I also showcase a new song, “Running”. See below.

As explained in the newsletter, Running, was inspired by The Zac Brown Band’s song, Highway 20 Ride – about a divorced father visiting his son (child).

I recorded in on my PC camera yesterday for Youtube. Enjoy!

Running
Copyright (c) 2010 – Matthew Moran

VERSE 1
I pick her up early Friday morning
Begging for a little extra time
I’m battling the guilt, time and the schedule
And praying about the impact on her life
She’s pays for my mistakes with smile
And she pays me back with tender-lovin’ grace
Not what she deserves, not what she asked for
My selfish tears fall as I drive away
(Chorus)

CHORUS
Sometimes I feel I’m running in circles
Sometimes I feel I’m just running down the line
But when this life and living leaves me longing for more
I know that I’m just running out of time

VERSE 2
Once upon a time I played the hero
Once upon a time I lost my way
And once upon a time I was so certain
Now I’m certain I know so much less today
I can’t redeem those calendars discarded
I can’t pull back the time that’s passed me by
And memories are sweet but their just memories
It’s making them that makes us come to life
(Chorus)

If you come out to see my play and purchase a t-shirt, or if you purchase a t-shirt on my website you will be provided a postcard with a digital download code.

(click image to see larger version)

Shhhh… don’t tell anyone but when people who come to see me play throw a few bucks in the t-jar or even just say they really enjoyed themselves, I’ve been known to hand out a few as well.

The front of the card has the image below – although I’ll be getting some additional postcard designs as well.

 
(click image for larger image)

We still like CD’s but for me, a songwriter on a budget, this is an inexpensive way to get you copies of my music.

I’ll be adding digital download cards for purchase. Then you can buy 10 of them and give them away as gifts. Or download a copy of my CD for every computer in the office.

Of special note: If you can help with a house concert in San Francisco on April 2nd, let me know. See the newsletter for more details.

It has been a wild couple of months. I’m not complaining.. just saying.
I am looking forward to the few scheduled shows coming up and getting back to recording.

One thing I’ve tried to internalize is that momentum can be established quickly by better monitor and control of your schedule.

This past month, with several projects hitting at once, I found that it eased my mind to put away all my recording gear. The fact is, having it available was a constant reminder that I wasn’t getting to it – and would not be able to dedicate the time to focus on it for awhile.

The schedule is still a bit hectic but we have created some space (both physically and time-wise) to re-initiate the recording project.

Additionally, I have started interviewing/auditioning band-members. I’ll be looking to perform with a full-band or some accompaniment by March 27th – the Oak Park Farmer’s Market gig.

Look for a new “behind the song” post soon. All about songs and lyrics and how they came about.

~ Matt

That is where Decision Road came from.

I am unabashedly open these days about my failures. Particularly in those areas that I deemed most important to me: family, love, relationships. Not that I write a lot about them in a public forum, but with my children and close friends, I have had to eat some large helpings of humble pie.

Humble pie is a sour fare but also seems to feed the soul.

I wrote Decision Road very much top-down. The way it reads is the way it was written. I had the little 4 chord riff a couple days prior to writing the song. I was not, at the time, particularly moody or reflective but the riff seemed to drive a sort of melancholy.

The first verse is very much a feet in the sand, leave me to my own devices, I don’t need your help or criticism, perspective.

Verse two addresses doubt in the most critical area of life for most of us – our love. The relationship that seems to have the most promise and safety.

The bridge is a realization of our weakness; the inability to control much of our life.

And finally, the last verse is a call for forgiveness and help.

Enjoy!

