We'll call him Sam.)

"SAM! Dude, are you like ten feet tall? Your voice is so deep!" Sam is a former guitar student of mine, and he was calling to set up a visit. I hadn't seen him or his cousin, ___ (we'll call him Joe), also a former student, for probably about three years.

We sat around my teaching studio and talked for a good while. These fellas are 17 and 18, and about to set foot out into the big ol' world. It was super fun to toss around ideas about the future. It was neat for me to remember being 18. Seven years, while trivial with almost any metric, do put one in a very different phase of life. I always enjoy seeing old students. It's an honor that they stop by, financially un-obligated with any cancellation notice or anything, just to say hello.

The subject of ideal careers came up. Ever itching to put on my motivational speaking hat, I eagerly told Sam and Joe about my "Ask" theory. This is something I'm sure I've blogged about before, but I'd like to repeat it.

When we first get an inkling of what we really like in life, we excitedly tell the world. To quote "Little Stevie Vai" from his subtly profound track The Audience is Listening, "When I grow up, I'm gonna be a famous rock 'n roll guitar player!"

And just like the song, people laugh at the cute little kid at first. But then when it's apparent that the person is serious about pursuing their dream, they're beaten down. I've had many people tell me "Seriously, how many people make it? You'd better find a fall back."

We quickly learn to conceal the dream, because it hurts to be scoffed at.

There it rests, like the memory of a dear departed friend. Sadly, just like memories, it fades with neglect. One day, on our way to that dusty room where we've locked it away, we realize that, not only have we misplaced the key, but that we don't even remember what exactly it was that we locked up.

"Ah, it must have been to be a music manager!" we think. Now, that is an exciting and dynamic career, so to all you managers, don't think I'm knocking your craft. I'm not.

But, remember we started out wanting to be famous rock 'n roll guitar players? We've become so good at concealing the dream from other people, that we've hidden it from ourselves.

So we drift, and we know we're missing the target. Frustration sets in, and we might think "why can't I be the best at _____? It's not like I'm asking to be a rock star or anything!" Livingston Taylor once wrote "It hurts just as much to fall from a small dream as a big one."

Honesty with ourselves is vital. We need to find our way to that room, unlock the door, and look clearly at the dream. Maybe we've outgrown it, and then we can thank it, and place it respectfully back on the shelf. But maybe it's what we're really after. And, in the silence of that room, we can say to ourselves "This is what I really want to do with my life." Nobody has to hear you, and you never have to tell anyone.

But if you aren't clear about what exactly it is that you want, it's much harder to get. Ask. And ask for what you really want.

Now, sometimes one dream may morph into another. A young man named Johnny played guitar once, and moved with his band to LA. They flopped. Broke up. Done. Someone told him to come read for a movie. He got the part. You might have heard of him. His last name is Depp.

So, you're not always going to get what you ask for. But don't keep that dream locked away in the dust. It misses you.

- Josh

Comrade TV and the Handy Street story

2011-08-04T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades!

Episode 6 of Comrade TV is available online!

Some of you have heard the third track of my latest CD (Signalman), called Radio W-HAM. In it, I tell the story of the time I took a train to New York City, and was shushed by a nun. My brothers captured some live video footage at one of my recent gigs of me telling the story...so here it is in person! I think you'll enjoy.

You know, one of the things I love about being a musician is the diversity of hats I wear. I'm starting to get intrigued with story telling, so this is my first step into that world. I'm sure every field is like this to a greater or lesser degree. How does your field allow you to express yourself? Even if it doesn't, there's always lunch breaks. You hear about that construction worker in New York who signs Sinatra on his lunch hour? He's all over the internet now! Way to go!

On other Revolution news, I've been working for a few weeks now on my latest recording, a holiday EP! It's coming along good, and I'll start putting down tracks for an original holiday tune tomorrow! Recording Signalman was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Talk about some work! But I tell you, after a year out of the studio, it feels great to be back at it! I've got some great ideas for artwork bordering on propaganda, and a cool new story.