Decision Road
Copyright 2009 © Matthew Moran – Sounds Like Life

VERSE 1
One step forward, two steps back, it seems the way I go
Navigate life’s messy path the only way I know

I don’t seek forgiveness
I don’t pray for my mortal soul
I don’t make excuses
I just keep dragging my bones down Decision Road

VERSE 2
Is love just a warm caress that time turns dark and cold
Is sugar sweet just bitterness at the final curtain call

I just wanted your soft kiss
I just wanted a hand to hold
I just wanted devotion
Now I just want to carry my heart down Decision Road

BRIDGE
& every night I face my demons
Shame & regret I can’t let go
& with the light, life and the living
One more event I can’t control

VERSE 3
With each mistake a lesson learned, I’ve filled my textbook full
With each word I’ve had to eat, I’ve swallowed that crow whole

I’m asking forgiveness
Please pray for my mortal soul
Take my excuses
& help me find me way down Decision Road

Last month, the Good Hurt in Venice was shut down because 5 blocks in Venice had their electricity knocked out by the storms in Southern California. We drove down to the venue only to find a darkened and empty street.

We are rescheduled at The Good Hurt on February 25th, 9PM.

Last night – while preparing to perform in Ventura, the unnamed venue had the health department close them down. My understanding is that whatever the issue was has been corrected but not before the evening’s activities were cancelled.

Becky just lost her voice to a cold and I am crossing my fingers that I am not next because I am really looking forward to Tuesday evening at Genghis Cohen.

Next week, Tuesday, February 9th, I’m playing Genghis Cohen.

Performance time is 8:00PM and they have a few other songwriters filling the bill.

If you know of songwriters or the music interested in Las Vegas, let them know…

SONGWRITER PERFORMS AND TEACHES PERFORMERS HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO LAUNCH CAREERS, DREAMS

LAS VEGAS, NV – Songwriter Matthew Moran used his expertise as a published author, social media expert and marketing consultant to launch a second career and now is leading workshops to teach other performers to do the same.

http://www.prlog.org/10485434-songwriter-performs-and-teaches-performers-how-to-use-social-media-to-launch-careers-dreams.html

But alas, it is not without its challenges. Beyond the fact that we are competing with things like Wireless Internet at venues and just traffic on the Internet, here is what we’ve run into in the past month.

I’ve also included 2 lessons learned!

LiveStream.com
I love their Procaster desktop application… it allows me or my “producer” – the person who is on the chat during the performance, to switch between the camera and my desktop. For songwriter performances, this is really not that important but for workshops is wildly helpful!!

The problem is that the chat interface for livestream is painfully small. Seriously, some people are over 25 years old. I contacted livestream but was told there are no plans to change that or make the font-size adjustable.

UStream.tv
This service seemed the most stable and the interface the most mature. However, this weekend and into today, I am frustrated with them. Here is why:

I created two shows – one is a test account and is private. The other is my regular channel. Starting this weekend, the regular channel would not broadcast. I visited the live help, which is nice – but was told to post on the forums. I signed up for the forums but never received a confirmation email – so I could not post my question.

Since then, I’ve requested another confirmation email three times. Are they sick of me yet?

Others are complaining of the inability to broadcast as well. Unfortunately, there is nothing to indicate this problem is “known” by UStream. I would love for them (and anyone running a similar service) to prominently on their home page have a “System Status” message, so we could at least know that they know there is an issue.

I sent an email to their support team but there is, unfortunately, a 24-48 hour response time.

We were able to switch to the test account and broadcast but because I have it setup as private, no one could chat. I did not catch this until after my performance.

IMPORTANT LESSON
I am very thankful that I made the link to my live performance a link to a page on my website. This way, whether I use UStream, LiveStream, or one of the other services available, becomes less important. I can adjust the embedded video on my site or change the external link there on my page.

Also, create two shows for yourself on each service but do so at different times. Meaning, create a show and then a couple weeks later, create another one. I could be wrong – but I believe my two shows on UStream use different media servers. One is not working or has a problem, the other is fine. Having the two shows allowed me to quickly change my stream location for the page on my site.

The show must go on!

Performance – January 9, 2010 – Castaic, California

Workshop – January 18, 2010 – Las Vegas, Nevada

Performance – January 20, 2010 – Las Vegas, Nevada

Performance – January 21, 2010 – Venice, California

Performance – January 22, 2010 – Burbank, California

I am presenting the following workshop:

The Songwriter & Social Media: An Effective Roadmap for Online Success
Monday, January 18
Sam Ash Music (map)
2747 S Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-734-0007 directions only
Time: 6:00 pm

Look for more information soon.