One more thing: A local musician that I kinda sorta know just got his new single at #13 on the iTunes songwriter chart yesterday! It charted above Harry Chapin on that day! Way to go, Sam Grow!

I hope you enjoy the latest installment of Comrade TV, and keep on overthrowing bad music!

- Josh

Calling in an airstrike on the Lemonade Stand

2011-08-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hey Comrades!

It's summertime, and the lemonade stands are proliferating. Actually, I've yet to see one, but don't take my theme away, bro!

Social media, the internet, and the continued upheaval in the recording industry have created a unique universe in which the independent musician operates. However, like any new sky, there's a lot of trial and error involved before one can harness the maximum potential of the stars - or, in this case, fans.

A few years ago, when I was doing the band thing, I learned that the group I was in had booked a gig where we were selling tickets. No biggie, except...We were basically expecting our families to show up, and not many other people. "I have to sell my own mom a ten dollar ticket to see me play a few songs?" I wasn't thrilled about that, to say the least.

At the end of the night, after the sound guy had been paid, each band member got just under forty bucks...and I had six people come to see me at ten bucks a ticket.

"It's like a big lemonade stand!" I exclaimed disgustedly. And ever since I said that, I've noticed how many of these stands are out there. Some of them sell Mary Kay, some of them sell Avon (American cosmetic companies based on a pyramid marketing scheme), some sell a low volume of CD's, some charge a cover, but they have one thing in common: They have our friends standing in line.

With the advent of social media, we can really bombard fans incessantly, and demand even more of their time and money.

This is an unpalatable situation to me. I'm a musician because I want to rock the world, not because I want to impose on my friends to buy my CD.

I'm not exactly sure how to blow the lemonade stand to a fiery afterlife with a Justin Bieber soundtrack (sounds like hell to me!), but here's a few thoughts I've had on the subject. And, to be clear I'm not preaching, I'm not claiming to adhere to these rules all the time - think of them as a reading of my to-do list!

1. Never lose sight of the value of people's time and money: If they're listening, if they're paying, I'd better make sure I'm giving them something of value.

2. Monetize traffic, not friends: Successful websites make their money off traffic. They're free to access, and due to the sheer number of eyeballs, they can command a hefty premium from advertisers, not surfers. (The downside of this is more ads, but YOU try running YouTube's servers!) How can we apply this to music? I'm fascinated by sponsors, personally. It seems like sports does this a heck of a lot better than rockers. OK Go is doing some neat things in this field.

3. Quantity vs. Quality: In line with point 2, perhaps we should strive to lower the barriers to our music, and get as many people as possible listening! It's hard enough to get out there, and get a gig booked. It seems counter-intuitive to charge people for every single thing once they get there. A cover charge, drinks, merch, and the new CD can be quite a hefty bill. No wonder turnout can be low when the umpteenth facebook invite comes through to say "Hey, check out my band!" Sure, we've gotta make a buck, and I'm starting to eye the model of no covers, cheap CD's, and normally priced merch as a way to go. People can hear us, and spend as much, or as little, as they like. We get more fans, which is what we're after if we use the traffic model of success. This is something to ponder, and figure out what works best for you. I'd be curious to hear your ideas and experiences.

4. Treat the edge like VIP. Street music, or busking, gives us a term called the edge. So does U2, for that matter. People are reluctant to stop to watch a busker if there's nobody else there. As soon as several folks start watching the show, magically, people feel inclined to stop and watch. It's psychological, giving a cover of anonymity, and practical, so they don't have to pay you if they don't want to. I look back in utter shame when I asked a brother and sister to put a dollar in the jar when they stopped to watch me do a few magic tricks one day when I was busking. They should have waited for an edge! SO, the first two hundred fans of ours are really our edge, our front line soldiers, and our most powerful advertisers: word of mouth folks. I vote we treat 'em like VIP! Yeah, yeah, I've sold stuff to the Revolution's edge, and I feel pretty mixed about this. But I do make sure they get something free, be it an extra CD, a few stickers, etc.

So, this is how I'm calling in an airstrike to the Lemonade Stand. Please radio in if you've got any ideas, too!

Vive la revolution!

- Josh